‘3,000 cases of hip dislocation recorded among newborns in Jordan every year’

AMMAN — Around 3,000 cases of hip dislocation among newborns are recorded every year in Jordan, according to the Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Organisation.

The national rate is 13 times higher than international figures, said the organisation’s president, Osama Odat, adding that the “very high” rate must be addressed by all stakeholders in the sector.

In a normal hip, the head of the femur (also called the ball) fits firmly into the socket of the thighbone, but in a dislocated hip the ball is loose in the socket, Odat told The Jordan Times in a recent interview. 

The deformation could be present at birth or acquired through wrong post-birth care techniques, he said, adding that the traditional way of swaddling the infant tightly with their legs straight down contributes to dislocation.

Meanwhile, Odat cited “very low” hip dislocation cases in Africa, as mothers carry their infants on their backs or waists with the infants’ legs wide open, the same idea behind the device used to correct the position of the femur when dislocated.

The first child tends to be at a higher risk of a dislocated hip as the mother’s contracted uterus puts pressure on the baby’s legs, said the physician, adding that female newborns are seven times more likely to have dislocated hips than males.

Another factor is the position of the foetus inside the womb.

But Odat cited two common misconceptions regarding hip dislocation.

“Many people think that putting two diapers on the baby prevents the dislocation,” he said, adding that some think that the doctor caused the dislocation during delivery. 

While hip dislocation is highly treatable upon early detection, it can worsen if diagnosed late, therefore it is called developmental.

“It is best to do a physical diagnosis as well as an X-ray and an ultrasound image for the infant’s pelvis at the age of three months,” Odat said, adding that the clinical test alone is not enough.

If diagnosed early, the infant wears an apparatus that costs JD5, but late diagnosis could require a number of surgeries, each costing around JD27,000.

In addition to the financial burden, hip dislocation causes a difference in length between the two legs, which leads to limping and pain while walking, Odat added.

“A hip replacement surgery could help in this case, but the artificial joint can only stay 5 to 10 years,” he said. 

Hip dislocation rates across governorates are similar but early diagnosis is higher in Amman, Odat noted.

The organisation was established in 2013 and seeks to educate medical students and residents on the disability through regular workshops and training courses. It also seeks to increase popular awareness and advocates compulsory examination for newborns by law. 

“We are working on making the X-ray examination for the hip dislocation compulsory, similar to vaccinations,” Odat said.