The effect of functional splinting on mild dysplastic hips after walking onset

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The effect of functional splinting on mild dysplastic hips after

walking onset

Henning Windhagen , Fritz Thorey , Heinrich Kronewid ,

Pressel , Dieter Herold and Stukenborg-Colsman

BMC Pediatrics 2005, 5:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2431-5-17

Published 15 June 2005

Abstract (provisional)

Background

For treatment of Graf class IIb dysplastic hips at walking onset a

treatment concept with abduction splints allowing patterns as walking

and crawling under constant abduction control was investigated.

However, as the splint still incapacitates child movements the

research question remains whether the physiologically progressing

maturation of hips can be significantly altered using such abduction

splints for walking children.

Methods

Of 106 children showing late hip dysplasia, 68 children treated with

the Hoffman-Daimler (HD-splint) abduction splint were compared with

38 children with neglect of the abduction treatment in this

retrospective study. Radiographic analyses were performed measuring

the development of the age dependent acetabular angle.

Results

The regression analysis for splint treatment showed a significant

linear regression for both splint treatment and no splint treatment

group (r^2= 0,31 respectively r^2=0,33). No statistical difference

between both treatment groups was apparent.

Conclusions

Considering the characteristics of this study, there seems to be no

strong rationale supporting the use of an abduction device in growing

children. As no significant difference between treatment groups is

apparent, a future controlled prospective study on splinting effects

can be considered ethically allowed.