Evaluation of Surgical Management of DDH in Saudi Children in KAMC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is common among the pediatric population globally. In Saudi Arabia these patients end up getting treated surgically because of no screening program for this condition.  Through this exploratory analysis, we intended to find the distribution of different types of surgical techniques, complications of these surgical techniques, and the age at which surgery is performed among children suffering from this condition.

Methods: This study was based on an analysis of clinical records from King Abdul Aziz medical city in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All patients in the specified setting diagnosed with DDH from birth till the age of fourteen between July 2007 to July 2014  were recruited for this study.

Results: Data on a total of 126 individuals was used in this analysis. We found that 84 (66.7%) children underwent open surgical mode surgery while only 42 (33.3%) children underwent closed mode surgery. We also found that 49 (38.9%) children required adductor tenotomy. Avascular necrosis was noted in 7 (5.56%) patients. Limping was the most common complication of surgical management of DDH and was reported among 33 (26.2%) patients. Stiffness was found among 27 (21.4%) patients. The average age at diagnosis was 16.8 months while the overall average age at surgery was 26.6 months.

Conclusion: This study emphasized the importance of the need for a national DDH screening program in Saudi Arabia to avoid the late presentation of these cases and consequently aggressive surgeries.