Congenital Hip Dislocation

Oh my word Nozzy! I can only imagine how scary & painful it must be to see your baby in pain/ discomfort & sometimes not even be able to help her.

The only comfort is that you found her the absolute medical team and in time she will heal & this will all be behind you.

Beeeeeeg hugs. Thinking of you & parying for a speedy recovery for your LG.

Lots of love and hugs to you and your little girl. This thread had me in tears Chin up to both of you, just remember when the 6 weeks waiting gets to long, when it is over she will be able to walk normally and play normally again.

Good luck to you.

Nozzy I can't imagine how worrying and stressful it must have been for you to have to see your beautiful baby girl going through this. I'm glad that the operation went well and strongs to you, BD and your LG, and I hope the 6 weeks go quickly and she'll be up and about again.

Hello moomies,

My daughter is 17months old ! She started walking when she was about 14months. While she was learning to walk I noticed that her left leg was slower than the right one. I raised my concerns to BD who brushed me off saying it was because she was still trying to find her balance. It was very unsettling though.

When she was finally stable with her walking, it became evident that there was indeed a problem. I realised she was limping I immediately made an appointment with her Paediatrician, 31 October 2011. At the consultation, she was taken for x_rays----

The x-ray report confirmed that she had a Congenital Hip Dislocation on the left.

The Paed referred us to an Orthopaedic Surgeon

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off we went to see him

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The Surgeon advised that my daughter would need surgery. He referred us to 2 Paediatric Othorpaedic Surgeons, one in Sandton Medi Clinic (Dr Firth) and the other one in Sunninghill Hospital (Dr Eltringham).

"Surgery" "aneasthetic" those words kept ringing in my head

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I couldnt imagine my little girl going through this .. I cried so much that evening. I never knew it was possible to feel so much pain.

Next day I got to work and I called the doctors rooms to try and secure an appointment ---- I wanted this sorted out immediately!!!!

Dr Firth ---- I was given a date for the 11th November!!!!!!!

Dr Eltringham

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he was fully booked until end of November

out of desperation I called a couple of hospital to find a Paediatric Othorpeadic Surgeon, most of the hospitals in the west rand gave me Dr Eltringham's number.

My boss suggested Dr Eltringham

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My friend's sister suggested Dr Eltringham

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So, I was even more determined to secure an appointment with Dr Eltringham--- he was obviously good! apparently he is the BEST Paediatric Surgeon in the whole of Gauteng *I believe*

02 November, I called his rooms again---- this time I explained to the lady on the phone why I needed to see Dr Eltringham!!!! Guess what ---- We were given an appointment for Friday, 4 November @ 16H30

4 November, off we went to see Dr Eltringham ---- took the x-rays---- He explained to us what a Congenital hip dislocation was, treatments, etc...

My LG was booked for an op on the 17 November at Sunninghill Hospital....

The days leading to the day of the op were the worst days of my life. I have never been so stressed in my entire life. Although I knew that it was for the best--- I still couldnt believe this was happening to my baby.

17 November we were there by 10:30am! She was admitted

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The anesthetist came to see us a few minutes before she went to theatre! He explained the whole procedure to us. BD and my best friend were there as well.

around 14:00 my LG was wheeled in to theatre, we had a word with Dr Eltringham before the procedure, he explained to us that he was going to try and manipulate the hip and put it back in (closed reduction) first and if that doesnt succeed he would do an open reduction.

I went into the theatre with my LG

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she had her favourite teddy and her soother. We sat on the chair next to the operating table---- the anesthetist assured me that everything will be fine,that my LG was in the hands of the best team! She was put to sleep while I was holding her and they took her from me and lay her on the bed, I then left the room *in tears*

Dr Eltrigham came out of the theatre at 14:38 to let us know that the closed reduction had failed and that he would have to do an open reduction

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My daughter was in surgery for 3½ hours

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it was the longest 3½ hours of my life!

Dr Eltringham came out to tell us that the operation went well, it took a little longer though

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it was a difficult operation!!!!!!!

He then told us that she had started to cough badly in theatre but everything was under control and that she would be out of the theatre in a few minutes!

we waited ---- and waited

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Finally when she was wheeled out of that room she was taken to the recovery room and we waited for about 30-40 minutes before we could see her again.

Finally, she came out of the recovery room and she was wheeled back to the ward.

She was in tears it broke my heart to see my baby like that

Her day removed the sheet she was covered in I saw his eyes fill with tears
he turned around and gave me a hug and wispered "She's going to be fine love, you know this ne" and then after that long embrace he let go and removed the whole sheet...

She was in a full body cast

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*Hip Spica cast* ---- she'll be in it for 6 weeks

--- my emotions regarding that

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thats another topic for another day----


We were at the hospital for 2 nights, we went home on Saturday, 19 November.

Almost a week after op! its been a long week. She's had her low and high moments. Some days are harder than others. I think she is adjusting to her cast *slowly* but I am sure we'll be fine.

Pictures

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before and after