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One in every two Australians have not heard of common childhood condition until faced with diagnosis

Announcement posted by Healthy Hips Australia Ltd 19 Apr 2017

hip dysplasia; developmental dysplasia of the hip; infant hip dysplasia

In the lead up to Healthy Hips Week, health promotion charity, Healthy Hips Australia have just released findings, from a survey they conducted in February this year. 644 people responded to the survey, sharing their experience with hip dysplasia and shockingly, only 52% of respondents had heard of the condition before the diagnosis.

 

Hip dysplasia, also known as developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common condition which occurs when the ball and socket of the hip do not fit together in their 'normal' position. Sometimes this is due to abnormal development and/or lack of growth of the hip joint. It can result in months — and in some cases years — of medical treatment. 

 

Left undiagnosed, it’s one of the leading causes of early-onset arthritis of the hip and is a significant public health issue. Despite this, awareness of hip dysplasia and factors influencing it in Australia is limited. A telling tale is that 8% of survey respondents had only ever heard of hip dysplasia in dogs.

Sarah Twomey, Founder of Healthy Hips Australia says, “Up to 1 in every 50 babies are being treated for hip dysplasia in Australia currently, compared to 3-4/1000 worldwide, yet there are low levels of awareness in the broader community.” Sarah also states, “Research published in The Medical Journal of Australia in April 2016, called for increased awareness and education to address the rising rate of late diagnosed hip dysplasia in Australia”.

Bruce Foster, current deputy director of the department of orthopaedic surgery at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide and Patron of Healthy Hips Australia says, “Healthy Hips Week is a very positive initiative to increase awareness for hip dysplasia in the broader community”.

The second annual Healthy Hips Week runs from the 23-29 April 2017. All parents and parents-to-be are being asked to educate themselves about the risk factors for hip dysplasia and ensure their child(s) hip’s are checked not only at birth, but at 6-weeks, 6-months, and 12-months of age. See your GP for this physical examination and for more information about hip dysplasia visit: healthyhipsaustralia.org.au

MEDIA CONTACT

For further information and interview opportunities with Sarah Twomey, and parents of children affected by DDH, please contact Sarah:

info@healthyhipsaustralia.org.au

FURTHER INFORMATION

Healthy Hips Week 23-29 April:

http://www.healthyhipsaustralia.org.au/healthy-hips-week/

Hip dysplasia awareness flyer:

http://www.healthyhipsaustralia.org.au/pdf/HHA_hipdysplasia_awareness_flyer.pdf

Medical Journal of Australia article:

https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2016/204/6/increase-late-diagnosed-developmental-dysplasia-hip-south-australia-risk-factors