The Whole Picture: Treating Congenital Hip Dysplasia in Peru

Hip dysplasia is one of the most frequently observed congenital anomalies in newborns, diagnosed at a rate of 2 percent in Latin America. The incidence is likely higher, given that diagnostics are limited in remote and marginalized communities. Without early treatment, it can develop into a lifelong physical disability. People in rural areas of Latin America who are offered a solution (typically in the form of a harness), do not receive proper education on how to use it properly, which often leads to abandoned or incorrect application, leading to non-recovery or further injury. This innovator has developed an orthotic harness to treat hip dysplasia in children that is both comfortable enough to wear daily and flexible enough to accommodate a child's growing body. The biomechanical device keeps the child’s affected hip/leg stable in semiflexion until the joint fully develops. This unique positioning allows for mobility but prevents dislocations, which are common among children with hip dysplasia. In addition to comfort and mobility, this harness is advantageous over conventional ones (including the Frejka splint, Pavlik harness or double/triple diaper) because it has been proven effective for use even when dysplasia has been diagnosed late (that is, not at birth). This project is funded under a collaborative agreement between CONCYTEC (Peru’s National Council for Science, Technology and Technological Innovation) and Grand Challenges Canada.