Testing a diagnostic aid for hip dysplasia in primary care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Testing a diagnostic aid for hip dysplasia in primary care
IRAS ID
210262
Contact name
Andreas Roposch
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a condition where the 'ball and socket' joint of the hips doesn't properly form in babies and young children. Dislocation occurs in 1-2/1000 infants per year but milder forms occur in 40- 60/1000. Because early recognition of disease is associated with better outcomes, it is national policy to examine all infants for the presence of DDH at birth and at 6 weeks in primary care (6-week hip check). Despite a compulsory hip check at the age of 6 weeks in primary care, missed diagnoses and infants incorrectly labelled with DDH remain an important problem, potentially leading to adverse consequences for infants, their families and the NHS.
We seek to improve the diagnosis of DDH in primary care by use of a diagnostic aid. In prior research, we developed a 9-item checklist that has the potential to enable non-experts to diagnose DDH in a manner approaching that of experts. A diagnostic aid of this kind provides a structured approach to the evaluation and management of infants with and without DDH, and enables GPs to place them systematically into those not requiring referral, those whose referral is clearly indicated and those in whom the diagnosis cannot be definitely excluded.
This study will test our existing, previously developed diagnostic aid for DDH and it will develop a training video that goes along with this checklist, tailored for use in primary care.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0631
Date of REC Opinion
20 Dec 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion