Non-invasive methods of treating hip dysplasia in infants – a scoping review

Background
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), characterized by abnormal development and maturation of the hip joint components, is one of the most common orthopedic problems in pediatrics.

Aims
The aim of this paper was to present and discuss, based on a scope review of the literature, non-invasive methods of DDH treatment in infants.

Material and methods
The literature review was conducted according to the 2020 updated PRISMA protocol using the extension for literature coverage review. The publication search process was conducted using the PubMed medical database.

Results
Overall, 121 publications were identified. A total of 18 fulltext articles were investigated, 13 of which met the inclusion criteria. The reviewed articles describe the results of treatment with the Pavlik harness, Frejka pillow, as well as Tubingen and Denis Brown splint.

Conclusions
The choice of treatment depends primarily on the attending physician, who pays attention to the process of the disorder progression and the parents' needs. In the reviewed studies, the results of treatment with the selected methods were not found to be significantly different. Moreover, it was emphasized that systematic observation and assessment of dysplastic hips, and therefore deferral of treatment, in many cases allows orthotic treatment to be avoided due to the frequent normalization of hip parameters in the first months of life.