children s health issues
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
Treatment of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
Pavlik harness Early treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip is important to avoid the need for surgery later. The best treatment is early use of the Pavlik harness. The Pavlik harness is a soft brace that holds the infant's knees spread outward and up toward the chest. If the defect persists past the age of 6 months, surgery to fix the hip in the normal position is usually needed. The use of triple diapers (an older treatment) or padded diapers is no longer recommended. 