My 2 1/2 year old child can finally stop wearing her Pavlik harness. This was to keep her hip from dislocating because of a shallow hip socket. My question is: shouldn't she wear a splint or something at night? Can we really go from wearing the harness to not wearing the harness after two full years with the harness on?

It looks like that's what most doctors suggest right now. But it's not based on any research results or studies of children who have worn the harness. Even the use of the harness varies from doctor to doctor and region to region.

In a recent opinion column Dr. Carl Stanitski from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) called for a study to look at the long-term results of current treatment with the harness. The hope is to come up with objective clinical and imaging guidelines.

Until that information is available continue to ask your physician this question and watch for any updates on the topic.

Reference:

Carl L. Stanitski, MD. Subsequent Orthotic Management of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. In Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. November/December 2005. Vol. 25. No. 6. Pp. 815-816.

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