Ilir Smailaj1, Edi Gjika2, Dritan Ulqinaku3, Rrahman Shala1, Afrim Avdaj1, Mustafa Abdullah1
1Regional Hospital Centre, Prizren, Kosova;
2University Hospital of Trauma, Tirana, Albania;
3Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania.
Introduction: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common and preventable cause of childhood disability, and forms a large portion of pediatric orthopedic practice. It encompasses a wide spectrum abstract of clinical severity, from mild developmental abnormalities to frank dislocation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of stages of DDH with maternal age.
Methods: This is a retrospective study of newborns and infants examined for the diagnosis of DDH in Regional Hospital Centre in Prizren, Kosova during the period 2010-2012. 875 children were found to have abnormal ultrasonographic findings according to Graf classification. Data were collected from the health records of all children. Multinomial logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between maternal age and stages of DDH.
Results: 55.2% were females and 44.8% males (p<0.01). The median time from birth to first examination was 46 days (IQR 30 – 92). The majority of children belonged to type Ia, Ib,IIa (73.6%) followed by dysplasia type IIa>60 (2%), IIb (14%), IIIa (2.5%) IIIb (2.6%), IV (5.2%), (p<0.01). The mean age of mother was 27.2 (±4.7) years with a range 16 to 42 years. There was a significant association between maternal age >30 years with type IV (OR=30.4 95%CI 1.06 – 15.2 p=0.01), type IIIa (OR=1.91 95%CI 1.3 – 11.4 p=0.02) and IIIb (OR=1.36 95%CI 1.2 – 8.6 p=0.03).
Conclusion: Maternal age has been identified as a risk factor for DDH in many studies. Our study showed that increased maternal age is associated with advanced stages of DDH.
Keywords: developmental dysplasia, hip, infant, maternal age.