AUTHOR=Chaibi Emmelie , Saugy Claire-Anne , Samara Eleftheria , Zambelli Pierre-Yves , Merckaert Sophie Rosa 

TITLE=Comparison of treatment outcomes of stable and unstable developmental dysplasia of the hip with the Tübingen splint

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.976367

DOI=10.3389/fped.2022.976367

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=Background: The Tübingen- splint was initially developed for the treatment of stable developmental hip dysplasia (DDH). Later on, some authors expanded its use also for the treatment of unstable DDH, but there remain some controversies in the literature. This study aims to compare the outcome between stable and unstable DDH treated with a Tübingen splint. 

Methods: Epidemiological data and ultrasonographic data of all infants diagnosed with DDH and initially treated with Tübingen splint at our institution between May 2017 and February 2020 were assessed retrospectively. We divided the population into stable and unstable hips using the Graf classification. Age at treatment initiation, duration of treatment, complications, and one-year radiological outcome was investigated. 

Results: We included a total of 45 patients (57 hips) affected by DDH treated with the Tübingen splint. Treatment has been successful in 93% of stable hips and only 40% of unstable hips. Radiological outcome at one-year follow-up significantly correlated with initial Graf classification (p<0.001).