Psycho-social impact of developmental dysplasia of the hip and of differential access to early diagnosis and treatment: A narrative study of young adults

OBJECTIVES: Symptomatic developmental dysplasia of the hip can present in the young, active adult patient and can lead to severe pain and disability at a young age. The overall aim of the study was to deepen the understanding of the impact of developmental dysplasia of the hip on young adults’ quality of life and psycho-social well-being, focusing on how differential access to early diagnosis impacted the trajectory of the disease and treatment options. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews and gathered online stories from 97 participants. A narrative and thematic analysis was used to integrate the dataset producing a multi-dimensional view. RESULTS: A narrative plot showing how events unfolded over time was identified for each participant. Two common plots were identified: Plot 1 focused around those participants who received a prompt diagnosis and were treated within 12 months of diagnosis (n = 22) and Plot 2 focused around those who experienced a late/delayed diagnosis (mean = 8 years; range = 12–364 months) (n = 75) and thus delayed treatment. Participants in Plot 2 became more debilitated over time and experienced chronic hip pain for a prolonged period before an accurate diagnosis and/or intervention was made. It was clear from the narratives when pain persists over time, participants’ quality of life and psycho-social well-being were affected. CONCLUSIONS: Developmental dysplasia of the hip is an under-recognised condition; more research is needed to develop a clear clinical picture that can be used to alert frontline health professionals to the potential for developmental dysplasia of the hip so that they can promptly diagnose patients and refer them to specialist centres. Patients can also experience a profound impact on their quality of life and psycho-social well-being. Patients actively seek information from support groups about all aspects of their condition. Further research is required to determine the long-term impact of developmental dysplasia of the hip to develop evidence-based information for clinicians and patients.