16 May,2014 08:03 AM IST | | Anuradha Varanasi
Kiara Bhansali was diagnosed with congenital hip dislocation, which is normally diagnosed and treated before the age of six months
At the time when babies start walking with relative ease, the parents of 18-month-old Kiara Bhansali were distressed as she struggled taking her steps. They never imagined that their baby girl would ultimately require surgery for her hipbone.
18-month-old Kiara Bhansali was diagnosed with congenital hip dislocation and underwent a hipbone surgery in February
When she finally underwent an X-ray, the Vashi residents found out that Kiara was suffering from congenital hip dislocation, which is normally treated at the time when infants are between three to six months old.
Doctors at Fortis Hospital used a metal plate to position the hipbone back in its original place
"The family was previously staying in New Zealand. Her grandmother had noticed that one of her leg was shorter than the other. Surprisingly, the doctors there failed to diagnose the condition and did not even conduct an X-ray, because of which she lost valuable time," said Dr Atul Bhaskar, paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Fortis Hospital.
"If the condition is diagnosed before the age of six months, the patient does not require any surgical intervention. The defect can be corrected easily with the help of plaster or harness that they have to wear for around nine months," added Dr Bhaskar. In case of Kiara, her hip ball was completely dislocated because of which she walked with a severe limp.
The Bhansali family had to spend around Rs 4 lakh for the surgery and follow-up treatment. "Without the surgery, her hip ball would not have been in the right place. After an ultrasound and X-ray, we immediately diagnosed the problem and used a metal plate to position the hipbone properly," said Dr Bhaskar, advising parents that if they notice stiffness in their infants' legs, they should get their child tested as soon as possible.
Falguni Bhansali, the patient's mother recalled that Kiara had to wear the harness for three months, following her surgery in February. "We noticed the problem when she was around three months old. It is a relief to see her walking without a limp anymore."
