(1) Background: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) as a primary or secondary diagnosis during physiotherapy practice. No other studies have investigated the prevalence and associations of DDH within the practice of pediatric rehabilitation. (2) Methods: This retrospective review was performed on 12,225 physiotherapy referrals to the King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital (KASCH), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from May 2016 to October 2021. Only DDH referrals for conservative treatment were included in the study. The plan for brace treatment was carried out by the pediatric orthopedics clinic in KASCH. The diagnostic methods were either a pelvic radiograph or ultrasound, depending on the participant’s age. DDH is considered one of the most common secondary complications for children with other medical diagnoses. (3) Results: The most common indication for referral was neurological diagnosis (44%), followed by orthopedic (28%), genetic (19%), cardiac (5%), ophthalmologic (3%), dermatologic (1%) and rheumatologic (0.5%) diagnoses. (4) Conclusion: The prevalence of DDH among all referrals in this study was 6%. In physiotherapy practice, neurologic, genetic, and orthopedic primary or secondary diagnoses were the most prevalent when DDH referrals were investigated. A relatively high prevalence of DDH in the pediatric rehabilitation clinic at KASCH in Riyadh was reported in this study.

Background: The objective of this pilot study was to assess the effect of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) on gait, in pediatric participants, between the age of one to four years. Few studies are investigating the effect of DDH on the walking pattern within the pediatric rehabilitation practice. From an early age, children are developing a longitudinal foot arch. Constantly changing pediatric foot posture must be assessed. Gait pattern and foot posture are one of the most common parental concerns. Methods: The retrospective review of gait analysis, performed on 410 lower limbs, took place in King Abdullah Specialized Children Hospital (KASCH) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from April 2020 until September 2020. All participants were diagnosed with DDH by pediatric orthopedics physicians in KASCH. Gait analysis was done by a physical therapist twice within three months, using The Wee Glasgow Gait Index (WeeGGI) and foot assessment was done once using Foot Postural Index (FPI-6). The WeeGGI compares eleven gait parameters. Each parameter has a choice of three figures, where each one has a clear explanation and/or value. The FPI-6 evaluates the foot as multi-segmental complex, in double leg support, characterizing pronation with + (plus) and supination with - (minus) numbers. Scoring is 2 (two) points in all six factors it is divided into rearfoot and forefoot assessment in transverse, frontal/transverse, frontal, and sagittal planes. Results: From all gait analyses (n=410). We included only 292 (71%) lower limbs with DDH and had to exclude 60 (15%) after hip surgery, 30 (7%) with another diagnosis, 18 (4%) without conservative treatment of DDH, and 10 (3%) with age above 48 months. According to the scoring of the Wee Glasgow Gait Index within the optimum/normal limits (score 0 - zero), we had 50 (17%), mild deviation (score 1-11) 236 (81%), and gross deviation (score 12-22) had 6 (2%) limbs within first gait analysis. With second gait analysis, 40% of lower limbs were within optimum/normal limits, 60% with mild deviation in gait, and zero within gross deviation. Every limb assessment for gait had the Foot Postural Index as well. Within normal limits (0 till +5) we had 143 (49%) feet, pronation (+6 till +9) was presented in 97 (33%) and high pronation (more then +10) had 52 (18%) pediatric feet. This sample did not present supination (-1 till -4) or high supination (-5 till -12). Limping was observed within 102 (35%) of the legs. The frequency of W-sitting presented in 47% of the results. The first and second gait analysis suggest an effect of DDH on the gait with a small difference between the right and left leg, although the left side was affected more within both gait analyses. Conclusion: Pathological gait pattern with DDH was detected in 83% within the first gait analysis, 60% within the second gait analysis, and Foot Postural Index revealed pronation of 51% feet. Among Saudi participants, a relatively high effect of DDH on gait patterns is reported in this pilot study. Keywords: DDH, gait, FPI-6, physiotherapy, WeeGGI.

Background: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is recognized as a leading cause of significant long-term complications, including inaccurate gait patterns, persistent pain, and early regressive joint disorder, and it can influence families functionally, socially, and psychologically. Methods: This study aimed to determine foot posture and gait analysis across patients with developmental hip dysplasia. We retrospectively reviewed participants referred to the pediatric rehabilitation department of KASCH from the orthopedic clinic between 2016 and 2022 (patients born 2016–2022) with DDH for conservative brace treatment. Results: The foot postural index for the right foot showed a mean of 5.89 (n = 203, SD 4.15) and the left food showed a mean of 5.94 (n = 203, SD 4.19). The gait analysis mean was 6.44 (n = 406, SD 3.84). The right lower limb mean was 6.41 (n = 203, SD 3.78), and the left lower limb mean was 6.47 (n = 203, SD 3.91). The correlation for general gait analysis was r = 0.93, presenting the very high impact of DDH on gait. Significant correlation results were found between the right (r = 0.97) and left (r = 0.25) lower limbs. Variation between the right and left lower limb p-values was 0.88 (p < 0.05). DDH affects the left lower limb more than the right during gait. Conclusion: We conclude that there is a higher risk of developing foot pronation on the left side, which is altered by DDH. Gait analysis has shown that DDH affects the right lower limb more than the left. The results of the gait analysis showed gait deviation in the sagittal mid- and late stance phases.