The nurses’ role in educating, counselling and preparing parents to care for a child with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)

The Problems Experienced by Parents Providing Postoperative Home Care Following Their Child's Surgery for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

“…Parents require information that addresses the child's complex needs to ensure that their child's life is as normal as possible despite having a spica cast ( Causon, 2010 ). In a literature review by Smith (2004) about the care of babies and children who had a spica cast, the families stated that they needed information and that their needs were not different from those of other families who also needed information for their hospitalized children.…”

“…Our study found that most of the parents had psychological problems (65.6%), 34.4% of them consistently felt unhappy, and 43.8% felt that their children would not recover (see Table 2 ). Causon (2010) pointed out that parents accepted the DDH diagnosis but felt anxiety and guilt during the treatment period. Newman (1997) reported that mothers could not take care of their personal needs because of fatigue, sleeping in the same room with children, and waking up frequently at night, and that this condition affected their sex lives.…”

“…Babies and children who have had surgery to correct DDH generally stay in the hospital for 1-2 days and then are discharged from the hospital to their homes. In the process of hospitalization, orthopaedic and traumatology nurses provide care, education, and counseling to parents that are crucial to preparing children for home care ( Causon, 2010 ;Hart et al, 2006 ;Witt, 2003 ). For approximately 3-6 months, a hip spica cast is applied to maintain the reduction, and the cast is changed every 6 weeks ( International Hip Dysplasia Institute, 2014 ).…”

“…For approximately 3-6 months, a hip spica cast is applied to maintain the reduction, and the cast is changed every 6 weeks ( International Hip Dysplasia Institute, 2014 ). When closed reduction is not successful, open reduction, osteotomy, tenotomy, or varus derotation surgery can be performed ( Causon, 2010 ). During the postsurgical period, families generally encounter issues relating to the child's pain, feeding, toileting/ changing diapers, hygiene/clean and dry handling of the cast maintaining skin integrity, dressings, sleeping, mobility, positioning, transport, and travel ( Clarke & Dowling, 2003 ;Hart et al, 2006 ;Newman & Fawcett, 1995 ).…”

“…Families, especially mothers, can suffer psychological and social problems such as anxiety, guilt, fatigue, depression, and social isolation during home care ( Causon, 2010 ;Clarke & Dowling, 2003 ;Newman, 2005 ;Newman & Fawcett, 1995 ). The mothers' employment status, existing health problems, knowledge of postoperative home care, and access to help can affect these problems.…”