After the birth of a newborn, specialists examine him right in the hospital. They pay attention not only to the work of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, but also to the condition of the skin, to the symmetry of the folds of the lower extremities. Normally, the knee and inguinal folds should be at the same level, otherwise the child may have dysplasia (underdevelopment) of the hip joint.
How to determine the asymmetry of the folds?
Parents can determine the asymmetry of the baby's folds themselves. Undress the child, lay it on his stomach and mentally draw lines along his spine. If everything is in order, then both halves will be almost the same.
Pay attention to the folds under the buttocks.... To do this, press the baby's legs together. The folds under the buttocks should be symmetrical. If this is not the case, then specialist advice is required.
Main reasons
Having found asymmetric folds on your child's legs, you should not immediately panic, perhaps this is just an anatomical feature and the baby does not have any pathology. Still, it is worth showing the child to a specialist. It is better to spend a few hours on additional examination than years on the treatment of an advanced disease.
Quite often, the folds in babies are not the same due to hypertonicity. In this case, a consultation with a neurologist is necessary, especially if you notice a chin tremor in your baby.
Usually, with increased muscle tone, massage, physiotherapy, electrophoresis with drugs (for example, with aminophylline, papaverine, dibazol, magnesium sulfate), paraffin wraps are prescribed. With increased tone, aromatherapy and a visit to the sensory room will be useful. Asymmetrical folds can be a sign dysplasias... Especially if, in addition to unequal folds, the child has the following symptoms:
- One leg of the baby is shorter than the other.
- His legs are hardly parted in different directions.
- There is an extra fold at the thigh.
- When the child's lower limbs move, a click is heard.
To determine the length of the lower limbs, the baby is placed on its back and the legs are bent at the knees at an angle 90 degrees... Then, slowly, they are pulled out, substituting under them some object with a flat surface, such as a book.
To determine the mobility of the joints, the baby is laid out on his stomach, one hand is placed on his buttocks, with the other hand they take him by the left knee, bend the leg at the hip and gently turn the knee to the left. The lower limb of the baby should be easily retracted to the side. The same manipulations must be carried out with the right leg and the movement of both limbs is compared.
Having found any of these signs, parents should immediately consult a specialist, since the child may have dysplasia. You can determine it using X-rays. Dysplasia is more common in girls than in boys.
If the newborn was born prematurely or had some kind of birth trauma, then the baby may lag slightly in development, so this check should be carried out when the child is 5 months old.
In order to identify pathology in the development of the musculoskeletal system, all babies of one month of age are prescribed a planned ultrasound of the hip joints. Also, children under one year old need to be shown to an orthopedist. Babies undergo routine examinations at the age of 1 and 6 months.
Do not delay with a routine examination, since the detected pathology at an early age is easier to treat. Parents' task carefully monitor the health of your baby, notice everything that is alarming and do not hesitate to ask questions to a specialist.
What to do if asymmetry is caused by dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is an underdevelopment characterized by abnormal development of connective tissues and increased mobility of the femoral head.If it was possible to diagnose the disease quite early, then everything can be corrected - it is important to see an orthopedic surgeon without delay.
The essence of the treatment of dysplasia is to fix the femoral head in the glenoid cavity so that it becomes overgrown with ligaments and no longer moves anywhere to the side.
You need to know that with dysplasia, the head of the femur falls into place when the baby's lower limbs are bent and pulled apart. If the child is all the time in a diaper, which is 2 sizes larger, and he does not allow the baby to bring his legs together, this is already a good prevention of the disease. Of course, if the case is not very neglected.
At home, parents can do massage and gymnastics to teach the doctor. Carrying the child in and carrying it will also help, in which the child's legs are constantly spread apart. In addition, wide swaddling must be applied: the baby's upper limbs are fixed to the body, while the lower ones remain free.
In more severe cases, doctors recommend using special orthopedic products: Frejk's pillow or Pavlik's stirrups... These devices allow you to keep the child's legs in the correct position: divorced and slightly bent. If dysplasia is detected, parents need to be patient, since therapy will be long and will only give a positive result if adults carefully follow the recommendations of the attending physician.
If asymmetric folds are found in a baby, parents should not independently diagnose and even more so self-medicate. All this should be done only by a specialist.
Many mothers regard asymmetrical folds on the legs of a baby as a reason for panic, but panic is the last thing to indulge in when you have a baby in your arms. Many people know that asymmetrical folds on the legs in infants are a sign of dysplasia, and in this regard are justified, but it is worth noting that this is far from the only, and even less the main, sign of this disease. You don't need to self-diagnose - go to your doctor to see if it is worth worrying about.
In fact, there may be several reasons why the breast has asymmetrical folds on the legs. Let's take a closer look at the most common ones.
What if the cause of asymmetrical folds is dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is an underdevelopment characterized by impaired connective tissue development and increased mobility of the femoral head. If the diagnosis is made early enough, the situation may well be corrected - it is important to get expert advice from an orthopedist without delay.
Be patient - the treatment will be long and will give good results only if adults carefully follow the recommendations of the orthopedist.
Remember that only the doctor makes the final diagnosis, he also prescribes the treatment. Your task is to keep a close eye on the child, noting anything that is alarming, since early diagnosis of the problem always greatly facilitates treatment.
How to notice asymmetrical folds on the legs of a baby?
Undoubtedly, for every mother, her baby is the most beautiful and intelligent right from birth. Few can objectively assess the success of their little one, and many do not even admit the thought that the child may have some kind of flaw. Meanwhile, it is very important to monitor the progress of the baby by checking the calendar of the child's development up to a year by months and daily in the usual, one might even say in a passive mode, monitor his physical condition. In order to notice the asymmetrical folds on the legs of the baby, just a little attention is needed.
As you can see, in order to detect asymmetrical folds on the legs of a baby, you do not need to have any special skills - you just need to love your child and do everything necessary for his health and hygiene. Did you know that folds are the perfect place for diaper rash to appear? When carrying out prevention, do not forget to keep all the folds on the child's body clean and, as an additional measure, lubricate them with hypoallergenic baby oil or sterile petroleum jelly.
In case of any alarming situation, consult a doctor and remember that it is better to spend a few days on an extra examination than for many years to treat an neglected health problem of your beloved baby.
When mommy discovers that the child has asymmetrical folds on the legs, she is noticeably worried. If, moreover, she heard that this is a sign that there is some disorder in the hip joint, then the woman may start to panic. You should not do this, although it is also unacceptable to leave it without attention.
The asymmetry of the skin folds can also be in babies who are absolutely healthy. But only a doctor can determine whether this is a deviation or a norm. Therefore, if there is even the slightest suspicion, you need to consult him.
Reasons for the appearance
Before receiving discharge from the maternity hospital, a young mother needs to learn how to properly care for her baby. Here she will be assisted by a neonatologist and medical staff.
It is necessary to be very careful about caring for the navel area and cleaning the nose and ears.
Asymmetrical folds on the legs in a baby can be detected when the baby's limbs are bent. It is necessary to look at the groin and knee area. If the toddler has abnormalities, the suspicion immediately arises that he has dysplasia. That is why the asymmetry must be traced even when the baby was discharged from the hospital.
A similar situation will be observed if the hip joints have not developed enough. To diagnose toddlers, you need to turn over on the tummy and try to straighten their legs as much as possible. To begin with, you should pay attention to the length of the limb. If the newborn has asymmetrical folds on the legs, this will indicate that during the development of the crumbs, even before birth, there was some kind of pathology.
The solution to the orthopedic problem in babies is real if moms and dads contact a doctor in a timely manner. Otherwise, dysplasia will worsen, and this will lead to some discomfort in walking. In the future, the child may develop lameness, which will remain for life.
What is dysplasia?
In some babies, at the time of birth, the structure of the hip joint is still immature. The joint ligaments are too elastic. And only by the year the periarticular ligaments and the joint are finally formed.
If in some toddlers the joints develop correctly and at the right time, then in others there is a slight slowdown in development. Doctors call this condition immaturity of the joint. Asymmetrical folds on the legs in infants (the photo fully reflects the picture of what is happening) and can be a symptom of this borderline state between norm and pathology.
If the joint is immature, this can later turn into a developmental disorder, that is, into dysplasia. Therefore, it is impossible to postpone a visit to the doctor so that the diagnosis is established in a timely manner and treatment is started.
There are practically no clear criteria in the diagnosis of the described disease. To confirm or exclude the diagnosis, it is necessary to do an ultrasound scan, and, possibly, an X-ray. But some symptoms can be seen by the mother herself:
- if she bends the legs at the hip and knee joints, one knee will be slightly higher than the other;
- there is some asymmetry of the inguinal, popliteal and gluteal folds;
- if the mother takes the thigh of the crumb to the side, there is a limitation.
When a mother finds at least one of these symptoms in her child, a visit to an orthopedist is required!
Dysplasia symptoms
During the first twelve months of a baby's life, it is necessary to see an orthopedist at least three times. For this, 1, 3 and 6 months of the baby's life are intended. If there is a need, then a commission should be assembled to listen to its authoritative opinion. The members of this commission will carefully examine the folds and length of the limbs. Also, the dynamics of the general development of the child is not ignored.
It is possible to diagnose dysplasia in babies only by taking into account the analysis of the presence of other symptoms:
- In some situations, the asymmetry of the folds is a congenital feature of the crumb. How the hip joint is positioned has absolutely no effect. But the final conclusion is made based solely on the results of the X-ray.
- Different lengths of limbs can be observed when seizures start from time to time. They negatively affect muscle tone, which is why there is a violation of the position of the folds. The result is clearly visible changes in symmetry.
How to diagnose at home?
Moms and dads are required to pay special attention to their baby and from time to time carry out a special examination:
- if adults try to bring the legs of the toddler together, they see how different the folds on the legs are;
- the mother tries to put the baby on her tummy, and he immediately starts crying; in addition, the baby wants to quickly change his position;
- if you carefully study the folds on the legs, you can find asymmetrical folds on the legs in the child, that is, there is no similarity in the groin and knees;
- folds on one leg are deeper than on the other.
If there is at least one of these signs, the child should be urgently shown to an orthopedist.
About prevention and treatment
Why the baby has asymmetrical folds on the legs, that is, what causes dysplasia, is not fully understood now. But doctors are convinced that if there is a genetic predisposition and pathology of pregnancy, the risk of its occurrence will increase. The reasons are as follows: first birth, large baby, breech presentation.
For the purpose of prevention, as well as if the hip joint is immature, simple methods are enough. The doctor may prescribe massage, wide swaddling and special exercises that will be necessary in such a situation.
Dysplasia is detected already in the first weeks of a toddler's life. Therefore, the treatment started on time in a short period of time will give a positive result.
Late folds
But there are times when the mother discovers asymmetrical femoral folds on the legs of a baby much later, by about three or six months. The provocateur of the disease are tight swaddling and improper care. Therefore, it is not necessary to swaddle the baby's legs very tightly. After all, by doing so, mothers limit their mobility and fix the joints in the wrong position.
The earlier the disease is detected, the easier it is to fight it. You should not neglect the obligatory examinations of an orthopedist, which, as a rule, are assigned to children during the first, third and sixth months. If this happened and the diagnosis of dysplasia was confirmed, do not despair. It is necessary to start treatment in a timely manner, thanks to which the little one, growing up, will be relieved of serious problems.
Prevention
There are cases when, with the growing up of the baby, his joint is adjusted without outside help. This will happen, perhaps, thanks to the constant finding in a position that will contribute to the reduction. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe additional actions that will speed up healing.
Doctors say that the reduction itself can only happen in children who are not yet three months old. You should not swaddle babies tightly, because in this case, the risk of harm to health will increase. It is necessary to swaddle in a certain way: pass a thick swaddle between the baby's legs, to fix which a second copy will be needed.
If asymmetric folds are found on the legs of the baby in front or behind, special gymnastic exercises that parents and children should do daily are suitable - as a prophylaxis against dysplasia. Gymnastics consists in circular movements of the pelvis and legs. During this period of development, babies have very flexible bones, so reduction can happen by itself. Moms and dads will forever forget about a difficult diagnosis.
Don't forget your podiatrist!
So, the parents saw asymmetrical folds on the legs of the baby. Don't panic right away. If the disease - dysplasia - was not diagnosed until the baby reaches three months of age, the possibility of its independent reduction increases. Parents need to resort exclusively to the free swaddling method. Gymnastics will also work well.
Pediatricians advise twice during the first six months of a baby's life to see an orthopedist. This can help identify pathology at the very beginning of development. The sooner this happens, the more likely it is to achieve a positive result in a short time. If dysplasia is left untreated, the child may have problems not only while sitting, but also while walking.
What should moms and dads do if dysplasia is detected?
Of course, most parents are upset when at some point they find asymmetrical folds on the legs of the baby in the back or in front. But it turns out that there is nothing wrong with dysplasia, especially if you go to the doctor in time. Parents should listen carefully to his recommendations and continue to adhere to them. The course of treatment is usually selected for each baby separately. There are general parameters as well.
The survey may not reveal any violations. So, asymmetrical folds on the legs of the baby in front or behind can occur against the background of the individual characteristics of the baby.
To get rid of hypertonia, you need to do massage and apply electrophoresis. Only a doctor can determine how intense the effect should be and the time that the course should last. The positive result can be seen already after the therapy, which lasts only ten days.
If the diagnosis - dysplasia - is confirmed, it is the orthopedist who can choose the right treatment method. In this case, it is important enough that this doctor can control every stage of it.
When mom or dad notices that the child has asymmetrical folds on the legs, you should immediately make an appointment with a specialist. Only he will carry out the necessary diagnostic measures and select the course of treatment necessary in such a situation.
About therapeutic measures
If the disease is mild, the toddler should be worn for massage, due to which muscle hypertonicity is significantly reduced. Only when the muscles begin to function correctly will doctors note the norm. The doctor must carefully examine each baby and prescribe the number of sessions. They will remove the pathology that will negatively affect the gait of the growing baby.
If the folds are uneven, then sometimes, in more difficult cases, Pavlik's stirrups or Frejk's splints will come to the rescue. Thanks to them, it is possible to fix the lower limbs in the required position. At the first stage of treatment, it will be enough to slightly spread the legs and bend them a little. Parents need to understand: it is very important for the child's health to diagnose the disease as early as possible. Because the treatment will sooner be started, which will give a good result. Thus, the infant will continue to develop and grow properly.
In conclusion
An important point has already become clear from this article: in order to detect asymmetrical folds on the legs in a child, parents do not have to be doctors at all. You just need to love your baby very much and do everything that is necessary for his hygiene and health.
The folds are the perfect place for diaper rash to appear. When carrying out prevention, you need to remember that all the folds on the baby's body must be clean. As an additional measure, lubricate them with hypoallergenic baby oil or petroleum jelly.
If a mother is worried about a situation, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor.
Parents, remember: it is better to spend three or four days on unnecessary examinations, rather than then for many years to treat neglected health problems of your beloved baby.
Mothers receive their first knowledge of caring for a baby immediately in the hospital. The patronage nurse shows you how to take care of your baby's skin, how to moisturize it, how to keep it clean and dry after bathing, how to rid your baby of sweat deposits, how to care for the folds and whether it is necessary to treat each of them from the inside. Pressing the legs together, the nurse pays attention to the symmetry of the groin and knee folds. It is believed that this issue should be given primary importance, since asymmetrical folds are the first sign of dysplasia of the musculoskeletal system.
The asymmetry of the folds on the baby's legs
After childbirth, the child is carefully examined by pediatricians, they study not only breathing, heart rate, but also the condition of the baby's skin, as well as the location of its folds on the lower extremities. On both legs of the child, folds, inguinal and knee) should be a reflection of each other or continue one horizontal line. Otherwise, we are talking about a congenital disease - underdevelopment of the hip joint. To accurately establish the cause of the disease, the baby is placed on his tummy, his legs are straightened. If the length of the child's legs is the same, then there are not enough reasons for concern, it takes time for the situation to even out. If the legs are different in size, the baby cannot move them apart, and if this happens, a click is heard inside the joint - one can judge the onset of orthopedic deviation.
Parents should see a specialist right away. This does not mean that he will immediately diagnose you with dysplasia, it is quite possible that different leg lengths are partially due to muscle cramps, and the musculoskeletal system has nothing to do with it. But a doctor's consultation is necessary for prophylaxis: if the legs are out of order, and the defect is detected too late, the child will limp, and his ability to move will be very limited. An accurate diagnosis can be determined by x-rays. A child should receive consultations with an orthopedist up to a year old three times: at 1 month, at 3 months and at 6 months.
Asymmetrical creases on the legs, which are detected at the earliest stages, can be straightened out and allow the baby to be complete and learn to walk correctly.
How to determine the symmetry of folds at home
- If the baby has more serious health problems (shortness of breath, disturbed heart rhythm), the doctor may not immediately pay attention to the symmetry of the folds. And healthy babies do not always get the attention of a specialist by 100%, so you can independently start examining your newborn.
- First, put it on the table with your back, bend the knees at right angles, then try to gently stretch the legs, placing a book or any other measure with a flat surface under them. Check the length of both legs. Repeat the same thing when you turn the baby over on his stomach, try not to cause inconvenience and pain to the newborn with awkward movements.
- Watch the baby's sensations, listen for clicks. If the baby is sick, his folds will not only be uneven and asymmetrical, they will have different depths.
Causes of deviations in the work of the musculoskeletal system
Dysplasia occurs in utero. The elements of the pelvis - the bone-cartilaginous base, the ligamentous-capsular and muscular apparatus do not develop together, but in leaps and bounds. According to statistics, girls have dysplasia 3 times more often than boys. In some cases, a dislocated hip in a newborn is due to his breech presentation. Therefore, after giving birth, immediately examine your baby, even the defect looks cosmetic at first glance.
How to care for your baby's wrinkles
The folds on the legs of the child under the knees and in the groove require the mother to skillfully handle them. Hygiene is simple: the baby is usually washed with soap, if the skin is dry, then each fold, previously wiped dry with a towel, must be lubricated with any kind of baby cream or oil and let the baby be naked. If you are afraid that the baby may become infected and get a skin infection, you can treat his folds with boiled olive or sunflower oil, petroleum jelly, so that it will not cause allergies.
Most young mothers begin to worry when they notice asymmetrical folds on the legs of the baby. Their fears can be understood, because such a phenomenon is one of the signs of dysplasia in a child. However, it should be remembered that the lack of symmetry is not the only sign of pathology, moreover, folds may differ for other reasons.
Folds on the legs in newborns
When a child turns one month old, he is supposed to undergo a physical examination. In addition to other doctors, the baby is examined by an orthopedic doctor. His task is to determine the possible pathologies of the development of the crumbs at an early stage, since it is at this age that most pathologies can be easily corrected. The orthopedist looks at the folds located on the baby's legs. Ideally, there should be one fold on each buttock and 2 folds on the back of the thigh, in the absence of pathologies they are symmetrical.
What does asymmetry say, reasons
Most parents, when detecting the asymmetry of the folds on the legs in a baby, immediately suspect that he has hip dysplasia. However, it should be remembered that this is not the main reason for this phenomenon in the crumbs of the first months of life. Asymmetrical folds can be located in the following situations:
- Increased muscle tone, or hypertonicity, is the main reason for this location. It occurs due to the fact that the tone in one part of the body is stronger than in another. There is nothing terrible or dangerous in this, the problem is solved by conducting special massages. Typically, hypertonicity decreases after 3-4 months.
- Asymmetry can be associated with the characteristics of a particular little man, because every child is different. If, according to the results of the examination, it is revealed that there are no violations in the structure of the hip joints, you should simply forget about the location of the folds and take it for granted. Of course, before you calm down, you should hear the opinions of a good specialist on this matter.
- Dysplasia of the hip joint also has such a symptom as asymmetry of the folds on the legs. But before making such a diagnosis, you should undergo an examination.
The exact cause of the violation of symmetry can only be identified by a doctor who has studied the results of the examination of the baby. Until this moment, it is not worthwhile to concoct diagnoses and self-medicate, this can significantly aggravate the situation.
How to identify dysplasia in a newborn
Young parents, having learned about various pathologies, often begin to check their child for its presence. Hip dysplasia is no exception. What could be easier than making out the folds of the crumbs to make sure that everything is fine with him.
Symmetry is determined as follows: the child is placed on his tummy, his legs are straightened. No additional action is required, finding the folds at the same level indicates that everything is normal. If asymmetrical folds on the legs of the baby are found, you should not panic; to confirm dysplasia, it is necessary to undergo an examination. It includes the following:
- Visit to an orthopedic surgeon. He will take additional actions to refute or confirm suspicions of changes in the hip joints. If necessary, appoint an examination.
- Ultrasound of the child's hip joints. The method is harmless, but it cannot give a complete picture of the changes in the joint. Ultrasound can reveal deviations from the norm, which should be further considered in detail.
- Serious suspicion of dysplasia is the reason for radiography. Although this method is considered harmful to children, in such a situation it does not exceed the benefits of the examination.
The results of the examination are studied by an orthopedic surgeon, after which he makes a diagnosis or refutes it. If you have any doubts, it is recommended to contact another specialist with a description of the ultrasound scan and X-ray images to be sure of the reliability of the diagnosis and the prescribed treatment.
What to do if the baby has asymmetrical folds on the legs
If you find asymmetric folds on the legs in a child, you should not panic. Even if the examination reveals the presence of dysplasia, there is nothing wrong with this diagnosis, provided that you consult a doctor in a timely manner and follow all the recommendations. What to do with folds depends on the situation:
- If the doctor confirms that the reason for the violation of symmetry lies in hypertonicity, the child should be recorded for massage and electrophoresis. These procedures are usually prescribed by a neurologist. Changes can occur after the first course, lasting 10 days.
- When all examinations have shown that there are no violations, one should think about the physiological characteristics of the child. This also occurs, although rarely. In this case, you do not need to do anything, if you really want to "treat" the baby, you can sign him up for a general strengthening massage, it will definitely not harm anyone.
- If dysplasia is diagnosed, treatment is prescribed by an orthopedist and is carried out under his constant supervision.
The first thing that parents should do, if an asymmetry of the folds on the legs is found in a child, is to contact a specialist who will voice further actions.
Prevention and treatment of dysplasia
An interesting feature of the disease in children during the first months of life is that self-reduction of the joint is quite possible. To do this, doctors recommend finding the child in the correct position, allowing the head of the hip to be adjusted without additional action. It is important that the child is with the legs spread apart as often as possible.
Self-administration is especially common in children under three months of age. Tight swaddling for children with dysplasia is strictly prohibited, and it is not welcomed for healthy babies. In the case of such a diagnosis, the baby needs special swaddling: a thick, wide diaper is placed between the baby's legs, after which it is fixed with the second.
In addition to the correct position of the legs, for the prevention and treatment of dysplasia, it is necessary to do gymnastics with the baby every day. It should include exercises involving circular abduction movements of the legs in the hip joints. As long as the baby's bones are flexible enough, you can adjust the head of the hip without any problems and forget about the diagnosis.
With a mild degree of dysplasia, diagnosed before the child reaches three months of age, there is a high probability that the formation of the baby's hip joints will end normally after free (wide) swaddling and regular therapeutic exercises.
It is necessary to visit an orthopedist immediately after birth (preferably right in the hospital), at a month and at three. This will allow you to identify pathology, if it was missed on previous examinations. Early detection of dysplasia in a child gives a great chance that he will not have problems in the future associated with sitting, crawling and standing up.