Asymmetrical foot prints

Many parents have found that their babies have asymmetrical foot patterns. Asymmetric foot lines refer to the phenomenon that the wrinkles on the skin of a child's lower limbs are asymmetric in number, length, etc. Asymmetrical foot lines are often a sign of physical problems in babies and need to be taken seriously by parents. Some babies with asymmetrical foot lines may suffer from hip dysplasia. So, what should you do if your feet have asymmetrical lines?

What is asymmetric leg lines?

Asymmetric leg lines, in simple terms, mean that the depth, length, and number of skin wrinkles on the baby's buttocks and legs are asymmetric. There are usually two types of asymmetric leg lines: the first is the different positions. After turning the child over, I found that the lines on the child's thighs were of different heights, one side was high and the other side was low; the second type is the different number. The child has three leg lines on one leg and only one or two on the other leg.

Some parents may say: "What's the big deal? The child is just too fat." It should be noted that asymmetrical leg lines on a child may be a warning signal - if the baby has asymmetrical leg lines, there is about a 10% chance of suffering from hip dysplasia, which will affect the baby's walking.

Hip dysplasia, medically known as developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), is one of the main diseases that cause limb disability in children.

In infancy, the symptoms of this disease are usually not obvious, and because the child is born with this condition and has no clear complaints, it is often ignored. But the word "developmental" in the name of the disease reminds us that the disease will gradually become apparent as the baby grows and develops. For example, after a baby learns to walk, he or she may develop a limp or hip pain. Some adults will find it difficult to bear weight, stand or walk for long periods of time, etc., which seriously affects their daily life and work.

Why do babies get DDH?

According to experts, this is basically innate and the reasons are quite complicated. Genetic factors, fetal position of the pregnant woman, and hormone levels during pregnancy may all be related. In addition to congenital factors, acquired factors also have a certain relationship with this problem.

The main causes of developmental dysplasia of the hip are:

1. Mechanical theory. Breech delivery can cause the hip joint to suffer mechanical stress in an abnormal flexion position, causing dislocation of the femoral head; or the infant may be improperly wrapped or held too tightly after delivery. Because of the traditional habit of the elderly to wrap their babies in a candle-shaped swaddle, with the legs wrapped too tightly, or they like to hold the baby in their arms and not give the baby enough time and space to move his legs, all of which may cause hip dislocation in children.

2. Genetic factors. It is generally believed that the incidence rate in people with a family history is 7 times that in people without a family history.

3. Hormone theory. During childbirth, the mother produces a large amount of estrogen, which causes the child's hip joint to be in a relaxed state, making it prone to dislocation.

4. Intrauterine factors. For example, if the mother has too little amniotic fluid, the space in the uterus will be too small and the fetus will not have enough range to move. The mother will secrete a hormone called relaxin, and girls are more sensitive to it than boys, making them more prone to hip joint relaxation. This also explains why the incidence rate for girls is higher than that for boys.

How to determine if your baby has DDH?

As babies get older, babies with asymmetrical leg lines are more likely to have hip dysplasia. Although not every baby with asymmetrical leg lines suffers from DDH, children with hip dysplasia will definitely have asymmetrical leg lines. Therefore, if it is detected early, the treatment will be simpler and the child will suffer less pain.

The following are the most commonly used examination methods by orthopedic doctors. If mothers have any doubts, they can test themselves:

1. The length of the lower limbs is unequal. Let the baby lie flat, hold the baby's legs together with both hands, and check whether the baby's legs are of equal length. In single hip dislocation, the lower limbs are not of equal length.

2. The knees are at different heights. The baby lies flat on his back with his legs bent and his feet placed on the bed. If the knees are of equal height, it is normal. When a single hip is dislocated, the knees are not of equal height.

3. Limited or popping hip abduction. The baby lies flat on his back with his knees bent, and tries to abduct both legs at the same time. A normal hip joint can be abducted to 80 to 90 degrees, but the abduction of children with DDH is obviously limited, and some can only be abducted to 40 to 50 degrees. Some babies with this disease may feel a jumping sensation or even a "popping" sound during the abduction movement of the femoral head.

4. Pain in hip abduction. A few babies have stiff hip joint on the affected side and cry because of pain when the hip joint is abducted.

It needs to be emphasized again that asymmetric leg lines are only a warning sign of DDH, and the two cannot be equated. Many normal babies also have asymmetric skin texture. This is because the lower limbs of infants and young children are shorter than those of adults and are caused by fat accumulation. However, if your baby has asymmetrical leg lines, you might as well use the above method to test yourself.

If mothers find any abnormalities or are unsure, it is recommended that they take their children to the hospital for relevant physical examinations and ultrasound or X-ray examinations. However, the identification requires an experienced doctor. If you think there is a problem, please transfer to a higher-level hospital for identification in time. If there is a problem, it must be discovered and treated early.

In daily life, mothers should also resolutely refuse old habits such as candle wraps and leg binding. These incorrect parenting practices can increase the incidence of DDH by more than tenfold. And learn to choose the right carrier and sling. When holding a baby, use the straddle position more often to prevent the baby's legs from drooping. It is best to use the frog position for abduction to ensure that the femoral head is close to the acetabulum and reduce the risk of DDH.