—Hear how one local well-known celebrity and his family have faced this challenging, childhood condition, and see what steps they are taking to help other parents navigate the confusing healthcare options.

by Jennifery Lacey

On a summer day in 2006, Sanford residents Dan and Cara Whitney welcomed their first child, Wyatt into the world.  After those initial happy weeks, the immense joy that surrounded Wyatt’s arrival quickly turned to worry when his pediatrician explained to Mom and Dad (the latter a celebrity comedian known as Larry the Cable Guy) that something was wrong with their six-pound baby boy.  A thorough examination and tests revealed that Wyatt’s hip was dislocated and he was diagnosed with hip dysplasia.

What Causes Hip Dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia is a deformity of the hip that can occur before, during, or weeks after birth.  The Nemours Foundation, based in Jacksonville, states that approximately one out of every 20 full-term babies has some degree of hip instability, and two to three of every 1,000 infants will require treatment. In a normal-functioning hip, the rounded top of the thighbone (femoral head) rests comfortably in the cup-like hipbone socket.  For an infant who suffers from hip dysplasia, the problem can range from a femoral head that moves back and forth within the socket to a completely dislocated hip. Hip dysplasia prevents the hip joint from functioning properly and, consequently, it wears out much faster than normal.

Diagnosis and Potential Risk Factors

Typically, hip dysplasia is diagnosed at the time of an infant’s birth. However, it’s not uncommon for it to be discovered during later check-ups. Although the exact causes of hip dysplasia aren’t completely understood, there are some contributing risk factors.  A family history of hip dysplasia makes certain infants more prone to being diagnosed with the condition. Charles T. Price, MD, director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute in Orlando, explains that, “one in eight babies is at risk to develop the condition if one parent has a history of hip dysplasia.”  Another risk factor is directly linked to the positioning of a baby while in the womb. When an unborn baby is in the breech position, his or her hip joints get stretched since the baby is stuck in this position until birth. Wyatt Whitney was one of those babies whose hip was dislocated from being in the breech position.

If left untreated, hip dysplasia can lead to crippling arthritis in both children and adults. Sadly, awareness of this condition is limited outside of the medical profession.  The Whitney’s admit that when they first heard the term, they immediately thought that it was a condition typically found in dogs. They had no idea how frequently it affected babies. Although specialists kept telling the Whitney’s that Wyatt’s diagnosis was ‘no big deal,’ and that hip dysplasia was common, they, nonetheless, grew increasingly frustrated over the lack of consistent information about the condition. “Although we knew that it was a fixable problem, we were frustrated that we didn’t know how long it would take to fix it,” recalls Cara. “The possibility that it could take years was very disheartening for us since Wyatt was still a newborn. I quickly learned to appreciate parents that had a child with a condition that couldn’t be fixed.”

Treating the Little Guy

Typically, treatment for hip dysplasia is dependent upon the age of the child and the severity of the condition. Methods most commonly used to treat infants include:

• Pavlik Harness─ One of the most common treatments when a baby is less than six months of age, this flexible device keeps the femoral head in its socket by holding the knee up towards the child’s head.
• Braces─ Used for infants to hold their hips in position and encourage hip/joint development.  Braces are not flexible.
• Closed Reduction─ One of the most common surgical treatments in which the hip bone is put back into place.
• Open Reduction─ Surgical procedure in which an infant’s hip is realigned and the thighbone is placed back into the hip socket.

Wyatt was fitted with the Pavlik Harness by a specialist located near the Whitney’s other residence in Nebraska. “The first harness didn’t work,” Cara says. Frustrated by the options, Dan and Cara were astonished to learn that there were no universal protocols. “We wanted facts, figures, percentages, but instead we got ‘hit or miss’ treatments.  We didn’t know how bad Wyatt’s dysplasia was, never mind how long it could take for him to heal.”

Next, the Whitney’s approached Dr. Price and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando.  Dr. Price fitted Wyatt with a second harness and, much to the Whitney’s relief, it worked.  “If the second harness had not worked, surgery would have been next,” says Cara.  Once Wyatt was discharged from the hospital, he wore the harness 23 hours a day for seven months.  “He was fussy while he was in it. It was only removed for one hour a day, so it was very difficult to change and bathe him during this time.”

Helping Other Parents

Motivated by their struggles with Wyatt’s condition, Dan and Cara decided to use their Git-R-Done Foundation to establish the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando.  The Whitney’s made a $5 million donation in 2010 to the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation with the goal of creating a facility where “doctors worldwide could go to gather and share information, so everyone could be on the same page and end the guessing games.”

Dan and Cara are immensely proud that they were able to create a place that provides parents with the answers they seek.  As for Wyatt, his mom says that he continues to undergo x-rays, with the next one due when he turns 10 years old. “His hip looks great right now and we are happy to say that he is already playing sports,” Cara reports. “He either wants to be a baseball player or a drummer for The Beatles!”

For more information on hip dysplasia, visit www.hipdysplasia.org