Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) Practice Questions

When developing the teaching plan for parents using the Pavlik harness with their child, what should be the nurse's initial step? 1.Assessing the parents' current coping strategies. 2.Determining the parents' knowledge about the device. 3.Providing the parents with written instructions. 4.Giving the parents a list of community resources

2 Assessing the learner's knowledge level is the initial step in any teaching plan to promote the maximum amount of learning. This assessment also provides the nurse with a starting point for teaching. Assessing coping strategies can provide important information to the development of the teaching plan but is not the initial step. Giving parents written instructions or a list of community resources is appropriate once the parents' knowledge level has been determined and teaching has begun.

The mother asks the nurse about using a car seat for her toddler who is in a hip spica cast. The nurse should tell the mother: 1."You can use a seat belt because of the spica cast." 2."You will need a specially designed car seat for your toddler." 3."You can still use the car seat you already have." 4."You'll need to get a special release from the police so that a car seat won't be needed.

2 The toddler in a hip spica cast needs a specially designed car seat. The one that the mother already has will not be appropriate because of the need for the car seat to accommodate the cast and abductor bar

The nurse teaches the parents of an infant with developmental dysplasia of the hip how to handle their child in a Pavlik harness. Which of the following is most appropriate? 1.Fitting the diaper under the straps. 2.Leaving the harness off while the infant sleeps. 3.Checking for skin redness under straps every other day. 4.Putting powder on the skin under the straps every day.

1 The Pavlik harness is worn over a diaper. Knee socks are also worn to prevent the straps and foot and leg pieces from rubbing directly on the skin. For maximum results, the infant needs to wear the harness continuously. The skin should be inspected several times a day, not every other day, for signs of redness or irritation. Lotions and powders are to be avoided because they can cake and irritate the skin.

Which can occur in untreated developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)? Select all that apply. 1. Duck gait. 2. Pain. 3. Osteoarthritis in adulthood. 4. Osteoporosis in adulthood. 5. Increased flexibility of the hip joint in adulthood.

1, 2, 3. 1. Due to abnormal hip joint function, the client's gait is stiff and waddling. 2. Due to abnormal femoral head placement, the client may experience pain and decreased flexibility in adulthood. 3. Due to abnormal femoral head placement, the client may experience osteoarthritis in the hip joint in adulthood. 4. There is no increased risk for osteoporosis. 5. There is no increased flexibility of the hip joint in adulthood. TEST-TAKING HINT: If the test taker knows that untreated DDH leads to decreased smooth movement of hip joint, then answer 5 can be eliminated.

When teaching the family of an older infant who has had a spica cast applied for developmental dysplasia of the hip, which information should the nurse include when describing the abduction stabilizer bar? 1.It can be adjusted to a position of comfort. 2.It is used to lift the child. 3.It adds strength to the cast. 4.It is necessary to turn the child.

3 The abduction bar is incorporated into the cast to increase the cast's strength and maintain the legs in alignment. The bar cannot be removed or adjusted, unless the cast is removed and a new cast is applied. The bar should never be used to lift or turn the client, because doing so may weaken the cast.

Which would the nurse expect to assess on a 3-week-old infant with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)? Select all that apply. 1. Excessive hip abduction. 2. Femoral lengthening of an affected leg. 3. Asymmetry of gluteal and thigh folds. 4. Pain when lying prone. 5. Positive Ortolani test

3, 5. 1. In DDH, a newborn can have excessive hip adduction. 2. In DDH, an appearance of femoral shortening is frequently present on the affected side. 3. In DDH, asymmetrical thigh and gluteal folds are frequently present. 4. Infants do not experience pain from this condition. 5. The Ortolani maneuver moves a disclocated hip back into the socket with a distinct clunk. TEST-TAKING HINT: If the test taker knows that DDH decreases smooth movement of the femoral head, then answers 1 and 2 can be eliminated because they indicate increased movement of the femur.

The nurse is assessing the infant shown in the figure. On observing the client from this angle, the nurse should document that this infant has which of the following? 1.Ortolani's "click." 2.Limited abduction. 3.Galeazzi's sign. 4.Asymmetric gluteal folds.

4 This infant with congenital hip dysplasia has asymmetric gluteal folds. The Ortolani "click" occurs when the nurse feels the femur sliding into the acetabulum with a "click." Limited abduction may be observed during an attempt to abduct the infant's thighs. Galeazzi's sign reveals femoral foreshortening and is observed by flexing the thighs.

Which should the nurse stress to the parents of an infant in a Pavlik harness for treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)? 1. Put socks on over the foot pieces of the harness to help stabilize the harness. 2. Use lotions or powder on the skin to prevent rubbing of straps. 3. Remove harness during diaper changes for ease of cleaning diaper area. 4. Check under the straps at least two to three times daily for red areas.

4 1. Socks should be put on under the straps to prevent rubbing of the skin. The harness is stable if fitted correctly. 2. Lotions and powders tend to cake and irritate under the straps. Their use is not recommended. 3. The harness is not to be removed except in specific conditions and after instruction on removal and refitting. Diapering is easily done with the harness in place. 4. Checking under straps frequently is suggested to prevent skin breakdown. TEST-TAKING HINT: The test taker can eliminate answer 1 because the question is about skin redness and irritation, not harness fi t.

A 16-month-old child is seen in the clinic for a checkup for the first time. The nurse notices that the toddler limps when walking. Which of the following would be appropriate to use when assessing this toddler for developmental dysplasia of the hip? 1.Ortolani's maneuver. 2.Barlow's maneuver. 3.Adam's position. 4.Trendelenburg's sign.

4. In a toddler, weight bearing causes the pelvis to tilt downward on the unaffected side instead of upward as it would normally. This is Trendelenburg's sign, and it indicates developmental dysplasia of the hip. Ortolani's maneuver is used during the neonatal period to assess developmental dysplasia of the hip in infants. With the infant quiet, relaxed, and lying on the back, the hips and knees are flexed at right angles. The knees are moved to abduction and pressure is exerted. If the femoral head moves forward, then it is dislocated. Barlow's maneuver is used to assess developmental dysplasia of the hip in infants. As the femur is moved into or out of the acetabulum, a "clunk" is heard, indicating dislocation. Adam's position is used to evaluate for structural scoliosis. The child bends forward with feet together and arms hanging freely or with palms together.