Should Graf IIc Hips be Treated for 12 Weeks

NCT ID: NCT03275805

Last Updated: 2025-07-15

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-06-11

Study Completion Date

2025-07-01

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Children who are diagnosed with Developmental Hip Dysplasia (DDH) are often categorized depending on the severity of their hip malformation. Regardless of the severity, the accepted form of treatment is the Pavlik Harness. Unfortunately, there is no specific recommended treatment regarding length of Pavlik Harness treatment for patients with DDH who have who have been categorized with stable Graf type IIc hips. The investigators will aim to answer this question with a randomized controlled trial of patients with these specific findings by dividing selected patients into 2 arms. Each arm consists of varying lengths of Pavlik harness treatment (treatment to normalization, no less than 6 weeks or 12 weeks full-time). Patient's two year follow up radiographs will determine the best means of treatment.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip is a thoroughly researched and manageable disease if treated correctly. While the literature agrees that Pavlik Harness treatment is the best means of treatment, there is still a lack of research regarding those patients who have stable Graf type IIc hips. Graf's classification method outlines the severity of dysplasia with a categorical method based on physical exam and ultrasound findings with a range of I-IV given in increasing order of severity. There are recommendations for how to treat more severe forms, but there is no consensus among orthopedic surgeons on how to specifically treat type IIc hips who present with stable hips.

Patients ages (0-18 weeks) of age will be recruited who present with stable Graf type IIc hips that have normal exam and abnormal ultrasound. The investigator's designated hip clinic defines normal exam as Ortolani and Barlow negative hips. Alpha angle will be used to determine normalcy on ultrasound. Abnormal ultrasound will be defined as an alpha angle \<60 degrees, and less than 50% coverage and is justification in the facility for entrance into our designated hip protocol.

Upon meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria, patients diagnosed with IIc hips will be placed in the harness around 6 weeks of age. Patient consents will ensue at their 6 week follow up and will randomly divide patients into one of two arms: one control group which will receive the standard 12 week full-time protocol for Pavlik Harness treatment used at the institution, and one experimental group which will receive full-time Pavlik Harness treatment until normalization, but for no less than 6 weeks. All patients will be required to follow up at week 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, then at 6 months, one year, and two years from the time of harness placement. Ultrasounds will take place at week 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 and 6 months; radiographs will be taken at patients 6 month, one year and two year follow ups due to ossification of the femoral head. Acetabular Index (AI) at two-year radiographs will be used as the primary outcome variable.

Patients in the 6 week arm will only cease treatment if ultrasound and physical exam findings are acceptable. If patients fail to have acceptable ultrasound findings at 6 weeks, then the associated complication/failure will be noted, patients will be ineligible for study inclusion, and will continue with treatment to ensure hip reduction.

At routine follow ups, providers will note patient alpha angles on ultrasound at weeks 1,2,3,4,6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks. Since infant hips mature and may not be as visible on ultrasound around 6 months of age, acetabular indices on radiographs will be taken to measure patient hips at 6 month, 1 year, and 2 year follow ups. These images will be analyzed from within EPIC after patient visits and data information will be stored in RedCAP until the remainder of the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics will be included through descriptive statistics. Non-inferiority testing between patient's 2 year AI findings will determine if 6 weeks of treatment is no less harmful in terms of incidences of residual dysplasia to that of 12 weeks of treatment. The specified non-inferiority margin will be 4 degrees. This is the chosen clinically accepted difference in AI between groups.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Developmental Dysplasia of Hip

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

12 weeks Pavlik Treatment Arm

This arm will receive 12 weeks of full-time Pavlik Harness treatment. Patients will most likely begin the 12-week regiment at their first visit to our hip clinic.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

12 week standard of care

Intervention Type OTHER

The intervention for this arm will be standard treatment for this pathology.

6 weeks Pavlik Treatment Arm

This arm will receive treatment to normalization, but for no less than 6 weeks. Patients will begin their treatment around the time of their first visit to our designated hip clinic.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Duration of Pavlik Harness treatment

Intervention Type OTHER

The only intervention that varies from standard of care (12 weeks of treatment) will be the duration of bracing (for the treatment to normalization arm). Patients in both arms will have identical follow up protocols and imaging to closely monitor hip morphology.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Duration of Pavlik Harness treatment

The only intervention that varies from standard of care (12 weeks of treatment) will be the duration of bracing (for the treatment to normalization arm). Patients in both arms will have identical follow up protocols and imaging to closely monitor hip morphology.

Intervention Type OTHER

12 week standard of care

The intervention for this arm will be standard treatment for this pathology.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

1\. Patients with:

* DDH
* Graf IIc hips (alpha angle = 43-49 degrees)
* normal hip exam (stable hips)
* abnormal ultrasound

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients with additional conditions: Neurologic or teratologic.
2. Follow up that occurs at any other institution.
3. Unstable hips
Minimum Eligible Age

0 Weeks

Maximum Eligible Age

18 Weeks

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

University of Colorado, Denver

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Gaia Georgopoulos, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Children's Hospital Colorado

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Children's Hospital Colorado

Aurora, Colorado, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Bialik V, Bialik GM, Blazer S, Sujov P, Wiener F, Berant M. Developmental dysplasia of the hip: a new approach to incidence. Pediatrics. 1999 Jan;103(1):93-9. doi: 10.1542/peds.103.1.93.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9917445 (View on PubMed)

Dunn PM, Evans RE, Thearle MJ, Griffiths HE, Witherow PJ. Congenital dislocation of the hip: early and late diagnosis and management compared. Arch Dis Child. 1985 May;60(5):407-14. doi: 10.1136/adc.60.5.407.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 4015144 (View on PubMed)

Harding MG, Harcke HT, Bowen JR, Guille JT, Glutting J. Management of dislocated hips with Pavlik harness treatment and ultrasound monitoring. J Pediatr Orthop. 1997 Mar-Apr;17(2):189-98. doi: 10.1097/00004694-199703000-00010.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9075094 (View on PubMed)

Herring JA. Conservative treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip in the newborn and infant. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1992 Aug;(281):41-7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 1499226 (View on PubMed)

Lorente Molto FJ, Gregori AM, Casas LM, Perales VM. Three-year prospective study of developmental dysplasia of the hip at birth: should all dislocated or dislocatable hips be treated? J Pediatr Orthop. 2002 Sep-Oct;22(5):613-21.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12198463 (View on PubMed)

Mubarak S, Garfin S, Vance R, McKinnon B, Sutherland D. Pitfalls in the use of the Pavlik harness for treatment of congenital dysplasia, subluxation, and dislocation of the hip. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1981 Oct;63(8):1239-48.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 7287794 (View on PubMed)

Novais EN, Sanders J, Kestel LA, Carry PM, Meyers ML. Graf Type-IV Hips Have a Higher Risk of Residual Acetabular Dysplasia at 1 Year of Age Following Successful Pavlik Harness Treatment for Developmental Hip Dysplasia. J Pediatr Orthop. 2018 Nov/Dec;38(10):498-502. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000000875.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27662383 (View on PubMed)

Paton RW, Hopgood PJ, Eccles K. Instability of the neonatal hip: the role of early or late splintage. Int Orthop. 2004 Oct;28(5):270-3. doi: 10.1007/s00264-004-0576-8. Epub 2004 Aug 12.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15309324 (View on PubMed)

Rosendahl K, Dezateux C, Fosse KR, Aase H, Aukland SM, Reigstad H, Alsaker T, Moster D, Lie RT, Markestad T. Immediate treatment versus sonographic surveillance for mild hip dysplasia in newborns. Pediatrics. 2010 Jan;125(1):e9-16. doi: 10.1542/peds.2009-0357. Epub 2009 Dec 21.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20026501 (View on PubMed)

Sewell MD, Rosendahl K, Eastwood DM. Developmental dysplasia of the hip. BMJ. 2009 Nov 24;339:b4454. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b4454. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19934187 (View on PubMed)

Takahashi I. Functional treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip using Pavlik harness (Riemenbugel). Nihon Seikeigeka Gakkai Zasshi. 1985 Nov;59(11):973-84.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 3831166 (View on PubMed)

Westacott DJ, Mackay ND, Waton A, Webb MS, Henman P, Cooke SJ. Staged weaning versus immediate cessation of Pavlik harness treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip. J Pediatr Orthop B. 2014 Mar;23(2):103-6. doi: 10.1097/BPB.0000000000000025.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24322535 (View on PubMed)

Wood MK, Conboy V, Benson MK. Does early treatment by abduction splintage improve the development of dysplastic but stable neonatal hips? J Pediatr Orthop. 2000 May-Jun;20(3):302-5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10823594 (View on PubMed)

Atalar H, Sayli U, Yavuz OY, Uras I, Dogruel H. Indicators of successful use of the Pavlik harness in infants with developmental dysplasia of the hip. Int Orthop. 2007 Apr;31(2):145-50. doi: 10.1007/s00264-006-0097-8. Epub 2006 Apr 7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16601983 (View on PubMed)

Viere RG, Birch JG, Herring JA, Roach JW, Johnston CE. Use of the Pavlik harness in congenital dislocation of the hip. An analysis of failures of treatment. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1990 Feb;72(2):238-44.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 2303510 (View on PubMed)

Lerman JA, Emans JB, Millis MB, Share J, Zurakowski D, Kasser JR. Early failure of Pavlik harness treatment for developmental hip dysplasia: clinical and ultrasound predictors. J Pediatr Orthop. 2001 May-Jun;21(3):348-53.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11371819 (View on PubMed)

Graf R. Classification of hip joint dysplasia by means of sonography. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg (1978). 1984;102(4):248-55. doi: 10.1007/BF00436138.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 6712426 (View on PubMed)

Shorter D, Hong T, Osborn DA. Cochrane Review: Screening programmes for developmental dysplasia of the hip in newborn infants. Evid Based Child Health. 2013 Jan;8(1):11-54. doi: 10.1002/ebch.1891.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23878122 (View on PubMed)

Woolacott NF, Puhan MA, Steurer J, Kleijnen J. Ultrasonography in screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip in newborns: systematic review. BMJ. 2005 Jun 18;330(7505):1413. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38450.646088.E0. Epub 2005 Jun 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15930025 (View on PubMed)

Bracken J, Tran T, Ditchfield M. Developmental dysplasia of the hip: controversies and current concepts. J Paediatr Child Health. 2012 Nov;48(11):963-72; quiz 972-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2012.02601.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23126391 (View on PubMed)

Shipman SA, Helfand M, Moyer VA, Yawn BP. Screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip: a systematic literature review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Pediatrics. 2006 Mar;117(3):e557-76. doi: 10.1542/peds.2005-1597.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16510634 (View on PubMed)

Patel H; Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care. Preventive health care, 2001 update: screening and management of developmental dysplasia of the hip in newborns. CMAJ. 2001 Jun 12;164(12):1669-77.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11450209 (View on PubMed)

Godley DR. Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip. JAAPA. 2013 Mar;26(3):54-8. doi: 10.1097/01720610-201303000-00011. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23520807 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

20-3104

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Image Guided System for Orthopaedic Surgery
NCT00022802 TERMINATED PHASE2
Sequelae of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
NCT02431871 ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING