Are Consanguineous Marriage and Swaddling the Risk Factors of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip? Sukriye Ilkay Guner • Savas Guner • Erdal Peker • Mehmet Fethi Ceylan • Ayse Guler • Ugur Turktas • Barıs Kaki Received: 11 September 2012 / Accepted: 10 October 2012 / Published online: 19 October 2012 Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2012 Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate prospectively the effects of swaddling and consanguineous marriage on developmental dysplasia of the hip and asso- ciated risk factors. We screened by ultrasound 265 infants using the Graf method. The Pediatrics Department referred all newborn infants with suspected instability or a recog- nized risk factor to the orthopedic clinic. Risk factors of developmental dysplasia of the hip were searched and noted in these patients. Swaddling and consanguineous marriage were also determined and noted. We observed 164 of 265 infants (61.9 %) who had been swaddled and that 64 of 265 infants’ parents were in a consanguineous marriage (24.2 %). In the statistical analysis that was conducted for swaddling and consanguineous marriage, highly significant differences were found. Our study showed that the rate of developmental dysplasia of the hip is very high, 11.7 %, in our region, eastern Turkey. Also, we commonly see improper swaddling and consanguineous marriage in our region, which affects many infants. Keywords Hip dislocation Á Congenital Á Risk factor Á Swaddling Á Consanguineous marriage Introduction Developmental dysplasia of hip (DDH) refers to aberrance in the volume, shape, direction or organization of the femoral head, acetabulum or both. Acetabular dysplasia is characterized by an immature, shallow acetabulum and can result in subluxation or dislocation of the femoral head. In a subluxed hip the femoral head is displaced from its normal place but still makes contact with a part of the acetabulum. With a dislocated hip, there is no relationship between the articular surface of the femoral head and the acetabulum (Storer and Skaggs 2006). In the spectrum of DDH, severe dysplasia or irreducible dislocation with early degenerative changes may require total hip replacement in early adulthood (Engesaeter et al. 2003). DDH can be treated nonsurgically if it is determined early. Newborn screening with ultrasound, which has been practiced at the first month after birth, is intended to decrease the need for surgery and to prevent degenerative joint disease, pain and mobility limitations (Lehmann et al. 2000). There is a current trend toward swaddling to help reduce crying and support uninterrupted sleep in neonates. There S. I. Guner School of Nursing, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey e-mail: ilkay.guner@hotmail.com S. Guner (&) Á M. F. Ceylan Á U. Turktas Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, Medical School of Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey e-mail: gunersavas@gmail.com M. F. Ceylan e-mail: mfethiceylan@hotmail.com U. Turktas e-mail: uturktas@yahoo.com E. Peker Department of Pediatrics, Medical School of Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey e-mail: pekererdal@hotmail.com A. Guler Department of Gynecology and Obstetric, Medical School of Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey e-mail: doctorayseguler@yahoo.com.tr B. Kaki Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Biometry-Genetics, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey e-mail: bariskaki@hotmail.com 123 J Membrane Biol (2013) 246:115–119 DOI 10.1007/s00232-012-9509-4