Recently Varun Dhawan told everyone about a personal problem many moms and dads will understand. He said in a very open way that Lara had DDH when she was only 1.5 years old. He told about all the feelings and medical care that came next, and how relieved they are that Lara is getting better.
Varun Dhawan on his family’s experience
Varun said the first time the doctors explained DDH, they said the hip joint can easily move out of the socket. He said hearing the diagnosis was a shock, and from that moment, the plan to fix it became the most important thing to the family. When he remembers what happened, he sounds very vulnerable, but also thankful.
Lara didn’t have to have major surgery. Doctors did a procedure to put the hip back in the correct place and then put her in a full body cast (a spica cast) for two and a half months. Varun remembers how hard it was to watch Lara wake up in the cast after being given anesthesia, and how that time really tested their strength.
What is Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)
DDH is a problem with how a baby’s hip joint grows. It can begin before the baby is born, or show up as the child gets older and can affect one hip, or both. Finding it early really changes the types of treatment available and how well they work.
You might notice that one leg can’t move as easily as the other, the legs are different lengths, a baby has trouble crawling or walking, or a child walks with a limp once they start walking. If parents see anything strange about how their child moves or if the child is slow to reach normal milestones in their physical development, they should get the child checked by a pediatrician (a doctor for children) or a pediatric orthopedist (a bone doctor for children).
Treatment options: the spica cast and beyond
If DDH is found early, it can usually be fixed without surgery. In Lara’s case, doctors moved the hip into the right position using a “closed reduction,” then used a spica cast to keep it there. The cast holds the hip steady while the tissues and the socket of the hip can grow and change shape.
A spica cast is usually on for several weeks to months, depending on the child’s age and how bad the DDH is. It’s hard on both the child and the people caring for them, both emotionally and physically. Some children will need surgery if the cast and other treatments don’t work, but many eventually get full use of their hips again with careful monitoring and physical therapy.
Practical advice for parents and caregivers
Parents should keep track of their child’s development and look for legs that don’t move the same way, a limp that doesn’t go away, or a hip that doesn’t move much. Doctors can check a newborn’s hips for stability and use a hip ultrasound on babies at risk for DDH to find it early. It’s very important to see a pediatrician quickly.
Once you have a diagnosis, find out about how long the treatment will take, how to care for the cast, how to deal with pain, and what follow-up appointments to expect. Support groups and services for children’s rehabilitation can help families with their daily lives and reduce stress while the child is getting better.
Families, resilience, and raising awareness
Varun also thought about his father’s time in the intensive care unit (ICU) and how he learned to be strong from that experience. Because he’s shared these private details, he’s been able to relate to other moms and dads and those caring for children who are facing uncertainty with their child’s health. He chose to talk about this openly to make it easier to have hard conversations about children’s medical issues.
Lara is now fine, and Varun wants to tell the whole story to more people. By discussing DDH, he shows how essential it is to find it early, make smart decisions about treatment, and for parents to be very attentive. These points could really help families going through the same thing.
