A Model of Hip Dysplasia Reductions in Infants Using the Pavlik Harness

Hip dysplasia, also known as congenital dysplasia of the hip (CDH) or Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH), is a mal-alignment of the hip joint. Left untreated within the first nine months, DDH could lead to permanent disability. Luckily however, this condition is diagnosed at an early age and is usually treated without surgery through the use of the Pavlik harness. In this thesis, a 3D computational model and dynamic finite element analysis of the muscles and tissues involved in hip dysplasia and the mechanics of the Pavlik harness, as rendered by Dr. Alain J. Kassab’s research group in the College of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in the University of Central Florida over the past 3 years, were reviewed and discussed to evaluate the accuracy of the hip reduction mechanism. I examine the group’s usage of CT-based images to create accurate models of the bony structures, muscle tensions and roles that were generated using biomechanical analyses of maximal and passive strain, and the usage of adult and infant hips. Results, as produced by the group indicated that the effects and force contribution of the muscles studied are functions of severity of hip dislocation. Therefore, I discussed complications with real world-to-computational modeling with regards to structural systems and data interpretations. Although this design could be applied to more anatomical models and mechanistic analyses, more research would have to be completed to create more accurate models and results