Independent Paediatric Orthopeadic Surgeons should immediately review children’s medical records and provide assurances to parents after CHI Developmental Hip Dysplasia Medical Audit’s findings.
The recent publication of an independent medical audit carried out by Mr. Simon Thomas, Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon of Bristol Royal Hospital, into pelvic osteotomies carried out on children between the ages of one and seven with developmental hip dysplasia at Temple Street Hospital (TSH), Crumlin Hospital (CRH) and the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh (NOHC) has increased the urgency of getting a full independent review done of all of the medical records of children affected.
The Audit raised concerns about the indications for pelvic osteotomy in many of the cases at TSH/NOHC but did say that some of the pelvic osteotomies were reasonably indicated. Most children at TSH/NOHC underwent pelvic osteotomies using a novel technique. Mr. Richards said in his report that all 497 cases of children that had undergone pelvic osteotomy at NOHC/TSH between 2021-2023 require ongoing follow-up to skeletal maturity. He warned that any complications that have arisen from pelvic osteotomy must be acknowledged and discussed with the families, that there should be an assessment of the original decision making in any such cases based on appropriate radiological indices and clinical history informing the decision to operate.
Commenting on the ongoing investigation as to why so many pelvic osteotomies were carried out Liam Moloney Solicitor who is representing some parents whose children underwent this invasive surgery said today “while the HSE have confirmed they are putting in place a detailed plan to ensure that the 1,800 children and young adults who are affected are to be reviewed up to skeletal maturity they have not yet explained the reasons why so many pelvic osteotomies were carried out”.
He continued “such hip surgeries on children over 5 or 6 years of age can be very complicated. There are real questions to be answered as to whether many children have had to undergo unnecessary and complex surgeries and whether their parents properly consented to such procedures at all. There are concerns about the future impacts of such surgeries which must be immediately addressed by independent Paediatric Orthopaedic surgeons whose opinions and treatment options should be immediately made available to parents and children affected”.
*In contentious matters a Solicitor cannot charge a fee based on a percentage of the damages recovered.
