Project Lead(s): Jeremias Jara
Issue
Hip dysplasia is one of the most frequently observed congenital anomalies in newborns, diagnosed at a rate of 2% in Latin America and, without early treatment, hip dysplasia can develop into a lifelong physical disability.
When provided with treatment (typically in the form of a harness), most patients in rural areas of Latin America do not receive proper education on how to use it correctly, which often leads to abandoned or incorrect application, leading to non-recovery or further injury.
Solution
El Arnés functional de Jara (The Jara Harness) is a biomechanical orthotic device designed for the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hips (DDH) in children aged three months to two years.
The device works by keeping the child’s affected hip/leg stable in semiflexion until the joint fully develops. Its unique positioning allows for mobility, but prevents dislocations, which are common among children with hip dysplasia.
In addition to comfort and mobility, this harness is superior to conventional harnesses because it has also proven effective when the diagnosis is made after birth.
The development of the final prototype of the Jara harness involved a continuous improvement process, based on information generated by research of potential users.
Instructions for proper use of the Jara harness were developed in basic reading formats for parents who are monitoring the condition.
Outcome
In a sample population of 1,049 patients who received treatment in Peru, 48% had positive signs of hip dysplasia and 7% were diagnosed with hip dislocation.
A free health campaign called "Caderitas Sanas” or “Healthy Hips” (implemented as part of the program) benefitted 138 children with limited access to resources and quality medical services. The children were served through the implementation of this free medical campaign.
The team has successfully registered the brand and logo, and applied for a patent.
The Jara Harness was presented at a number of national and international events in the field of diagnosis and treatment of DDH, including the XXI Peruvian Congress and XII International Congress of Rehabilitation (Lima, May 2015), the II International Congress of Medicine Height (CMP Peru and Bolivia), the Science for Peace weekly lecture series (Toronto, February 2016), and at the National Institute of Pediatrics of Mexico (Mexico City, May 2016).
The team intends to further publicly disseminate information about the development of the technology, and expand diagnosis and treatment services of DDH to the regions of Cusco and where there are high rates of incidence in DDH.