A COUPLE has urged new parents to check for a condition that can leave youngsters with a dislocated hip after their daughter ended up having to wear a full body cast for three months.

Florence Richards, who is now 18 months old, had to have an operation after being diagnosed with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip and is scheduled to have her cast removed in May.

Her parents, Lara and Huw Richards, of Goginan, near Aberystwyth, have now launched a campaign to raise awareness of the condition in a bid to ensure that any youngsters exhibiting DDH symptoms can be checked out at an early stage.

Lara said: “Although she is doing well now we were first alerted to one of the symptoms of DDH at 11 months old from her nursery, but because we were unaware of the condition and the symptoms, the diagnosis was delayed.

“Although all of the treatment she has received has been excellent, I wish I had been more aware as a parent of the condition and what to look out for, then perhaps she may have been treated earlier and not needed surgery and several hospital stays.”

Lara said the family was hoping to mark the occasion of Flo having her cast removed by holding a fundraising hike to raise money for STEPS after receiving advice and support from the organisation.

But Lara said the first step was to make parents aware of possible symptoms that could show a youngster has DDH.

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