A final report has been published by Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) and National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh (NOHC) which revealed that almost 500 children who underwent hip surgery in two hospitals in Dublin should be recalled after a clinical audit found a lower threshold for operations was used, leading to “unnecessary” procedures.
It is difficult to believe that almost 80 per cent of those operated on at NOHC, and 60 per cent of those at Temple Street, did not meet the threshold for surgery in that timeframe. 85 surgeries performed at Temple Street were examined, of which 51 did not meet the criteria for surgery. In Cappagh, 70 pelvic surgeries were examined, and 55 did not meet the criteria, which means that almost 80% of procedures were not necessary.
The audit of dysplasia of the hips surgery in children found that a lower threshold was used at Temple Street and Cappagh hospitals. An audit of paediatric hip dysplasia surgeries or DDH at CHI hospitals found that hundreds of children operated on between 2021 and 2023 did not meet the threshold for the procedure. It has been revealed that the threshold for procedures varied between Crumlin, Temple Street and Cappagh hospitals.
The CEO of Children’s Health Ireland has stated that “We are currently standardising care across all CHI sites, so all children receive the same high-quality treatment no matter where they are seen”. An international panel of experts is to be set up and any parents who wish to have their child’s case reviewed will be offered this opportunity. The audit advises long term follow-up of all children who have pelvic osteotomy surgery should take place and the HSE said teams at CHI and Cappagh are putting plans in place for this.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll McNeill stated that patients and families will receive letters in the coming days from CHI and NOHC about the arrangements/next steps that will apply to them and their child, and how they can get further information or support.
If you are a member of the group of affected patients please contact Louise Howard for a free telephone consultation on 091 564 973