A study to find out whether gradually stopping brace treatment or stopping it all at once is better for babies with hip dysplasia
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN11590338 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11590338 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 354869 |
| Protocol serial number | NIHR303304, CPMS 68841 |
| Sponsor | University of Liverpool |
| Funder | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
- Submission date
- 30/04/2025
- Registration date
- 02/05/2025
- Last edited
- 09/09/2025
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Musculoskeletal Diseases
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a condition where a baby’s hip joint does not develop properly, which can lead to dislocation. It affects about 1 in 100 babies. Treatment often involves wearing a soft brace called a Pavlik harness. However, doctors do not all agree on how the brace should be removed- some stop it all at once, while others gradually reduce brace use over time. This study aims to find out whether it is feasible to run a larger study comparing these two approaches.
Who can participate?
Babies under 6 months old who have been successfully treated in a Pavlik harness and have an ultrasound showing the hip has improved (alpha angle of at least 60 degrees). A parent or legal guardian must be able to provide consent and complete study questionnaires.
What does the study involve?
Families who agree to take part will be randomly allocated to one of two existing care strategies: immediate removal of the brace, or continued night-time wear for four weeks (weaning). Parents will complete short questionnaires about how their baby and family are doing at the start of the study and again at 2, 4 and 6 weeks. These can be completed online or over the phone. The study will also use routine hospital data to look at outcomes like follow-up appointments, hip scans, and any need for further treatment.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There is no guarantee of benefit, but the study may help improve how future babies are treated for DDH. The risks are low because both care options are already used in NHS hospitals. Some babies may experience minor skin irritation or discomfort from the brace, but these risks are part of standard care. Participation also involves some time from parents to complete questionnaires.
Where is the study run from?
The study is led by the University of Liverpool and will be carried out in NHS hospitals in the UK.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2024 to September 2026. The study recruitment is expected to start in September 2025 and run for twelve months.
Who is funding the study?
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Joanna Craven, University of Liverpool, joanna.craven@liverpool.ac.uk
Contact information
Public, Scientific, Principal investigator
University of Liverpool
Liverpool
L69 7WX
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-4715-3288 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)151 795 0500 |
| Joanna.Craven@liverpool.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Multicentre parallel two-group feasibility randomized controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | The WINDY study- Weaning in INfant hip Dysplasia- a randomised multicentre feasibility study of weaning of brace treatment versus immediate cessation for developmental dysplasia of the hip |
| Study acronym | WINDY |
| Study objectives | The study aims to assess whether it is feasible to run a larger randomised trial comparing two common ways of stopping brace treatment in babies with developmental dysplasia of the hip. The two approaches are either stopping the brace all at once or gradually reducing the time the brace is worn by using it at night only for four weeks. The study will also explore how acceptable the study design is to families and clinicians and whether parent-reported outcome measures and routinely collected clinical data can be used effectively in future research. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Pending submission |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | The strategy for discontinuing Pavlik harness treatment in infants under 6 months with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) following successful Pavlik harness use. |
| Intervention | This is a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled feasibility trial comparing two approaches to ending Pavlik harness treatment in infants with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Following informed consent, participants are randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to one of two arms using a secure web-based system (REDCap), stratified by site. The intervention arm involves weaning, defined as wearing the Pavlik harness at night only (minimum 10 hours per night) for four weeks following the completion of full-time use. The control arm involves immediate cessation of the Pavlik harness with no further brace use. |
| Intervention type | Device |
| Phase | Not Applicable |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Pavlik harness |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Acceptability of trial design measured using the monthly recruitment rate per centre and the percentage of eligible infants randomised at the end of the 6-month recruitment period. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Parental engagement measured using self-reported compliance questionnaires and EMBRACE completion rates at baseline, 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-randomisation |
| Completion date | 01/09/2026 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Lower age limit | 1 Day |
| Upper age limit | 6 Months |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 60 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. The infant has commenced Pavlik harness treatment under 6 months of age 2. The infant has completed a period of full-time Pavlik harness wear 3. Alpha angle is at least 60 degrees at the time of randomisation 4. The parent or legal guardian is willing and able to provide informed consent for participation |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. The infant has, or is suspected to have, a neuromuscular condition 2. The parent or legal guardian is unable to adhere to the study procedures or complete the questionnaires 3. The parent or legal guardian is unable to provide informed consent |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/11/2025 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/03/2026 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
- Wales
Study participating centres
Liverpool
L122AP
United Kingdom
Cardiff
CF14 4XW
United Kingdom
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
Headley Way
Headington
Oxford
OX3 9DU
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Stored in publicly available repository, Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be stored in a publicly available repository: the University of Liverpool Research Data Catalogue. A DOI-linked dataset will be deposited following publication of the main results. The dataset will include fully de-identified participant-level data used for analysis, including trial outcome measures, feasibility metrics, and participant-reported outcomes from the EMBRACE questionnaire. Personally identifiable information (such as names and contact details) will not be shared. Data availability: Data will be made available after publication of the main study findings and will be stored in perpetuity. Access criteria and mechanism: Data will be openly accessible via the University of Liverpool Research Data Catalogue under a DOI, with appropriate metadata, a data dictionary, and documentation to ensure usability. No request is required for access, but users will be advised to cite the dataset accordingly. Consent and anonymisation: Informed consent for data sharing and storage of de-identified data was obtained from parents or legal guardians. All shared data will be fully anonymised to remove any possibility of participant identification. Ethical and legal compliance: Data handling complies with the UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, and institutional data protection policies. Access to identifiable data remains restricted to authorised research team members only. Other comments: No biological samples are involved. The data shared will support replication and secondary analyses by other researchers working on developmental dysplasia of the hip or related areas in paediatric orthopaedics. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
09/09/2025: The date of first enrolment was changed from 01/09/2025 to 01/11/2025.
01/07/2025: Internal review.
30/04/2025: Study's existence confirmed by National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) (UK).
