Concerned About Your Child’s Hip Surgery? What Parents Need to Know About the Recent Audit in Dublin

Recent news reports have understandably left many parents worried. A draft audit into 561 children’s hip surgeries carried out between 2021 and 2023 at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh, and CHI at Temple Street has raised serious concerns about whether some surgeries were actually necessary.

If your child has had treatment for hip dysplasia, you may be wondering what this means for them—or what you should do next. This blog aims to explain the situation clearly and reassure you about the steps available.

What Is Hip Dysplasia and Why Is It Treated?

Paediatric hip dysplasia (developmental dysplasia of the hip or DDH) is a condition where the hip joint doesn’t form properly. Many children are successfully treated with gentle methods such as:

• Monitoring and regular reviews
• A brace or harness
• Physiotherapy

In some cases, surgery may be required to correct the hip position. One common surgery is a pelvic osteotomy, which reshapes the hip socket to improve stability.

This procedure can be extremely effective when clinically justified—but unnecessary surgery puts a child through avoidable pain, recovery time, and long-term risks.

Why Are These Surgeries Being Reviewed?

The draft audit looked at hip osteotomies carried out on children aged 1–7 in Cappagh and Temple Street. The expert reviewing the cases found that a significant number may not have met the clinical threshold for surgery.

This means that:

• Some children may have undergone surgery they didn’t need.
• Some parents may not have been fully informed about the true risks and benefits.
• Families may now face uncertainty about long-term consequences, which may not become clear until the child reaches skeletal maturity at around 14–16 years old.

The Government has said that families will be notified once the review is finalised and clinicians have given their input.

As a Parent, What Should You Do Now?

If your child had hip surgery—particularly between 2021 and 2023—you may be feeling confused, anxious, or angry. That is completely understandable.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Gather Your Child’s Information

Start by noting:

• The dates of surgery
• The hospital involved
• Any follow-up issues, complications, or concerns

2. Speak to a Solicitor Experienced in Clinical Negligence

A solicitor can help you obtain and review your child’s medical records—that is the first step in determining whether anything went wrong.

3. Independent Medical Experts Will Review the Case

Your solicitor will instruct a specialist paediatric doctor to examine whether:

• The surgery was clinically justified
• Proper consent was obtained
• The care met acceptable medical standards

If the expert believes it did not, you may have a strong claim.

What Compensation Could Be Available?

Every case is different, but compensation may include:

• Your child’s pain and suffering
• Costs of future medical care and treatment
• Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or other supports
• Additional care needs, now or in the future
• Any loss of earnings for a parent who had to take time off to provide care

Compensation is not about blame—it is about ensuring your child has every support they need moving forward.

How Long Do You Have to Make a Claim?

Time limits can be confusing, but here are the basics:

• A claim for a child can be brought any time before they turn 18.
• Once they turn 18, they have two more years to bring the claim themselves.
• In clinical negligence cases, this timeframe may also depend on when the parent or child first became aware that negligence may have occurred.

If in doubt, seek advice as soon as possible—delays can affect your rights.

How Kearney Law Can Help You

We know how distressing it is when a child’s medical care is called into question. Parents want clarity, answers, and reassurance—and that is exactly what we aim to provide.

At Kearney Law:

• We specialise exclusively in personal injury and clinical negligence claims.
• We are approachable, experienced, and committed to supporting families.
• We use modern systems to progress your case quickly and keep you updated.
• We handle the legal process so you can focus on your child.

We can help you understand what happened, assess whether the surgery was necessary, and guide you through your options with sensitivity and expertise.If you have concerns about your child’s surgery, please contact us on 01 4853560, email [email protected], or fill out our online contact form.