Common questions

What is VicHip?

The Victorian hip dysplasia registry, or VicHip, is a clinical registry of patients diagnosed with hip dysplasia in Victoria. Our research team works closely with families to improve hip care and outcomes for future patients.

Hip dysplasia, also known as developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), is a condition where the hip joint does not develop normally. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent long-term problems. 

Through research and collaboration, we aim to:

• learn more about its causes and risk factors
• find better ways to screen, diagnose and treat the condition
• unite families and health professionals in a powerful alliance to enhance care and services in Victoria. 

Learn more for health professionals

VicHip registry data is used to understand hip dysplasia better, measure the quality of care provided and how it relates to patient outcomes. Our research falls into three key focus areas:

• causes and risk factors
• early diagnosis and treatment
• shaping a future of healthier hips.

Learn more about our research focus areas

VicHip:

• is led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI)
• supported by The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne and The University of Melbourne
• and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care under the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant ID 2015989.

We partner with:

• Barwon Health
• Monash Health
• Western Health
• Generation Victoria (GenV)
• British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada
• Global Hip Dysplasia Registry (GHDR), Canada
• and the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI), USA. 

VicHip is overseen by a Study Steering Committee, which is made up of a stellar team of research investigators. They are a group of highly regarded orthopaedic surgeons, clinicians and researchers at the forefront of hip dysplasia research. Read more about the VicHip Study Steering Committee or meet our team

VicHip is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care under the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant ID 2015989. Read more about our partners and supporters

Benefits of participating in VicHip:

• keep track of your patient’s progress and treatment history in a secure and easily accessible location
• generate site-specific and state-wide de-identified reports to help inform the clinical management of hip dysplasia
• better understand the natural history of hip dysplasia, cause, risk factors and long-term outcomes
• generate insight and evidence into health economic evaluation approaches to hip dysplasia in Victoria
• advance treatment guidelines and the effectiveness of current screening programs
• facilitate the use of VicHip research evidence to develop stronger health policies and programs
• help shape a future of healthier hips and reduce the impact of hip dysplasia on patients and families worldwide.

The more sites participating in VicHip, the more powerful our registry will be in providing valuable data and insights. 

Simply email us at vichip@mcri.edu.au

The success of VicHip relies on the involvement of patients and clinicians from all over Victoria. The more sites participating in VicHip, the more effective the registry will be in providing valuable data and insights. Talk to us about how to get involved.

If you are a doctor or clinician working at an existing participating hospital or practice, we’ll put you in touch with the site research team. 

We collect health information from patient medical records, clinician notes, hospital records and other research databases linked to VicHip. This includes ultrasounds, X-rays, medical history, examination findings, treatment details and related costs. We also collect information through optional surveys, PROMs and data on patients with normal or immature hips to establish baselines, refine diagnostic criteria, and improve understanding of hip-related issues and the quality of care patients receive.

VicHip use REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture), a secure, web-based software to build and manage our online database and surveys. It is widely used in the research community.