EG's X-rays, she determined the injury was at least 14 days old at the time EG arrived at the Earl K. Long clinic. Because 15-month-old EG was not yet walking, Dr. Zembo believed it was unlikely that the injury could have been self-inflicted. According to Dr. Zembo's testimony, there is always some form of twist to the leg in injuries of this type. Dr. Zembo performed surgery on EG to correct the effects of the dislocation in the left hip and testified the child was in a body cast for 6-8 weeks after the operation. Dr. Zembo explained that EG would need continuing medical attention every four to six months to monitor growth in her hip area.
EG's mother testified she had not taken her daughter to the doctorfor her immunizations except on one occasion. Explaining the distance from her home to a medical treatment facility was too great for her to walk, she testified that on December 4, 1991, she *1097 took EG to the Earl K. Long clinic to attend to the immunizations. Although her testimony was that she requested that the doctor check EG's legs, she further stated she was not worried about anything specific, "just that [the child] wasn't walking right or crawling right."
Twanda Laurent, the case manager for the foster care program, testified that during her investigation of this case, EG's mother, in response to a direct inquiry, felt that whatever caused her daughter to crawl funny was a result of an injury to the child during her birth. The mother