What Is Hip Dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is when the ball and socket of your hip joint don’t fit together as they should. Usually, the ball-shaped end of your upper thigh bone (femur) fits neatly into a socket in your pelvis (acetabulum). In hip dysplasia, your femur doesn’t fully fit into your hip socket. Hip dysplasia can affect one hip (unilateral hip dysplasia) or both hips (bilateral hip dysplasia).
Most people with hip dysplasia have it from birth. However, you may not have symptoms until adulthood. Hip dysplasia you’re born with is also called congenital hip dysplasia or developmental dysplasia of the hip.
Hip Dysplasia Causes and Risk Factors
Hip dysplasia typically occurs because of pressure on a fetus’s hip before birth. During the final months of pregnancy, the space inside the uterus can be cramped. This might push the fetus’s hip joint slightly out of its usual position.
Some people are more likely to have hip dysplasia:
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Babies born in breech position
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Firstborn babies
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Infants swaddled with their knees and hips straight
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People assigned female at birth
See a Hip Dysplasia Doctor
Hip Dysplasia Symptoms
Young children may develop a limp as they start walking. In adolescence and adulthood, hip dysplasia causes several other symptoms and complications:
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Hip pain, especially in the front of the hip
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Limping
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Loss of cartilage in the hip joint (osteoarthritis)
People with hip dysplasia are more likely to dislocate their hip.
Hip Dysplasia Treatment
Many people with hip dysplasia need a hip replacement at some point. However, treatment can help you avoid or delay a replacement:
Physical therapy: In hip dysplasia therapy, a physical therapist teaches you exercises. These stretch and strengthen your hip joint. Physical therapy can reduce symptoms of hip dysplasia.
Hip dysplasia surgery: Your orthopedic surgeon may recommend surgery if other treatments don’t improve symptoms. You may have an arthroscopy. This minimally invasive procedure uses a flexible instrument with a camera (arthroscope) to repair hip damage. Or you may have an osteotomy. Your surgeon repositions your pelvic bones in this surgery.
Sometimes hip dysplasia doesn’t cause troublesome or painful symptoms. You may choose not to treat it. In these cases, you should see your doctor yearly to get X-rays and keep tabs on the condition.
 Why Choose Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah Health?
Our Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Orthopaedic Services team includes experts specializing in conditions such as hip dysplasia. Your care is in the hands of orthopedic surgeons with strong experience in hip disorders.
We provide the latest research-based therapies and continually study new treatment approaches. Our doctors have treated many patients with hip dysplasia and have the experience to bring you effective care.
Next Steps
If you are suffering from hip pain or would like to be evaluated by a specialist, call 801-587-7109 to request an appointment.
