Hip Dysplasia
What is Hip Dysplasia?
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) describes a spectrum of disorders where the acetabulum (socket) is too shallow or poorly oriented to adequately cover the femoral head. The result is an unstable hip joint with abnormal load distribution across the joint surfaces, leading to overload of the labrum and the articular cartilage. If left untreated, hip dysplasia is one of the leading causes of early osteoarthritis in young adults, particularly women.
Hip dysplasia may be diagnosed at birth, during childhood, or may present for the first time in adolescence or adulthood as residual dysplasia.
Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia
Symptoms in adolescents and adults include:
Treatment options
Treatment might include nonsurgical and surgical treatments, injections and surgery such as:
Non-surgical treatment: activity modification, physiotherapy to strengthen the hip abductors and core, anti-inflammatory medications and injections can help control symptoms, particularly in milder cases or when significant cartilage damage has already occurred.
Surgery: for symptomatic dysplasia in young adults without significant arthritis, joint preserving surgery such as periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is considered to reorient the acetabulum and restore normal coverage of the femoral head. This is often combined with hip arthroscopy to address associated labral or cartilage pathology. In patients with advanced arthritis, total hip replacement is usually the procedure of choice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Hip arthritis usually develops over time rather than from a single cause. The most common reason is gradual wear of the joint cartilage with age. However, many people develop it earlier due to subtle issues with the shape of the hip, when the ball and socket don’t fit perfectly, it creates uneven pressure that slowly damages the joint. Previous injuries, such as fractures or dislocations, can also speed up this process. In some cases, genetics, inflammation, or increased load on the joint (including higher body weight or repetitive stress) contribute.
