Hip Disorders

What Is Adolescent Hip Dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia, or developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), is an abnormal formation of the hip that predisposes the ball of the thighbone to slip in and out of the socket. The condition occurs at birth or in early childhood, but it can persist through adolescence if the diagnosis is not treated or if the child's symptoms go unnoticed.

How Is Adolescent Hip Dysplasia Found?

Hip pain in a child's adolescent years may be the first symptom of hip dysplasia. Your doctor can confirm the condition by taking an X-ray of the child's hip. The X-ray will reveal a hip socket that does not completely “cover” the top of the ball part of the hip and is too shallow. This leads to pain because the ball part of the hip is not fitting properly into the socket.

How Is Adolescent Hip Dysplasia Treated?

Nonoperative treatment options for adolescent hip dysplasia include physical therapy, activity restriction and weight loss. If the condition is wearing down the hip, surgery is an option.

The Ganz periacetabular osteotomy preserves the patient's own hip joint to avoid the need for a hip replacement. In this procedure, the surgeon reorients the patient's hip socket to provide greater “coverage” over the top of the ball part of the hip, which decreases pain and provides greater long-term hip health.

The goal of surgery is to alleviate pain and allow the child to return to an active lifestyle.