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Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 11, 2024.

What is Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip?

Harvard Health Publishing

In a normal hip joint, the rounded top of the thigh bone (femur) fits into a cup-shaped socket in the pelvis called the acetabulum. This type of joint is called a ball-and-socket joint.  

In developmental dysplasia of the hip, the top of the femur moves in and out of the socket either part way or all the way. When it moves all the way out of the socket, it is called a dislocation. This happens when the ligaments that hold the two bones together are very loose or because the cup-shaped socket is not deep enough.  

This condition usually is present at birth. But it can develop during infancy or childhood.  

If the bones in the joint are not in the right place, the hip and femur can't grow normally. This can lead to: 

Symptoms

In an infant, developmental dysplasia of the hip can result in the following:  

Diagnosis

Doctors routinely check for symptoms of developmental dysplasia of the hip during the first physical exam of a newborn. This happens within a day or two of birth. They also check at follow-up well-baby visits.  

As part of the normal screening for this condition, your doctor will ask about risk factors. He or she will want to know whether your child was delivered in the breech position, is a firstborn, or if there is a family history of the condition in a parent or sibling.  

The doctor checks your baby for developmental hip dysplasia by gently moving his or her legs while supporting and checking for movement in his or her hips. If the doctor feels enough movement of the hip, he or she may suspect either a hip dislocation or that the hip can be easily dislocated.  

In this case, the doctor will confirm the diagnosis by ordering either an ultrasound or X-rays of your child's hip. Ultrasound is used in newborns and very young infants. That is because certain parts of the hip bones cannot be seen as clearly with regular X-rays until a child is three to seven months old.  

In difficult cases, especially in older children with developmental dysplasia of the hip, the doctor may need to order additional imaging tests. These may include a computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or arthrogram. These tests can show greater detail of how the hip joint is put together.  

Expected Duration

Treatment lasts until the hip joint becomes stable and the child's ultrasound or X-ray studies are normal. This usually takes one to two months if the baby's dislocation was identified immediately after birth. 

Prevention

Developmental dysplasia of the hip can't be prevented. But the problems caused by it can. With early treatment, most cases can go away completely.  

Screening guidelines call for all children to be examined carefully at birth and through 18 months of age. If dysplasia is suspected, ultrasound or other tests should be done to look at the hip. And a referral to an orthopedist should be considered. 

Routine testing (by ultrasound or X-ray) is controversial, as many cases of dysplasia resolve on their own. In girls with a family history of hip dysplasia or breech presentation, an ultrasound at 2-3 weeks should be considered even if the physical exam is normal.

Treatment

Treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip depends on the child's age: 

When To Call a Professional

Call your doctor if: 

You notice that your baby has trouble moving one leg 

One of your baby's legs seems to be shorter than the other 

Doctors routinely check for developmental hip dysplasia during well baby visits. Tell the doctor if your baby was delivered breech or there is a family history of hip problems. 

Prognosis

If the hip problem is identified and treated early, the child should walk normally and have normal hip function. 

Additional Info

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
https://www.aap.org/

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
https://www.niams.nih.gov/

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/


Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.