Infant Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is the failure of the hip joints to develop normally, and in Western Europe approximately 3% of newborns have this condition. If dysplasia is identified in early stage, it is possible to mature the joints to their correct shape, usually by using a conservative treatment. If dysplasia is not treated until the hips are fully developed, they can progress to a complete dislocation of the femur.

The second stage of dysplasia is when the acetabulum and femur are not in close contact. The last stage of dysplasia is when the joint is fully dislocated and there is no contact between the acetabulum and femur.

The last two stages of dysplasia require complex treatments and surgery operations are quite common. If hip dysplasia is not treated, a child starts limping, might feel pain in the hips, and hip arthrosis can start developing at an early age. The older the child, the more difficult it becomes to move and complex surgeries are required to treat the disease.