Orthopedics

Hip Dysplasia Treatment at UH

Our board-certified orthopedic and sports medicine specialists at University Hospitals provide a full range of medical treatment of hip dysplasia and provide follow-up care to reduce the risk of future hip problems. Our experts have extensive background and experience in diagnosing, managing and treating hip dysplasia. With a multidisciplinary team approach to care, we work closely with our patients experiencing hip dysplasia, including:

Hip instability in infants and young children
Adolescents with activity-related pain issues
Early osteoarthritis in adults

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Hip Dysplasia Symptoms and Diagnosis

Hip dysplasia symptoms may not initially be obvious. Hip pain, instability and issues walking or moving may start in early adulthood or during the first or second pregnancy in women.

If left untreated hip dysplasia in adults will result in activity-related hip pain or early osteoarthritis in adolescents and young adults. In patients with early osteoarthritis of the hip, mild hip dysplasia is a contributing cause. Along with a complete physical examination, primary imaging techniques used to diagnose hip dysplasia include:

X-ray: During this test, our orthopedic specialist will identify if your femur, or thigh bone, is symmetrically lined with your pelvis.
EOS X-ray: EOS X-ray systems take information-rich images using significantly less radiation than conventional X-rays and CT scans.
Ultrasonography: Generally used for infants younger than six months of age, this test enables physicians to see the internal structures of the hip and whether or not they are properly aligned.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans or computerized tomography (CT) scans are used to confirm post-surgical treatment.

Hip Dysplasia Treatment

UH offers a unique approach to hip dysplasia treatment that is helping young patients recover faster and spend less time in the operating room.

Typically, physicians approach hip dysplasia in a staged fashion; open hip surgery and hip arthroscopy are done separately and in two different settings, sometimes by the same provider. But at UH, experts in both open hip surgery and hip arthroscopy are teaming up to perform these procedures at the same time.

Our two expert surgeons are both highly trained in using their specific skillsets of hip arthroscopy surgery and open hip preservation surgery called periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) for hip dysplasia treatment. University Hospitals pioneered this two-surgeon approach and is one of the few organizations in the U.S. that offers and performs these procedures with this level of collaboration.

Hip Arthroscopy

Hip arthroscopy has emerged as an effective minimally invasive hip dysplasia surgery to resolve this condition. Using very small incisions and a hip scope, our skilled surgeons can help patients decrease hip pain, improve function and quickly return to normal activities. This minimally invasive surgery corrects the hip damage, but also prevents or delays the onset of hip arthritis.

Open Hip Surgery

Open hip preservation surgery such as periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) has been used to treat hip dysplasia for decades. Intended to restore normal hip anatomy and biomechanics, this will also prevent degenerative changes and osteoarthritis.

Benefits of Combined Surgery

The combined surgeries allows the surgeons to address different parts of the hip at the same time. Patients only have to undergo one day in the operating room. The combined approach also decreases the use of anesthetic and speeds up recovery time.

Together, our orthopedic and sports medicine team determine the proper treatment and follow-up with you afterwards to monitor your function.

Understanding Hip Dysplasia Risk Factors

While the cause of hip dysplasia is not certain, it’s believed to be developmental. However, there are certain risk factors that may increase the chance of the occurrence of developmental dysplasia of the hip, including:

Breech position in the third trimester of pregnancy
Family history
Female gender
First born
Multiple gestation pregnancy
Race, including certain Native American populations
Tight lower extremity swaddling as a newborn

Not all patients will require surgery and we offer more conservative hip dysplasia treatment options for hip pain relief, including:

Comprehensive, customized physical therapy
Aquatic therapy
Injections