Hip dysplasia is a condition that can greatly impact your quality of life. Orthopedic hip experts at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, see and treat this condition. We know that hip pain can be problematic and interfere with your daily activities. It’s important to understand your condition and the treatment options for it. Whether you’ve had the condition since childhood or you’re newly diagnosed, our experts are here to help.
What is hip dysplasia?
Developmental hip dysplasia occurs when the hip joint doesn’t form properly in infants and children. This can lead to pain and difficulty walking as a child ages. In some cases, surgery may be needed to correct the joint and improve movement. It’s usually diagnosed and potentially corrected at an early age, so most children go on to live active lives.
However, hip dysplasia is also diagnosed in a percentage of adults. The hip joint is a “ball-and-socket” joint. It consists of two bones: the femur in the upper thigh and the pelvis in the middle of the body. The socket is formed by the acetabulum (a hollow area) in the pelvis, while the ball is the femoral head (near the top of the femur bone). When the socket isn’t deep enough to hold the top of the thighbone (femoral head) properly, it can cause subtle instability of the hip joint. Over time, this can result in uneven wear on the cartilage in the joint, as well as tearing of the labrum (a piece of cartilage) in the hip.
Walking after decades on crutches
Since she was 11, Joyce Amofah had lived with pain and disability from an uncommon hip condition. Now, hip specialists at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center have helped her learn to walk again.
What causes hip dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia in adults is usually related to milder developmental dysplasia that was undiagnosed in childhood. Doctors check for the condition in babies because their hip joints aren’t fully formed (they’re made up primarily of cartilage at the time of birth and harden over time). There are a variety of risk factors that can influence whether a child develops hip dysplasia.
Those factors may include:
- Genetic predisposition: This could include a family history of dysplasia.
- Sex: Females tend to be diagnosed at higher rates than males.
- Development: A baby’s position in the womb, including breech position or womb overcrowding, can lead to dysplasia.
- Environmental: Certain swaddle and baby carrying methods can make you more prone to hip dysplasia.
If an adult is diagnosed with hip dysplasia later in life, they might not have had signs or symptoms of the condition when they were younger. Over time, wear and tear on the joint can cause symptoms in adulthood. Hip dysplasia may be misdiagnosed if it occurs later in life.
Is hip dysplasia preventable?
Hip dysplasia isn’t fully preventable. There are steps adults can take to help reduce the risk of hip dysplasia occurring in infants, such as using proper swaddle techniques. Your child’s pediatrician can screen and provide recommendations.
However, if you’re an adult and you’re having hip pain, you should see your doctor.
The symptoms of hip dysplasia include:
- Deep pain in the front part of the hip and down into the groin area
- Pain that radiates toward the deep buttock area
- Catching, grinding and other mechanical-type pain with certain movements
- Pain that worsens with certain activities, such as walking, twisting and getting in and out of a car
The earlier a specialist can form a diagnosis, the sooner treatment can start.
How is hip dysplasia diagnosed?
To diagnose hip dysplasia, you’ll begin with a consultation with Ohio State Sports Medicine hip experts. First, they’ll gather a detailed medical history and do a physical examination. They’ll see what types of activities and motions seem to provoke more pain.
X-rays are typically part of the initial evaluation to help determine a diagnosis and rule out other significant hip problems. Ultrasound-guided injections are sometimes used for diagnostic purposes when the pain source isn’t clear enough to confirm a diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is also used to look at cartilage, the labrum and soft tissues in the hip to further examine the hip’s condition.
Treatment for hip dysplasia in adults
Hip dysplasia treatments are available to help relieve pain and improve hip function. Treatments include both nonsurgical and surgical options. Treatment plans will be customized to meet your specific needs.
However, early diagnosis and treatment intervention can help prevent further damage to the hip joint and improve overall quality of life.
Nonsurgical treatments
Some cases of hip dysplasia may not require surgery. There are several nonsurgical treatments that can help treat hip dysplasia, including:
- Physical therapy
- Oral medication, including steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Cortisone injections (steroid shots)
- Rest and activity modification
- Lifestyle changes, including weight loss and dietary changes
These nonsurgical treatments can provide relief and enhance quality of life for those with hip dysplasia. These treatments can delay or eliminate the need for surgery, in some cases.
Surgical treatments
If other treatment options fail, surgeons at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center can perform minimally invasive arthroscopic repair, using a camera and small incisions. Hip arthroscopy is usually performed in an outpatient setting and can address many issues related to hip dysplasia.
In some instances, a person who has a more severe case of hip dysplasia may need a procedure called a periacetabular osteotomy (PAO), or you may need a hip replacement. These hip surgeries are more complex but can greatly improve your mobility and can reduce hip pain.
PAO involves repositioning the hip socket to better cover the ball of the hip joint. This helps stabilize the hip and prevent further damage to the joint.
A hip replacement, on the other hand, involves replacing the damaged hip joint with artificial parts, to provide relief and improved hip joint function.
In either case, your doctor will determine if you’re a candidate for nonsurgical or surgical treatments.
Why choose Ohio State for hip dysplasia treatment?
The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, here in central Ohio, specializes in offering the most advanced treatment options for hip dysplasia.
Whether you have recently been diagnosed or are managing longer-term hip dysplasia as an adult, there are ways to help you return to daily activities. Our integrated team of experts works together to ensure the best possible treatment outcomes for you.
The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center’s integrated hip dysplasia treatment team includes surgeons, sports medicine physicians, physical therapists, clinic staff, administrative staff and a research team that specializes in treating this condition.
If treatment is required, the Jameson Crane Sports Medicine Institute provides state-of-the-art facilities and access to everything from imaging to outpatient surgery.
Our orthopedic experts also lead medical research to improve hip treatment and determine more specific causes for hip pain and injuries. This includes access to new, novel treatments, such as orthobiologic treatments like platelet-rich plasma, and the chance to participate in clinical trials of newly developed therapies, if you’re a candidate.