Developmental dysplasia of the hip is a condition in which the hip joint – formed by the femoral head and acetabular socket – fails to develop as expected.
Screening programmes exist to detect these problems in newborn babies, as early treatment can lead to good outcomes. Occasionally these problems are not picked up in infancy or childhood which often leads to the development of pain in young adults. If there is minimal arthritis when this problem is finally detected, then surgery that reshapes the bone – known as a corrective osteotomy -may be helpful. However, if the patient presents with severe arthritis, then usually they will require a total hip replacement which is often complex due to the abnormal anatomy and bone.
Above we can see the X-rays of a 52-year-old lady with severely painful and deformed hips due to dysplasia. She underwent a complex right hip replacement under the care of Grosvenor Orthopaedics and having recovered well is looking forward to having her left hip replaced, leaving her pain-free for the first time in many years.
For more information about hip treatments, please visit our hip pages: https://grosvenororthopaedics.co.uk/hip/