However, symptoms can appear during adolescence or even in adulthood.
Symptoms can then include:
Early on, hip dysplasia is not a painful condition.
The affected hip might also feel like it locks up, catches, or pops.
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Causes of Hip Dysplasia
The exact cause of hip dysplasia isn’t known.
But, contributing factors increase the risk of developing this condition.
An ultrasound is sometimes performed to confirm the diagnosis if hip dysplasia is suspected.
Diagnosing hip dysplasia in adolescents also involves a physical exam.
A healthcare provider will move the hip joint in different directions to see which movements cause pain.
Hip dysplasia can be confirmed with various imaging tests.
These tests can also assess for damage in other structures of the hip joint.
Imaging tests can include:
How Common Is Hip Dysplasia?
About 10% of newborns have hip instability.
However, 90% of the time, the affected joints tighten up after birth without treatment.
Approximately 1 in 100 infants are treated for hip dysplasia.
Newborns through 6-month-old infants are typically treated with a soft brace called a Pavlik harness.
A cast is applied afterward for approximately two to three months as the joint heals.
Hip Dysplasia Prognosis
Hip dysplasia diagnosed and treated soon after birth can resolve without long-term issues.
It is also more common with breech births.
The condition is diagnosed with the Barlow and Ortolani tests and can be confirmed with imaging.
Treatment can include wearing a brace, closed reduction with casting, or, less commonly, surgery.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Developmental dislocation (dysplasia) of the hip (DDH).
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Adolescent hip dysplasia.
International Hip Dysplasia Institute.What causes hip dysplasia?
American Academy of Family Physicians.AAP develops guidelines for early detection of dislocated hips.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pavlik harness treatment for children.
