Hip dysplasia (acetabular dysplasia) in adolescents

What is hip dysplasia (acetabular dysplasia) in adolescents?

Also known as acetabular dysplasia, hip dysplasia is a condition that affects your child’s hip joint from developing normally. Abnormal development can cause pain, discomfort and damage to the joint’s bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons.

Hip dysplasia can be a continuation of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), which is often detected in infants and toddlers. In some cases, the condition goes undiagnosed until adolescence or early adulthood.

Mild cases of hip dysplasia may only require activity modification or rehab with our in-house physical therapists (PT). But if surgery is needed, our highly skilled pediatric surgeons specialize in advanced techniques to reshape and realign the hip joint, providing great outcomes even in complex cases.

Early treatment of hip dysplasia offers teens and young adults the chance to avoid complicated surgery, such as a total hip replacement. We are here to provide the least invasive, most effective treatment options for your child.

Our orthopaedic physicians also have expertise treating related hip conditions such as:

• Acetabular labral (hip) tear

• Hip impingement

• Slipped capital femoral epiphysis

What are the signs and symptoms of hip dysplasia (acetabular dysplasia) in adolescents?

Common hip dysplasia symptoms include:

• Hip pain, either deep in the groin or on the backside of the hip — especially with activity

• “Clicking” or “popping” sounds when moving the hip

• Difficulty walking

• Limping

How is hip dysplasia (acetabular dysplasia) in adolescents diagnosed?

At the Andrews Institute, we are the one-stop destination for the full range of pediatric hip conditions such as hip dysplasia. Our highly trained specialists offer care that starts at diagnosis and continues through treatment and beyond.

Our diagnostic tools include:

• Physical exam - Looks at your child’s affected hip, checking for pain, discomfort, limited range of motion and weakness

• X-ray - Uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to take detailed images of the hipbone and thighbone

• CT (computed tomography) scan - Uses X-rays to make detailed images of the hip joint

• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan - Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to take detailed pictures of the hip

What are the causes of hip dysplasia (acetabular dysplasia) in adolescents?

In a healthy hip joint — also known as a “ball-and-socket” joint — the thighbone’s head (the ball) fits and moves easily in the pelvis’ cup (the socket).

If your child has hip dysplasia, the hip joint is abnormally shaped, causing the head of the thighbone to slip out of its proper place in the hip socket.

Risk factors

• Position of the fetus in the womb

• Breech births

• Family history of dysplasia

• Gender - the condition is more common in females than males

How is hip dysplasia (acetabular dysplasia) in adolescents treated?

At the Andrews Institute, we offer a team of highly trained specialists, equipped with the most advanced treatment options.

After diagnosis, your physician will speak with you and your child and then recommend the best treatment approach. Options depend on the severity of the child's dysplasia and any related conditions that may be present. At the Andrews Institute, our goal is to use the most effective and least invasive treatment possible. 

• Medication to help manage pain

• Activity modification

• Physical therapy (PT) and rehabilitation

When symptoms worsen, your child may need surgery. We consider the injury’s severity and your child’s age and activity level when determining the best option for treatment. Learn more about pediatric periacetabular osteotomy (PAO).