Serving Kansas City, MO since 1949
Patient Portal Patient Forms Contact
Book a Visit

Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia Treatment in Kansas City, MO

What is Hip Dysplasia?

Schedule Now

Hip dysplasia is a disorder in which the hip joint fails to form a complete enclosure around the head of the femur, or ball. This lets the hip joint move out of place, either partially or completely. Most people who suffer from hip dysplasia have had it since birth.

Hip Dysplasia Symptoms

Signs and symptoms change depending on the age of the patient:

  • N

    For infants, you may notice that one leg is longer than the other
  • N

    When you change a baby’s diaper, one hip may be stiffer than the other
  • N

    When a child starts to walk, they may walk with a limp
  • N

    In some situations, you might feel like your hip is not stable
  • N

    For teenagers and young adults, dysplasia can lead to painful problems like osteoarthritis or a hip labral tear, which could cause groin pain when you move

What Causes Hip Dysplasia?

When a baby is born, the hip joint is made of soft cartilage that turns into bone over time. The ball and socket need to fit well together because they help shape each other. If the ball doesn’t sit firmly in the socket, the socket won’t fully form around the ball, and as a result, the socket will be too shallow.

Find a Location
|
Schedule Now

Conditions

Hip Surgery
Hip Disclocation
Hip Disease
Hip Fracture
Hip Impingement
Hip Labral Tear
Hip Osteoarthritis
Hip Osteoporosis
Hip Strain

Hip Dysplasia Treatment

The best way to treat hip dysplasia depends on how old the person is and how bad the hip damage is.

  • Most of the time, a soft brace, like a Pavlik harness, is used to treat infants. This keeps the ball part of the joint firmly in its socket for a few months and helps the socket shape itself into the ball
  • For babies older than 6 months, the doctor may move the bones into the right place and then use a full-body cast to keep them in place for a few months. Sometimes surgery is used for this approach
  • If the dysplasia is worse, the hip socket can also be moved to a better position. In a periacetabular osteotomy, the socket is cut away from the pelvis and moved so that it fits better with the ball of the joint
  • Hip replacement may be an option for older people who struggle with hip arthritis caused by dysplasia that has severely damaged their hips over time

Hip Dysplasia Specialists in Kansas City

If you have any of the above symptoms, please call Orthopedic Health of Kansas City to make an appointment with one of our hip and pelvis specialists at one of our locations. They will do a full examination, figure out what’s wrong, and treat it to get you back to doing what you love.