As babies grow and develop, sometimes their hip joint does not grow normally. On occasion the hip joint is abnormal at the time of birth. When caught at a young age, this often painless condition, can be treated with nonsurgical measures with excellent results; specifically a normal hip joint. When this is caught at a later age, sometimes surgery is indicated, even if no pain is present, to avoid the progression to painful arthritis in one’s 30s and 40s.
Hip dysplasia can range from barely detectable to severely malformed or dislocated. The congenital form, teratologic or non-reducible dislocation occurs as part of more complex conditions.
Types of developmental dysplasia of the hip include subluxation, dysplasia, and dislocation. The main types are the result of either laxity of the supporting capsule or an abnormal acetabulum.