Back to Previous Page

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

(DDH; Congenital Dysplasia/Dislocation of the Hip [CDH]; Congenital Dysplasia of the Hip; Congenital Dislocation of the Hip; Congenital Subluxability of the Hip; Congenital Hip Dysplasia; Congenital Hip Dislocation; Congenital Hip Subluxability; Dysplasia of the Hip, Developmental)

Definition

The hip is where the thigh bone and pelvis meet. The thigh bone has a ball-shaped top. This ball fits into a cup shape area on the pelvis. Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a problem with how these bones fit together. The exact problem can vary between children but may include:
  • Ball of the thigh is loose inside the cup of the pelvis—makes the hip unstable
  • Ball moves easily out of the cup—causing a dislocation of the hip
  • Ball and cup do not meet at all
  • The cup is improperly shaped
The Hip Joint
Nucleus factsheet image
Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Causes

The exact cause of DDH is not known. Some factors that may play a role include:
  • How the baby is positioned in the womb
  • Maternal hormones
  • Genetics
Certain carrying or wrapping techniques may also affect the growth of the hip, especially methods that have the child tightly bound in a position with the hips straight out and turned in.

Risk Factors

Factors that may increase your baby’s chance of developing DDH include:
  • Family history of DDH
  • Breech birth (feet first), especially in females
  • Gender: More common in females than males
  • Low levels of amniotic fluid during pregnancy
  • Late delivery—birth after 42 weeks of pregnancy
  • Birthweight greater than 8 pounds 13 ounces (4 kg)

Symptoms

DDH can make the hip unstable and loose. Symptoms may depend on the age of your child. They may include:
  • Uneven folds in the area of the thigh or hip—may be visible in newborns
  • Poor mobility and flexibility when beginning to crawl—around 9 months
  • One leg shorter than the other may beginning to stand at 10-11 months
  • Limping, lurching, walking on toes, or other unevenness in walk at about 1 year
DDH more commonly affects the left hip. Sometimes both hip joints are affected. The condition may be detected when the baby is born.

Diagnosis

Your child's doctor will look for signs of DDH during the first physical exam, and every exam in the first year The hip will be moved gently to see if it makes a clunking or popping noise. This may indicate a dislocating hip.
The hip may also be assessed with:
  • A test done by placing the baby on his or her back and checking the height of the knees.
  • Looking for uneven folds in the hip or thigh
  • Difficulty moving the hip outward
Detailed pictures of the hip may help confirm the diagnosis or determine treatment. The pictures can be made with:
  • Ultrasound—in babies less than 4 months old or babies with risk factors but a normal physical exam
  • X-rays—in babies older than 3 months

Treatment

Talk with the doctor about the best treatment plan for your baby. Depending on your baby’s age and the severity of the condition, treatment options include:
  • For newborns: a harness called Pavlik harness to keep the hip in place may be worn for 1-2 months
  • For babies aged 1-6 months:
    • Harness to reposition the hip
    • Manual adjustment—the doctor moves bones into proper positions, and then places the baby in a lower body cast
  • For babies aged six months to two years:
    • Manual adjustment
    • Hip surgery, then body cast
  • For children over two years: hip surgery, then body cast
If your baby was diagnosed with DDH at birth, the doctor may not treat the condition until the baby is older than two weeks. Early DDH may improve on its own.
The doctor will monitor the hip during follow-up exams and x-rays. This will be done until your child is done growing.

Prevention

Because the exact cause is unknown, it is difficult to prevent DDH. If you are pregnant and have a family history of DDH, tell your doctor.
Avoiding certain swaddling positions may also help decrease some types of hip dislocation.

RESOURCES

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/

American Academy of Pediatrics http://healthychildren.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Canadian Institute of Child Health http://www.cich.ca

Canadian Paediatric Society http://www.cps.ca

References

Developmental dysplasia of the hip. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00347 . Updated April 2009. Accessed May 3, 2013.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated May 25, 2012. Accessed May 3, 2013.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip. Shriners Hospital for Children website. Available at: http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/CareAndTreatment/Orthopaedics/HipDysplasia.aspx . Accessed May 3, 2013.

Hart ES, Albright MB, Rebello GN, Grottkau BE. Developmental dysplasia of the hip: nursing implications and anticipatory guidance for parents. Orthopaedic Nursing. 2006;25:100-111.

Shorter D, Hong T, Osborn DA. Screening programmes for developmental dysplasia of the hip in newborn infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;9:CD004595.

Stedman’s Medical Dictionary . 28th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005; 599-600.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Copyright © EBSCO Publishing
All rights reserved.