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What is Hip Dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia arises when the bones in your hip joint do not fit correctly.

Most cases of hip dysplasia occur in infants and young children, but mild forms can also occur in adults. Doctors sometimes refer to hip dysplasia in newborns as congenital hip dysplasia or developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). All of these names sometimes refer to the condition.

What is the Importance of Timely Treatment?

The hip should be treated immediately to prevent joint damage, reduce pain, and maintain hip function. An improved quality of life and a reduced need for more invasive surgeries in the future can result from early intervention to prevent issues such as arthritis or joint dislocation.

What are the Common Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia?

There are few Common symptoms of hip dysplasia include

Hip Pain: Pain in the outer thigh, groin, or hip, especially while walking, standing, or sitting for a long time.

Stiffness: Being unable to move the hip joint easily or with freedom.

Limping: A limp is an abnormal gait, especially when running or walking.

Clicking or popping sounds: sounds in the hip joint during movement.

Instability: The feeling of the hip joint "giving way" or feeling unstable, especially during activities.

Causes and Risk Factors of Hip Dysplasia

Causes

Genetics: Hip dysplasia is more common in families with a history of the condition.

Abnormal development: A malformed or shallow hip socket may arise from the malformation of the hip joint in the pregnancy.

Pregnancy Positioning: Babies who are born breech, that is, feet or buttocks first, have a higher chance of hip dysplasia.

Risk Factors

  • Gender
  • Family History
  • Breech Birth
  • Firstborn Children
  • Excessive Swaddling

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Hip Dysplasia Prevention Tips

Hip dysplasia cannot always be avoided but can be decreased through early discovery and proper treatment. Appropriate prenatal care, tight swaddling, and placing babies on their tummies can also help.

Babies need early screening to treat problems promptly, especially if they have risk factors. Adults can also take control of hip health by keeping a healthy weight and attending regular check-ups. Hip dysplasia can be minimised by timely detection and adequate treatment.

Treatment options for Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia Treatment: Depending on its degree, hip dysplasia typically is managed through physical therapy, pain control, or surgery. In the worst cases, hip replacement or correctional surgery can improve the function of the joints.


Cost Start From USD 3000 - USD 5500Explore Options

Total-hip-replacement-bl: total hip replacement (THR) in hip dysplasia is to restore mobility and alleviate pain by replacing an artificial hip for the affected one. When conservative treatment fails or joint destruction is severe, it is usually recommended.


Cost Start From USD 9000 - USD 10500Explore Options

Osteotomy: With osteotomy to treat hip dysplasia, the hip bone is altered to enhance alignment and joint function; this is typically done on younger patients to delay or prevent hip replacement surgery.


Cost Start From USD 3500 - USD 4500Explore Options

  • Clinical assessment:

Physical Examination: The healthcare professional looks for any obvious indication of joint pain or swelling around the hip region and any malformation near it, such as a limp or uneven leg length.

Range-of-motiontests: The physician estimates the range of motion by measuring how much the leg can twist, extend, or rotate. Hip mobility limitations, such as pain and restricted range of motion, commonly manifest as dysplasia symptoms.

Stability Tests: The Ortolani and Barlow tests are usually done in babies diagnosed with hip dysplasia to assess joint stability and detect dislocations. The FABER (Flexion, Abduction, External Rotation) test can be applied to adults to examine hip joint instability and pain.

  • Imaging Tests:

X-rays are essential for detecting abnormal bone formation, misalignment, and joint space narrowing.

MRIScans: MRI can provide fine pictures of the soft tissues, including muscles, ligaments, and cartilage. This would allow medical practitioners to determine the extent of damage or degeneration to the hip joint.

Ultrasound: Neonates and early infants are often assessed for hip joint stability, and ultrasound is used to identify soft tissue injuries, fluid collection, and joint inflammation. It is beneficial for early diagnosis before the bones have entirely ossified.

  • Other diagnostic:

Walking and Weight-Bearing Examination: This includes determining the degree to which the patient can bear their weight on the affected hip joint. A healthcare provider assesses signs of pain, inappropriate weight-bearing, or limping by observing the patient's posture and gait.

Hip dysplasia can affect muscle function and joint stability, so a balance test helps assess neuromuscular control. This is particularly crucial in adults because the illness can cause joint instability, discomfort, and impaired balance.

Physical therapy: Specific exercises to enhance joint stability, flexibility, and strength in the hip muscles.

Stretching: Mild stretches promote more significant movement and comfort by increasing hip flexibility and reducing stiffness.

StrengtheningExercises: To enhance support for the hip joint, focus on strengthening your glutes, core, and hip abductors.

Low-Impact Activities: Low-impact exercises that do not put a lot of stress on the hips, such as swimming or cycling, can keep you fit.

Posture and Gait Training: A physical therapist may guide posture and walking techniques to reduce hip stress and improve movement.

Pain Management Techniques: In rehabilitation, ultrasound and ice/heat therapy can help manage pain and swelling.

  • Depending on the severity of the condition, your healthcare professional may prescribe medicine to help control your symptoms and support the treatment plan.

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Hospitals for Hip Dysplasia in India

VPS Rockland Hospital: Top Doctors, and Reviews
VPS Rockland Hospital

Gurgaon, India

VPS Rockland Hospital located in Gurugram, India is accredited by NABH, NABL. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:

  • Well-designed compact 103-bed hospital expanding over120,000 square feet
  • Well equipped modular operation theatres, intensive care unit, interventional Cath lab, and in-patient rooms ranging from economy to luxury
  • Offers a bouquet of services like Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Surgery, Pediatrics
  • High-end diagnostic services like 1.5 T MRI and 128 slice CT Scan
  • Advanced non-invasive assessment with echo & TMT machines
  • State of the art cardiac Cath-Lab
  • Appointment Scheduling
  • Treatment packages
  • Accommodation arrangement for the accompanying attendant
  • Customized diet for patient and attendant
  • Laundry services
  • Prayer room
  • Visa assistance
  • Pick and drop facility from/to the Airport
  • Foreign exchange facility
  • Registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office
  • Dedicated Neuro-Intensive care unit managed by expert intensivists
  • Accommodation arrangements post discharge
  • Highly advanced instruments for deep brain stimulation, stereotaxy, micro-neurosurgery, pediatric neurosurgery & neurophysiology
  • Most advanced dialysis machines and advanced diagnostic and therapeutic facilities
  • Renal replacement therapy for hemo-dynamically unstable patient
  • Technologically advanced endoscopy suite
  • Wi-Fi/internet service in the room
  • Travel arrangement for patient & attendant post discharge
  • Tele-consults post discharge
  • Dialysis beds
  • 24x7 ‘Trauma & Emergency Center
  • Dedicated blood bank
  • 24x7 comprehensive patient care.
  • Deployed high-end technologies & smart digital system
  • Robust Hospital Information Systems to meet complex medical needs of patients
  • Robotic-assisted surgeries
  • International Patients Lounge
The Madras Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology: Top Doctors, and Reviews
The Madras Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology

Chennai, India

MIOT started its journey with only 70 beds and focusing on Orthopedics and Trauma care. However, we grew into a multi-specialty hospital with time. MIOT is now a 1000-bedded hospital and can offer an extensive range of services across 63 specialties. The state of art laboratory of our hospital is ranked 8th internationally. We have 21 super-specialty operation theaters equipped with cutting-edge technology to help our doctors with complex procedures.

We take great care to make our patient rooms comfortable enough. The patient rooms get plenty of fresh air as well as natural light. The soothing views from the rooms do not let the patients feel cut off from the outside world. We use separate entrances for emergency patients, out-patients, in-patients, and their attendants. We put our patients’ safety first which is why we use a superior air system to ensure a near-zero infection healthy environment.

Apart from that, MIOT’s 24 hours blood bank provides all kinds of blood work related services which include blood collection to component separation. This state-of-art blood bank alone handles more than 30,000 units of blood over the course of a year. Every month around 600 blood transfusions are managed by this blood bank.

MIOT’s SIGNA Pioneer 3T MRI machine is made with noise reduction technology. This silent MRI machine can deliver superior quality neuroimages without wasting any time. The department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences can give tough competition to any international hospital with its advanced technology and accuracy.

The PET CT service at MIOT International is the first of its kind in South India enabling better and more accurate diagnosis than earlier. The superior diagnosis is also possible for the two digital cath labs at MIOT Heart Revive center.

We also have a physiotherapy team where a team of highly efficient physiotherapists deals with the mobility and functional disability issues of our patients. They listen to the patients carefully to identify the root of the pain and use therapeutic exercises to reduce their pain.

The CCU of MIOT is something to be proud of. The specially-trained staff of this unit is dedicated to ensuring top-quality medical support to serious patients. This unit along with the MIOT International Laboratory is the backbone of our facility.

Furthermore, what makes MIOT unique is our Telemedicine service. In the new normal, we are trying everything to reach our patients. Our one of its kind Telemedicine service connects our patients to our 250 full-time doctors over email, phone, chat and video consultations.

Sanar International Hospital: Top Doctors, and Reviews
Sanar International Hospital

Gurugram, India

Sanar International Hospital is a multispeciality hospital based on Golf Course Road in Gurugram, a part of Delhi NCR. It was founded in 2018 and houses one of the most comprehensive and advanced surgical care specialties. This 150-bedded facility is committed to providing the best patient experiences and healthcare services is the core of the hospital’s mission. Staffed by a group of visionary and competent medical professionals who are well-versed in their fields and eminent for their empathy and understanding, Sanar International Hospital provides optimal care to its patients, making it a popular

Specialties in the Hospital such as Heart, Bone, and Joint neurosciences, Cancer, Kidney and Liver Transplant, and other successful procedures along with experienced medical professionals have made a mark for themselves among domestic patients and international patients who come to India to have the finest healthcare services. It follows strict international practices and believes that the centricity of the patient is essential for providing high-quality care through world-class infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities. The technologies offered by the Hospital include Digital X-rays, MRI, CT, Ultrasound, transfusion medicine, pharmacy, laboratory services, 24 hrs emergency and ambulance services.

It offers more than 20 plus specialties such as General Medicine, Anesthesiology, Cardiac Sciences, Ophthalmology, Gastroenterology, Hematology, Orthopedics, General Surgery & Surgical, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Hepato Biliary Surgery, Pediatrics, Liver Transplantation, and Critical Care Medicine. The Hospital has a highly skilled medical staff of neuro-anesthetists, neurologists, specialized neurocritical care experts, neurosurgeons neuropsychologists, and neuropsychiatrists. There are specific centers for the treatment of epilepsy, stroke, brain tumors, movement disorders, spinal problems, and headaches.

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Why Choose India for Hip Dysplasia Treatment?

India has highly qualified orthopaedic doctors and state-of-the-art medical facilities at reasonable prices. Hip dysplasia treatment is highly sought after in the country. With modern technology, shorter waiting times than most Western nations, and hospitals approved by the Western world, patients can receive excellent care for a fraction of the cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Depending on the seriousness of the disease and the symptoms a person is experiencing, hip dysplasia can indeed be treated non-surgically. Here are a few possibilities for non-surgical treatment:

Physical Therapy can provide exercises that strengthen the muscles surrounding the hip joint, lessen pain and increase flexibility.

Medication: Anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal medications may be prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation. Corticosteroid injections are sometimes used to treat more severe symptoms.

Weightloss reduces pressure on the hips, which might treat symptoms, especially when the cause is obesity.

Hip dysplasia surgery can be highly effective if done relatively early and depending on the degree of progression. Younger individuals can be less uncomfortable and avoid further damage by having the hip socket realigned using procedures such as periacetabular osteotomy (PAO). In much worse situations, total hip replacement (THR) significantly improves functions and reduces pain.

Hip dysplasia can affect any age group. It is commonly diagnosed in infants and treated with bracing. It may cause children to limp or have difficulty walking. It can occur later in young adults, necessitating surgeries like periacetabular osteotomy (PAO). If not treated, hip dysplasia in older individuals leads to arthritis, which is often treated with total hip replacement (THR).

Yes, hip dysplasia can cause arthritis to develop over time. The condition causes a shallow or improperly formed hip socket, which causes uneven wear on the cartilage. This additional stress on the cartilage may lead to degeneration, inflammation, and, finally, arthritis because the joint becomes unstable. This is common in individuals with decades of undiagnosed or poorly treated hip dysplasia.

Hip dysplasia can sometimes run in families. If one or more family members have the disorder, the chances of developing an increased hip joint are generally increased because of genetics; some inherited features may contribute to misalignment.

Hip dysplasia can impair mobility by causing pain, stiffness, and instability in the hip joint. The joint's misalignment causes abnormal cartilage wear and tear, resulting in a reduced range of motion and discomfort during movement. This can make walking, running, climbing stairs, or even sitting for long periods difficult.

Yes, hip dysplasia can be diagnosed in infants, usually during routine checks shortly after birth. Paediatricians use physical exams, including the Ortolani and Barlow tests, to check for hip instability. If there is a suspicion, an ultrasound may confirm the diagnosis. Early detection is essential because the condition can be effectively treated with non-invasive methods, like a Pavlik harness, if addressed in the first few months of life, preventing long-term complications.

Untreated hip dysplasia can cause long-term effects such as stiffness, arthritis, and chronic discomfort as the joint experiences abnormal wear and tear. Eventually, it can significantly reduce mobility by causing joint instability, resulting in limping or trouble moving. In extreme situations, untreated dysplasia can cause joint deformity, requiring more invasive procedures such as hip replacement. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are essential to avoid these problems.

Recovery time varies from procedure to procedure. Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is 6 to 12 months, crutches for the first 6 weeks and a gradual return to activity. Total Hip Replacement (THR) is typically 3 to 6 months for initial recovery, with complete healing and rehabilitation taking up to a year. Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in the strengthening and mobility processes during recovery.

Indeed, hip dysplasia may recur after treatment, especially if it is not fully resolved or if it is not treated early. In some cases, arthritis or instability can occur due to the continued deterioration of the hip joint over time. Adults with untreated or partially treated hip dysplasia when they were younger are more prone to this. However, with proper therapy, such as total hip replacement (THR) or periacetabular osteotomy (PAO), the risk of recurrence is significantly reduced, and most patients remain symptom-free in the long term.

Healthy weight maintenance to reduce joint stress, low-impact exercises such as swimming or cycling, and strengthening the hip muscles to increase stability can all be considered in managing hip dysplasia. Regular stretching, better posture and gait, and avoiding high-impact activities can also help control pain, prevent further problems, and enhance hip function.

Author

Dr. Shagufta Parveen
Dr. Shagufta Parveen

Doctor of Pharmacy

3 Years of Experience

Dr. Shagufta Parveen is a Clinical researcher and medical writer with expertise in clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics. She holds a B.Pharm and Doctor of Pharmacy (Post-Baccalaureate) degree from Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad.

During her clinical stint at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital and Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, she gained hands-on experience in the Clinical Pharmacology Department. Combining scientific knowledge with strong medical writing skills, Dr. Shagufta develops evidence-based healthcare content, treatment guides, and patient education resources.

Her work focuses on simplifying complex medical concepts while maintaining scientific accuracy, helping readers better understand healthcare advancements and treatment options.

In addition to her writing expertise, she is actively involved in scientific research and has contributed to peer-reviewed publications.

Her research work is accessible through the following links:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=lMVK1eIAAAAJ&hl=en

https://carcinogenesis.com/index.php/JOC/article/view/870

https://carcinogenesis.com/index.php/JOC/article/view/868

https://wjpsronline.com/abstract/0000000760

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Reviewer

Dr. Puneet Mishra
Dr. Puneet Mishra

Orthopaedic Surgeon

25 Years of Experience

Known among his patients for treating with compassion and personal care, Dr. Puneet Mishra is one of the best orthopedic surgeons in New Delhi. Dr. Puneet completed his MBBS from Maulana Azad Medical College in 1996 and from the same college he completed his MS (orthopedics) in 2000. With almost 25+ years of surgical experience under him, Dr. Pankaj takes pride in working with some of the finest medical institutions of the world such as University Hospital, Bern, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, Endoklinik, Germany, and Professor and Consultant orthopedician at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, New Delhi. View More

Last Reviewed - January 2026