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Hip Dysplasia / Congenital hip problems

What are hip dysplasia / congenital hip problems?

Most people who have hip dysplasia (also referred to as congenital hip problems) are born with it, even though symptoms may not always develop until young adulthood. Hip dysplasia occurs when the hip socket doesn’t fully cover the ball of the thighbone (femur). The result is that the hip joint can become dislocated, either partially or fully, and begin to wear out.

The condition may cause damage to the cartilage lining the joint and can result in a labral tear, which is a tear to the rim of the hip socket.

What causes hip dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia runs in families and is more common in girls than boys. The condition may develop in the womb if the ball of the baby’s hip joint moves out of its proper position in the last month before birth, causing the socket to develop more shallowly than normal. If the space inside the womb is very limited, which is common with a large baby or breech presentation as well as in first pregnancies, hip dysplasia can be the result.

Congenital hip problems increase the risk of hip osteoarthritis in later life, as cartilage becomes worn away, preventing the bones from gliding smoothly against each other.

Hip dysplasia

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