Hip dysplasia: Specialists, clinics & centers in Germany

What Is Hip Dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia describes the malposition of the acetabulum of the pelvic bone. This condition can be hereditary or acquired. It affects five times as many girls as boys and is a risk factor for early hip osteoarthritis. For this reason, a routine ultrasound examination of the hip is performed in all children in Germany during the 3rd preventive health screening (U3).

What Causes Hip Dysplasia?

Hip Dysplasia in Children

Hip dysplasia is inherited multifactorial and leads to a malformation of the acetabulum. Risk factors for hip dysplasia are the female gender of the child, a positive case in the family, and forced postures in the womb during pregnancy due to confined space. In this disease, the femoral head did not fit well into the socket and was peripheral. The acetabulum is further damaged by the incorrect load on the hip bone. The cartilaginous acetabulum also ossifies worse and later due to the malformation.

Hip Dysplasia in Adults

Undetected hip dysplasia in children may initially be asymptomatic or present with uncharacteristic symptoms, leaving the condition undiagnosed. This can lead to pain, limited mobility, and hip osteoarthritis in adulthood.

Hip Dysplasia Symptoms

Hip dysplasia is initially asymptomatic. However, since early treatment promises a good prognosis, precautionary ultrasound diagnosis is performed in all children. The first symptoms often become noticeable in toddlers. The children complain of the knee and hip pain and are restricted in their movement. If a hip dislocation occurs in the course of the disease, i.e., the femoral head slips out of the socket, a waddling gait and a displaced hip may be observed in affected children.

Treatment of Hip Dysplasia

Hip instability immediately after birth regresses on its own in 80% of cases and does not require unique therapy. However, in more severe hip dysplasia, spreading pants help stabilize the femoral head in the acetabulum and thus prevent it from slipping (dislocation). This is especially important because the correct position of the joint is indispensable for the proper maturation of the articular surfaces.

In the case of dislocation of the femoral head, it must be re-erected into the acetabulum. After that, the hip joint is fixed in the so-called sit-up position by bandages or a cast to prevent a new dislocation.

Hip Dysplasia Surgery

If conservative treatment measures are not successful, surgery of the hip joint is indicated. Various surgical procedures are available for this purpose. First, the shape and position of the acetabulum are corrected so that the femoral head fits back into the joint, and a secure fit can be granted.

Which Doctors and Clinics Are Specialized in Hip Dysplasia Surgery?

Because hip dysplasia is a disease in early childhood, pediatricians or general practitioners are the first doctors to diagnose affected children with the condition. Hip dysplasia is managed and treated by pediatric orthopedists and/or in pediatric hospitals. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons are physicians with advanced training in orthopedics and trauma surgery who have specialized in pediatric orthopedics and have completed 18 months of additional training for this specialty.

We help you find an expert for your condition. All doctors and clinics listed have been reviewed by us for their outstanding specialization in hip dysplasia and are awaiting your inquiry or treatment request.

Sources:

• Durst: Traumatologische Praxis. Schattauer 1997, ISBN 978-3-794-51587-5.
• Schulze et al.: S1-Leitlinie Hüftdysplasie. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie (DGOU), Berufsverbandes der Ärzte für Orthopädie (BVO). Stand April 2001. Abgerufen am 24.10.2017.
• Krämer, Grifka: Orthopädie, Unfallchirurgie. 8. Auflage. Springer 2007, ISBN 978-3-540-48498-1.
• Imhoff et al.: Checkliste Orthopädie. Thieme 2006, ISBN 978-3-131-42281-1.
• Largiadèr et al. (Hrsg.): Checkliste Chirurgie. 10. Auflage. Thieme 2012, ISBN 978-3-131-51570-4.
• Niethard et al.: Duale Reihe Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie. 6. Auflage. Thieme 2009, ISBN 3-131-30816-8.