Hip dysplasia means that the hip joint is the wrong shape, or that the hip socket is not in the correct position to completely cover and support the femoral head. This causes increased force, and abnormal wear on the cartilage and labrum. For babies and children with hip dysplasia is generally preferred the term developmental dysplasia of the hip or DDH. DDH is a medical term for general instability, or looseness, of the hip joint. The socket is shallow and the femoral head can’t rotate freely in the socket. During the arthroscopic procedure, the labrum is larger than usual, and it is easier to be damaged by daily or sports activity.
Treatment should be individualized in each patient and is quite different in the newborn, where the use of specific splints to maintain the adequate joint relationship is usually enough. Mild dysplasia with labrum injuries can be repaired by hip arthroscopy to prevent joint degeneration. Severe dysplasia without joint osteoarthritis needs other surgical procedures to reorient the acetabulum, such as periacetabular osteotomy.
