Hip Dysplasia in Children: What Parents Should Know

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. In developmental dysplasia of the hip, the socket may be shallow, or the ball may not stay centred as the child grows. The joint can be loose, partly out of place, or fully dislocated. It may affect one hip or both, and a baby may not seem uncomfortable.

Possible clues include uneven skin folds, legs that appear different in length, reduced movement on one side, or a limp once a child walks. These signs can have other explanations, so they do not confirm hip dysplasia by themselves. Clinicians use a physical examination and, depending on age, ultrasound or an X-ray.

Arrange an examination when a clinician notices an unstable hip or when a parent sees a persistent difference in leg movement. Treatment depends on the child’s age and how stable the hip is. A soft brace may hold the hips in a safer position in young babies. Older children may need a different approach, sometimes including a procedure to guide the joint into position. Follow-up checks help confirm that the hip continues to develop.

Seek medical advice promptly if a baby has markedly reduced movement of one leg, a leg that appears shorter, or a hip that repeatedly feels unstable during care. For a walking child, arrange review for a new limp, waddling gait, or persistent difficulty moving one hip. Urgent care is appropriate after an injury with severe pain, inability to stand, or a visibly abnormal leg position.

Ask which examination or scan is suitable for your child’s age, how stable the hip appears, and what treatment involves day to day. Clarify how to position the baby safely, when follow-up is due, and which changes should be reported.