1 in every 1,000 babies is born with hip dysplasia, which is usually detected during the first months of life. In this post we tell you what hip dysplasia is, what its symptoms are, the causes and its diagnosis and treatment.
What is the hip?
The hip is the largest joint that supports the weight of our body. It is the joint where the femur joins the pelvis, therefore, the point that connects the lower limb to the trunk.
hip anatomy
The hip has two main parts:
- The ball at the end of the femur, which fits into the socket of the pelvis.
- The cavity of the coxal bone, which is followed by the iliacus, the sacrum and the coccyx.
Both parts are covered with tough cartilage for protection, also known as hyaline cartilage.
hip function
As already mentioned, The main function of the hip is to give strength and stability to the human body.
The hip allows all lower extremities three planes of movement, while providing its primary function of shock absorption for the lower extremities.
The transverse axis of the hip allows flexion and extension movements of the hip. On the other hand, the anteroposterior axis is capable of carrying out its abduction and adduction movements. Finally, the vertical axis allows the hip to perform external rotation and internal rotation movements.
What is hip dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is an anomaly that refers to a developmental dysplasia of the hip, when the hip socket does not completely cover the femur portion.
Symptoms of acetabular dysplasia
The signs and symptoms of hip dysplasia vary depending on the patient. In general terms, patients usually experience pain when performing hyperextension and lateral rotation movements of the hip.
Frequently, there is pain at the end of sports practice, after long periods of standing or after having taken a long walk.
Symptoms of hip dysplasia in babies
In babies, it is common for the mother to notice a certain resistance when changing the diaper, caused by the pain felt by the baby, whose hips are less flexible.
A hip and leg dysmetria in babies, means that the length of the lower extremities can vary in a certain way.
When the child begins to walk, he looks certain lameness in children with hip dysplasia, being another of the frequent symptoms of this anomaly.
Symptoms of hip dysplasia in adults
In adults and adolescents, the hip dysplasia can cause osteoarthritis or hip labral tear, which presents as pain in the groin after sports practices. In this way, the affected joint presents some pain when performing certain movements.
At other times, symptoms of hip instability.
Risk factors that influence the appearance of hip dysplasia
It is common to find hip dysplasia in women and the main cause of this is due to the breech position of the baby at the time of delivery. This anomaly occurs when it is the first pregnancy, the baby is large, or the baby's body is facing down.
Diagnosis and treatment of hip dysplasia
The symptoms of hip dysplasia may be somewhat different depending on the patient, so it will be necessary to perform an imaging test and evaluation of the hip, such as X-rays or MRI.
In chronic cases, it will be necessary to go to a hip specialist traumatologist, so that it diagnoses the pain and can offer the most appropriate treatment for hip dysplasia.
He Ortolani sign is the technique used to detect hip instability in newborn children. When it is positive, the baby has a palpable clicking in the hip.
Likewise, the Barlow maneuver It consists of adducting the hip while applying pressure to the thighs. If the hip is dislocatable, the test is considered positive.
In cases where the newborn presents symptoms of hip dysplasia, doctors recommend a treatment that helps prevent this anomaly with the Pavlik harness. It is a device to maintain the position of the baby's legs in the correct way.
Tips for treating hip dysplasia
As part of the treatment of hip dysplasia, it is recommended to avoid all activities that may cause a high impact on this area of the body.
When sleeping, you should find a safe position so that your hips are comfortable. Therefore, the Frejka cushion It is a device that allows the natural position of the baby's hips when bending and making certain movements.
If you present symptoms of hip dysplasia, the most advisable thing to treat this pathology is to have hip specialists who can help you regain the strength and mobility of the hip. At Elgeadi Traumatología you can make an appointment with the best experts in hip traumatology in Madrid.
