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Hip Dysplasia in Humans

Hip dysplasia in humans is a bone condition that affects the hip socket and the thigh bone. Dogs are most commonly affected by this condition; however, hip dysplasia also affects humans, especially babies and women. According to Emedicine, a website that covers medical issues, 80 percent of people that suffer from adult hip dysplasia are women and one in every 1,000 babies is born with hip dysplasia.

  1. Description

    • Hip dysplasia is a deformation or misalignment of the hip joint. In a normal hip joint the femur fits directly into the pelvic socket which helps the joint to bear stress from weight and exercise. In the case of hip dysplasia, the femur does not fit snugly into the pelvic socket. It fits loosely, and any regular activities such as walking, can cause the surrounding bone to wear or tear. This can cause pain, limping and eventually deformity if the condition is not treated.

    Causes

    • Hip dysplasia is hereditary, meaning it is passed down through the genes of family members. So, it is more likely to occur if there are family members who have it. Also, in babies, the cartilage of the hip bone is soft and pliable, and this can cause the hip bone to slip out of place.

    Symptoms

    • Generally, hip dysplasia occurs at an early age and most symptoms are noticed once a baby starts to crawl and walk. Some symptoms that you may notice in babies or adults are stiffness, pain in the hip area, a clicking noise in the hip or limping.

    Diagnosis

    • X-rays are used to determine if there are any abnormalities present in the hip joint, if there is damage to the hip and how extensive the damage is. Also, a doctor may move the legs in different positions to listen for hip noises and to view any problems with range of movement in the hip area.

    Treatment

    • Treatment of hip dysplasia depends on age and the extent of damage present. Surgery is an option to treat hip dysplasia in adults. If the dysplasia is not chronic, then in some cases the femur can be reshaped to fit securely back into the hip joint. In severe cases, a hip replacement may be necessary. For babies, a harness or leg brace is commonly used. The harness holds the legs into a position that prevents the hip from slipping as growth occurs. Doctors usually recommend the harness be worn full-time for a least 6 to 12 weeks, and then worn part-time for 4 to 6 weeks after the hips are stabilized.

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