Hip & Joint Abnormalities in Children

The majority of children are born healthy, however, some children are born with joint or hip abnormalities or disorders. A doctor or orthopedic surgeon should be consulted to make a definitive diagnosis.

Hip Joint Disorders

• According to Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, hip dysplasia is the abnormal formation of the hip joint, present in one or both hips, and can eventually lead to hip dislocation. A similar hip disorder is slipped capital femoral epiphysis. According to the National Institutes of Health, this is a joint abnormality in which the femur--thigh bone--separates from the ball of the hip joint.

Other Joint Disorders

• Juvenile osteoarthritis is a disease caused by the deterioration of the cartilage of the joints. It usually affects children under 15, and can be temporary or permanent. Some children have joint or hip disorders from birth. According to the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, arthrogryposis is a term that refers to numerous deformities present at birth, in which the tissues that surround the joints are abnormally short.

Less Common Disorders

• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a childhood disorder which causes swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints. Lupus is also an autoimmune disease, but affects the skin and kidneys as well as the joints. According to Lupus Foundation of America, it is most often seen in adults but can also affect children. As soon as a parent suspects a potential hip or joint disorder medical attention should be sought.