I have been diagnosed with hip dysplasia as a teenager, however have I always had hip dysplasia?

In many cases adolescent hip dysplasia is a progression of paediatric hip dysplasia, and patients will have had some failure of hip formation as a younger child. In some cases patient may have had treatment as a child for hip dysplasia and may have had a relatively normal hip, however over time the hip joint formation regresses, and this can result in poor socket formation as an adolescent.

How long is recovery after hip dysplasia surgery?

This depends on the nature of the surgery which is undertaken. After a periacetabular osteotomy, most patients are back to playing sport and activities at approximately 3-4 months.

I get clicking and catching in my groin, is this a sign of hip dysplasia?

Clicking and catching in the groin can be a sign of hip dysplasia, and instability of the hips lies in and out of its socket. If you have these symptoms would highly recommend that you are evaluated by a specialist orthopaedic surgeon.

I have hip dysplasia, what is the risk of developing hip arthritis?

This is a very difficult question to answer without a thorough evaluation of your x-rays and an assessment of your condition. The risk of developing arthritis is directly related to the amount of bony coverage of the ball of the femur.

My child has hip dysplasia - will they be in pain?

Hip dysplasia in young children is typically non-painful, when children become older >6-8yrs then pain can occur.

How long will my child need their brace for?

This depends upon how they grow and how the hip dysplasia resolves. Typically the minimum time a brace is required is 3 months. However, it is not uncommon for children to require braces up to 12-18months in severe cases.

Will my child have a developmental/walking delay due to being in a brace?

Most children who have been in a brace will have a delay in their ability to walk, but they normally catch up very quickly when the brace is removed.

Can my child walk in the brace?

In a hippo or rhino brace, children can often stand or crab walk. They can also usually pull themselves up to stand.

Can my child do tummy time in the brace?

Tummy time is difficult in any brace or orthotic. When the brace is off, it is recommended to encourage this as much as possible.

What is my child's risk of arthritis in the future?

If hip dysplasia is detected early and treated successfully, there is a low risk of arthritis, however, if there is residual dysplasia, or if the condition is detected late, this increases the risk of arthritis.

What happens if avascular necrosis is left untreated?

When avascular necrosis is left untreated, the disease will progress. The bone may develop a crack, in which the bone collapses. Should this occur at the end of the bone, the surface of the joint will be irregular, which can cause arthritic pain and loss of function to the affected joint.

Does exercise help avascular necrosis?

There is no evidence exercise helps avascular necrosis, and weight bearing on a hip with avascular necrosis can contribute to collapse of the joint and the development of arthritis. It is essential that your hip is evaluated by a hip specialist to determine the correct physical regime for you.

Will avascular necrosis spread to other bones in the body?

No, avascular necrosis cannot spread to other bones in the body. In the absence of other conditions, AVN will stay in the same body part. However, avascular necrosis can occur in other parts of the body, for example if it affects one hip, there is between 10-40% chance it can affect the other hip.

What happens if a labral tear goes untreated?

If left untreated, a labral tear can become an irritant to the hip joint which can increase friction and speed the presence of osteoarthritis in your hip. If the tear gets worse, it can become a tissue flap that can cause severe pain when moving your hip. Treatment may be recommended and can help minimise pain.

What aggravates a hip labral tear?

Labral tears are most commonly caused by structural abnormalities in the hip, and they can additionally be caused by repetitive injuries from lunging, squats, kicking, sports and extremes of range of motion. Cycling can bean aggravatingactivity as hip flexion combined with other movements can aggravate your pain. You may also wishto avoidactivities such as football, soccer, gym, basketball and ballet as they can irritate the tear and cause sharp pain in the groin or hip. Treatment of labral tears may provide relief allowing you to return to some activities you enjoyed.

What does a labral tear feel like?

For many patients, a torn labrum may show no symptoms, making diagnosis difficult. For others, pain in the hip joint, groin or buttocks can be a sign of a torn labrum, sometimes experienced alongside an audible clicking sound in the joint when engaging in high-intensity activity. Pain levels usually correlate with activity, subsiding with rest.

Do I need surgery for a torn labrum?

Surgery may be required to correct a hip labral tear, as often a torn labrum is a symptom of a deeper structural issue with the hip. In this case, simply correcting the tear may not provide effective relief to the patient. In cases where the labral tear has no underlying cause, some conservative treatment methods such as NSAID drugs and targeted physical therapy can provide relief. Surgical treatment often takes the form of minimally-invasive hip arthroscopy.

How is a hip labral tear diagnosed?

Labral tears are normally diagnosed by a combination of physical examination and assessment of the hip joint, and confirmed by an MRI.

What is the difference between hip dysplasia and hip arthritis?

While symptoms may be similar, Hip dysplasia is a developmental disorder largely influenced by genetics. Hip arthritis on the other hand can be caused by a range of factors including weight, joint injury or increasing age.

What is the difference between hip arthritis and a labral tear?

Labral tears are typically caused by trauma, arthritis, femoroacetabular impingement or acetabular dysplasia, while the most common cause of hip arthritis is old age. Labral tears are also more common in athletes, however people with labral tears in their hip are also more likely to develop hip arthritis.

Femoroacetabular Impingement

Home > Condition & Treatment Map > Hip & Pelvis Conditions & Treatments > Femoroacetabular Impingement

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Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), also known as hip impingement, is a condition in which extra bone develops along one or both of the bones that form the hip joint. Because they do not fit together perfectly, the bones rub against each other during movement. Over time this friction can damage the joint, causing pain and limiting activity.

Types of FAI

There are three types of FAI:

Pincer is a type of impingement that is caused by the extensions of extra bones over the normal rim of the acetabulum. The labrum is then crushed under the rim of the acetabulum.

In Cam impingement the femoral head is not round which prevents it from smoothly rotating inside the acetabulum. A bump then forms on the femoral head edge which grinds the cartilage.
Combined impingement means that both cam and pincer are present.

Symptoms

It is possible to experience this condition and be completely asymptomatic, however the most common symptoms of FAI include:

Pain
Stiffness
Limping
Clicking/catching

Pain often occurs in the groin area, although it may occur toward the outside of the hip.

Causes

FAI occurs because the hip bones do not form normally during the childhood growing years. It may be caused by repetitive overuse during adolescence, due to chronic growth plate irritation causing abnormal bone growth around the hip.

Treatments

The underlying problem with FAI is the abnormal bony shape, which will not change with physical therapy. However, the shape of the bones do not cause pain, instead other structures can be injured such as the labrum or articular cartilage which tend to cause pain in the hip. Initial treatment such as rest and rehabilitation may help ease minor symptoms, however persistent symptoms may require arthroscopic surgery.

Non-surgical

Physiotherapy
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
Activity Changes

Surgical

Hip Arthroscopy
Open FAI Surgery
Total Hip Replacement Surgery

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