As a parent, hearing that your baby may have a hip problem can be concerning. The good news is that developmental hip dysplasia (DDH), one of the most common orthopedic conditions in infants, is highly treatable when diagnosed early.

“Most babies with hip dysplasia do very well when the condition is identified early and treated appropriately,” says Dr. Jonathan Schiller, orthopedic pediatric surgeon with University Orthopedics. “Routine newborn examinations and screening help us catch the vast majority of cases before they become more significant problems.”

Understanding the risk factors, signs, and treatment options can help parents feel more confident if concerns about their child’s hip development arise.

Understanding the Risk Factors

Certain babies have a higher likelihood of developing hip dysplasia.

As Dr. Schiller explains, “As I like to say, the four Fs, or BFFF. So family history, the firstborn female, and what we call fanny first or breech presentation.”

He notes that family history is often one of the most significant risk factors.

“Family history tends to be a more significant risk factor because if you have a grandmother and a mother who have had hip dysplasia, the likelihood of that baby having hip dysplasia is significant, well over 25%.”

At the same time, Dr. Schiller emphasizes that risk factors do not guarantee a diagnosis.

“There are times where the family history’s positive, it’s a first-born female, and they were breech, and their hips are normal.”

How Hip Dysplasia Is Often Detected

Many cases are identified shortly after birth during a routine examination.

“A lot of the time now, these babies are picked up almost on day one or day two, when the pediatrician comes in and examines them,” says Dr. Schiller.

During the exam, pediatricians assess the baby’s hips for signs of instability.

“[They] do a little simple sort of examination of their hip. Will feel a clunk or, more commonly, a click, at which point that will prompt them to refer them to my office.”

Signs Doctors Look For

When hip dysplasia is present, physicians may observe differences in the way the hips move.

“If they’re truly dislocated, one lower extremity will be shorter than the other,” Dr. Schiller explains.

He adds that babies “often can have limitations with abduction or the ability to kind of lay their legs outward like a butterfly.”

Importantly, hip dysplasia is not typically painful for infants.

“But the kids generally are not irritable. The babies don’t hurt, even if it’s dislocated.”

A Common Condition in Otherwise Healthy Babies

While hip dysplasia can sometimes occur alongside other medical conditions, Dr. Schiller says that most affected infants are otherwise healthy.

“You can see hip dysplasia with significant medical problems, but most of the time, they’re healthy babies who just unfortunately have a shallow socket or dislocated hip, or both.”

When to Seek Evaluation

Parents who have a family history of hip dysplasia or whose baby was in a breech position should discuss those risk factors with their pediatrician. Early evaluation and screening can help identify hip dysplasia and determine whether additional care is needed.

For more information about pediatric orthopedic care, contact University Orthopedics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can hip dysplasia go away on its own?

Some mild cases of hip instability improve naturally as a baby grows, but all suspected cases should be evaluated and monitored by a healthcare professional.

Does hip dysplasia cause pain in babies?

Most infants with hip dysplasia do not experience noticeable pain, which is one reason routine screening is so important.

Is hip dysplasia hereditary?

Family history is one of the strongest risk factors. Babies with a parent or sibling who had hip dysplasia may require additional screening.

How successful is treatment?

When diagnosed early, treatment for developmental hip dysplasia is highly successful, and most children go on to have normal hip function and development.

What is the most common treatment for infants?

The Pavlik harness is the most commonly used treatment for infants diagnosed during the first few months of life.