Hip Subluxation in Children: Understanding and Treatment

Chronic hip subluxation is a type of disorder called developmental dysplasia of the hip. DDH is a problem with the shape of the hip joint. The hip joint is a ball and socket joint, made up of the top of the thigh bone and the socket. Infants and children will not typically suffer symptoms with the disorder.

Subluxation

• When an infant or child is diagnosed with hip subluxation, it refers to how the top of the thigh bone is loose in the socket. This is typically because of the hip socket being too shallow or misshapen.

Diagnosis

• To diagnose hip subluxation, a physician will perform a thorough physical examination, and perhaps an X-ray for infants over several months of age, and an ultrasound for younger infants.

Risk Factors

• Risk factors for developmental dysplasia of the hip include being a first-born child, being female or a breech baby, particularly if the feet are up by the shoulders. It also tends to run in families.

Symptoms

• There may be no outward signs of hip subluxation or possibly one leg longer than the other, uneven skin folds on the thigh, less mobility or flexibility on one side, limping, toe-walking or a waddling-type gait.

Treatment

• Newborns up to six months of age are usually put in a type of harness, while infants and older children usually have surgery to correct the hip and then are placed in a cast to keep the hip in socket.