Hip Dysplasia and Other Developmental and Structural Hip Conditions
Some hip problems do not come from a single injury. They come from the way the hip is shaped. When the ball-and-socket joint of the hip does not fit together quite the way it should, the joint can wear unevenly over time, leading to pain and, eventually, arthritis. These developmental and structural hip conditions, with hip dysplasia among the most common, often show up in active adolescents and adults as hip or groin pain that does not have an obvious cause.
Understanding what is happening inside the joint is the first step toward relief. The board-certified and fellowship-trained hip specialists at Resurgens Orthopaedics diagnose and treat structural hip conditions in adolescents and adults at locations across metro Atlanta.
Overview
- What Is Hip Dysplasia?
- Other Developmental and Structural Hip Conditions
- Symptoms to Watch For
- How Structural Hip Conditions Are Diagnosed
- Treatment Options
- Schedule an Appointment for Hip Care
What Is Hip Dysplasia?
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The femoral head at the top of the thighbone forms the ball, and a cup-shaped part of the pelvis, called the acetabulum, forms the socket. In a healthy hip, the socket covers the ball well and spreads weight evenly across the joint. In hip dysplasia, the socket is too shallow or not angled correctly, so it does not fully cover the ball. That leaves a smaller area to carry the body's weight, which puts extra stress on the acetabular rim and the soft tissue around it.
Hip dysplasia is often present from a young age, but many people do not feel it until adolescence or adulthood, when the years of uneven wear begin to cause symptoms. This is sometimes called adult hip dysplasia, or acetabular dysplasia, when the shallow-socket problem is identified in teens or adults. It is one of the more common reasons younger adults develop hip arthritis, which is why recognizing it early matters.
Other Developmental and Structural Hip Conditions
Hip dysplasia is one of several conditions that come from the shape and development of the hip. Others that the Resurgens hip team evaluates include:
Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
In femoroacetabular impingement, extra bone grows along the ball, the socket or both, so the surfaces are not perfectly round. Instead of gliding smoothly, the bones bump against each other when the hip moves. Over time this can pinch and damage the cartilage and the labrum, the ring of tissue that lines the socket. FAI tends to cause groin pain and stiffness, especially with deep bending or rotating of the hip, and it often affects active younger adults.
Hip Labral Tears
The labrum is a rim of cartilage that deepens the socket and helps seal and cushion the joint. Structural problems such as dysplasia and impingement put extra strain on the labrum and the joint surfaces, which can lead to cartilage damage and cause the labrum to tear. A labral tear may produce a catching or clicking sensation, groin pain or a feeling that the hip is not stable. Because labral tears so often go hand in hand with the underlying shape of the hip, treating the tear usually means addressing the structural cause as well.
Hip Instability and Related Conditions
When the socket is shallow or the supporting tissues are loose, the hip can feel unstable, as though it might give way or slip. Structural conditions can also speed up the development of early hip arthritis. Identifying the underlying cause helps your physician choose a treatment that protects the joint rather than only easing the symptoms.
Symptoms to Watch For
Structural hip conditions often share similar warning signs, which tend to build gradually rather than appear suddenly. See a hip specialist if you notice:
- Pain in the groin or the front of the hip, especially with activity
- A catching, clicking or locking feeling in the hip
- A sense that the hip is loose or may give way
- Stiffness or a reduced range of motion in the hip
- Pain that worsens with prolonged sitting, walking or athletic activity
Please Note: Hip and groin pain in an active adolescent or adult is easy to write off as a strain. When that pain lingers or keeps returning, a structural cause may be behind it, and an early evaluation can help identify the cause before more wear occurs.
How Structural Hip Conditions Are Diagnosed
Diagnosis starts with a visit to a hip specialist who will ask about your symptoms, examine how the hip moves and check for the positions that reproduce your pain. Your physician may also ask about family history, since the shape of the hip can run in families. Imaging is central to diagnosing these conditions. An X-ray shows the shape and alignment of the ball and socket and can reveal a shallow socket or extra bone, while an MRI shows the cartilage and labrum in detail and can confirm a tear. Because these conditions are about the structure of the joint, this imaging is what allows your physician to pinpoint the cause and plan the right treatment.
Treatment Options
Treatment depends on the specific condition, how advanced it is and how much it affects your life. Many structural hip conditions are managed without surgery, at least at first.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Early or milder cases often respond to conservative care:
- Activity changes to avoid the movements that trigger pain
- Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that support and stabilize the hip
- Anti-inflammatory medication to manage pain and swelling
- Injections to relieve pain and help confirm where it is coming from
These measures can ease symptoms and, for many people, keep the hip comfortable without surgery.
Surgical Treatment
When non-surgical care does not provide enough relief, or when the structure of the hip needs to be corrected to protect the joint, surgery may be recommended. The procedure depends on the condition. Some labral tears and impingement can be treated with hip arthroscopy, a minimally invasive procedure that uses small incisions to repair the labrum or reshape the bone. Hip dysplasia may be treated with a periacetabular osteotomy, which repositions the socket so it covers the ball better and shares weight more evenly. When arthritis is already advanced, hip replacement may be the best option. Your Resurgens surgeon will explain which approach fits your hip and your goals.
Schedule an Appointment for Hip Care
If you have hip or groin pain that is not going away, finding the cause is the first step toward relief. Book an appointment online today with a Resurgens hip specialist or call us at (404) 847-9999.