We’ve developed the following hip dysplasia infographic as a free downloadable and shareable resource. Your support in sharing this resource with the health professionals in your community is appreciated. Thanks for helping to improve awareness and facilitate early diagnosis.
Click image to download PDF copy:
What is hip dysplasia?
The hip joint is made up of a ball and socket; the femoral head of the thigh bone (femur) is the ball and the acetabulum of the pelvis is the socket. Loose ligaments around the joint can allow for misalignment of varying degrees to occur. The hip joint is classified as displaced when the ball and socket do not fit together in their ‘normal’ position. Sometimes this is due to abnormal development and/or lack of growth.
Other names –
- Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)
- Infant hip dysplasia
- Clicky hips
- Hip dislocation
- Developmental hip dislocation
- Acetabular dysplasia
- Congenital hip dislocation
Hip dysplasia – isn’t life threatening but it can be life changing.
8-10 children a day are diagnosed with this condition in Australia. Early diagnosis optimised treatment outcomes; unfortunately though the incidence of late diagnosis is rising.
Late diagnosis means longer treatment, often months of restricted movement in a brace or plaster cast, a greater chance that painful, invasive surgery will be needed, and a higher risk of complications. All of which can, in many cases, be avoided if the condition is diagnosed and treated in the first few months of a person’s life.
Awareness and education are key to stemming this trend. Healthy Hips Week aims to increase awareness for this condition, so that nobody need unnecessarily face lengthy and painful treatments. For more information see our Toolkit.
Further Information
International Hip Dysplasia Institute
Disclaimer
This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. Every effort is made to ensure this information is up to date, accurate and easy to understand. Healthy Hips Australia accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading. This can be reproduce with acknowledgement to Healthy Hips Australia. Handouts are available to download free of charge at www.healthyhipsaustralia.org.au