What is the main symptom in newborn patient with congenital hip dislocation?

Hip dysplasia is the medical term for a hip socket that doesn't fully cover the ball portion of the upper thighbone. This allows the hip joint to become partially or completely dislocated. Most people with hip dysplasia are born with the condition.

Doctors will check your baby for signs of hip dysplasia shortly after birth and during well-baby visits. If hip dysplasia is diagnosed in early infancy, a soft brace can usually correct the problem.

Milder cases of hip dysplasia might not start causing symptoms until a person is a teenager or young adult. Hip dysplasia can damage the cartilage lining the joint, and it can also hurt the soft cartilage (labrum) that rims the socket portion of the hip joint. This is called a hip labral tear.

In older children and young adults, surgery may be needed to move the bones into the proper positions for smooth joint movement.

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Symptoms

Signs and symptoms vary by age group. In infants, you might notice that one leg is longer than the other. Once a child begins walking, a limp may develop. During diaper changes, one hip may be less flexible than the other.

In teenagers and young adults, hip dysplasia can cause painful complications such as osteoarthritis or a hip labral tear. This may cause activity-related groin pain. In some cases, you might experience a sensation of instability in the hip.

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Causes

At birth, the hip joint is made of soft cartilage that gradually hardens into bone. The ball and socket need to fit together well because they act as molds for each other. If the ball isn't seated firmly into the socket, the socket will not fully form around the ball and will become too shallow.

During the final month before birth, the space within the womb can become so crowded that the ball of the hip joint moves out of its proper position, which results in a shallower socket. Factors that may reduce the amount of space in the womb include:

  • First pregnancy
  • Large baby
  • Breech presentation

Risk factors

Hip dysplasia tends to run in families and is more common in girls. The risk of hip dysplasia is also higher in babies born in the breech position and in babies who are swaddled tightly with the hips and knees straight.

Complications

Later in life, hip dysplasia can damage the soft cartilage (labrum) that rims the socket portion of the hip joint. This is called a hip labral tear. Hip dysplasia can also make the joint more likely to develop osteoarthritis. This occurs because of higher contact pressures over a smaller surface of the socket. Over time, this wears away the smooth cartilage on the bones that helps them glide against each other as the joint moves.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Hip dysplasia care at Mayo Clinic

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Diagnosis & treatment

March 23, 2022

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Show references

  1. Kliegman RM, et al. The hip. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 14, 2020.
  2. AskMayoExpert. Developmental hip dysplasia. Mayo Clinic. 2019.
  3. Developmental dislocation (dysplasia) of the hip (DDH). American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/developmental-dislocation-dysplasia-of-the-hip-ddh. Accessed Feb. 14, 2020.
  4. Adolescent hip dysplasia. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/adolescent-hip-dysplasia. Accessed Feb. 14, 2020.
  5. Azar FM, et al. Hip pain in the young adult and hip preservation surgery. In: Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 13th ed. Elsevier; 2017. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 14, 2020.
  6. Rosenfeld SB. Developmental dysplasia of the hip: Clinical features and diagnosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Feb. 14, 2020.
  7. Rosenfeld SB. Developmental dysplasia of the hip: Epidemiology and pathogenesis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Feb. 14, 2020.
  8. Rosenfeld SB. Developmental dysplasia of the hip: Treatment and outcome. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Feb. 14, 2020.
  9. Krych AJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Feb. 19, 2020.
  10. Morrow ES Jr. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. Jan. 13, 2020.

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What are the early symptoms of congenital hip dislocation?

What are the symptoms of congenital hip dislocation?.
legs that turn outward or appear to differ in length..
limited range of motion..
folds on their legs and buttocks that are uneven when their legs extend..
delayed gross motor development, which affects how your child sits, crawls, and walks..

What are the signs of congenital hip dysplasia?

Hip Dysplasia Symptoms.
Pain in the groin that increases with activity..
Limping..
A catching, snapping or popping sensation..
Loss of range of motion in the hip..
Difficulty sleeping on the hip..

What is a common presentation of a hip dislocation?

Patients often present in obvious severe pain in the hip region and upper leg. They may also complain of knee, lower leg, or even back pain. Patients usually complain of the inability to walk or move their leg about the hip joint.

What are the symptoms of hip joint dislocation?

What are the symptoms of hip dislocation?.
Acute pain..
Muscle spasms..
Swelling or discoloration at your hip joint..
Leg is rotated inward or outward..
Inability to move your leg..
Inability to bear weight on your leg..
Loss of feeling in your hip or foot..
Hip is visibly out of place..