Before setting a treatment to be followed to solve a hip dysplasia, we must first make a medical evaluation that allows us to know the characteristics of the patient (age, weight, size, condition, etc.) and that also helps us determine the magnitude of the damage present.
Newborns can be treated more easily by using a device called a Pavlik harness, which is responsible for keeping the joint firmly in place for a few months. After 6 months of age, the function of the harness is not as efficient, so we may recommend a herringbone cast to place the femur and pelvis in the correct position.
The most severe dysplasias may need surgeries to be able to correct the joint socket internally; or failing that, perform a hip replacement. We will expand on this topic below…
Currently, periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is the most common surgical procedure to treat hip dysplasia. This surgery lasts approximately 2 or 3 hours; During this time, the doctor repositions the acetabulum in a more normal direction and then fixes it on top of the femoral head with the help of small screws.
When the patient has additional damage to the labrum (soft cartilage), it is possible that a parallel arthroscopic procedure may be added to the surgery, to reattach the labrum or remove part of the torn tissue, thus improving the sensation of pain caused by the affected cartilage.
The initial physiotherapeutic treatment is intended to solve the joint problem from the outside, to prevent it from reaching surgery. If this does not give the expected results, physiotherapy exercises will be used (after surgery) as an adjuvant treatment in the recovery stage of hip dysplasia.
It is a condition that usually occurs at birth, which is caused by the improper development of the hip bones. Hip dysplasia is usually a congenital problem, where the upper end of the femur does not fit properly into the hip acetabulum; which causes a total or partial joint dislocation.
If hip dysplasia was not diagnosed and treated during childhood, there is a risk that later on, in the stages of youth or adulthood, the person may experience hip pain and difficulty walking; due to the arching of the legs or the imbalance in the joint structure of the hip.
Hip dysplasia in adults begins with abnormalities during the development of the acetabulum or as a consequence of a failed treatment to correct the dysplasia. The unstable attachment between the femur and the acetabulum causes hip wear to occur more quickly than normal wear and tear related to aging.
In infants, signs of dysplasia may be reflected as follows:
Parents may notice a slight difference in leg length (one shorter and one longer).
The child limps when walking.
In diaper changing, the flexion motion of one leg is more fluid than that of the other.
Hip dysplasia in young people and adults can bring with it more acute symptoms (groin pain, instability and loss of strength) added to new complications such as: labral ruptures, osteoarthritis, etc.
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