Hip Dysplasia info and free downloads

Sutherland Studios: Diagram of a dysplastic hip

What is hip dysplasia?

Once known as Congenital Dislocated Hip (CDH), and now called Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH), hip dysplasia is a structural deformity of the pelvis. People with DDH have abnormal hip sockets, which causes no end of problems. The head of the femur isn't held securely in the hip socket, for starters. If the condition is picked up in a baby, it can be treated with special splints, braces, plaster, and sometimes surgery. However, detection can be very difficult, and the condition is often missed. Dysplasia can also develop and worsen over many years, only presenting in adulthood.

A person with undetected hip dysplasia can develop hip problems in their 20s, 30s, or 40s. Pain when walking, hip pain, stiffness, restricted range of motion, and other symptoms become progressively more troublesome and disabling. It is often hard to get a clear diagnosis, as hip dysplasia experts are few and far between.

The main treatment for adults with hip dysplasia is surgery of some sort or other, unfortunately. A Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO) is a rather drastic operation where the pelvis is cut and realigned to create a better hip socket, with screws holding the bones in place. Hip resurfacing and total hip replacement (THR) are the only options if the hip joint has become arthritic.

Hip Book PDFs

These PDFs are provided free for all to use. Permission is granted to use these for personal use, and to provide them to patients.

Information Cards

For those times when you can't bear explaining your condition for the umpteenth time. Print, cut out, and hand out!

Hip Pain Record Sheet

Keep track of your hip pain levels over a month (3 months/page)

Daily Symptoms Record Sheet

Keep a daily record of your pain, medication, activity levels, and other things (3 days/page)

Hip Anatomy

A handy reference sheet to take to medical appointments. Get your surgeon to scribble on it!

List of Questions

A list of questions you can ask your surgeon

Promotional Flyers

You can print these out and give some to your doctor, surgeon, physiotherapist, friends, family, or local library! Three flyers per page.

Hip Links

We have a Facebook Page for the book where you can ask us questions, and we will announce things like sales and competitions. We’d love to chat with you over there!