Hip Conditions

The multidisciplinary subspecialized orthopaedic care team at MUSC Children's Health treats infants, children and adolescents with a variety of hip conditions and diseases.

Hip Conditions We Treat

Development Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) in Infants and Children

DDH occurs when the hip joint has not formed properly, causing dysfunction. The hip joint is known as a “ball-and-socket” joint. Normally, the head (top) of the thigh-bone (femur) fits snugly into the hip. The head is the ball and the hip is the socket.

Children with DDH have a small hip socket. This causes the ball (head of the femur) to slip (dislocate) out of the hip.

Adolescent Hip Dysplasia

Adolescent Hip Dysplasia is similar to DDH, except it develops in adolescence. These patients will have the shallow hip socket. This causes pain and inadequate movement of the hip.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease occurs when blood supply to the head of the femur (the ball) is disrupted. This causes the bone to die. If enough of the bone dies, the femoral head may lose its ball-like shape. This causes pain and discomfort in the hip.

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE)

The epiphysis is the end of the femur (thigh-bone) head. In some adolescents, the epiphysis can “slip” off the rest of the femur while staying put in the hip socket. This causes misalignment with the rest of the femur. Misalignment causes pain, stiffness, and instability at the hip.