What Is Congenital Dislocation Of The Hip Joint?
Children with the congenital dislocation of the hip joint have an abnormally shallow acetabulum which causes the femoral head to be displaced upwards and backwards when the child begins to put weight upon the limb. The neck of the femur may be shortened and the capsule becomes stretched. Sometimes the femoral head lies outside the acetabulum at the time of birth. The child walks with dips on the affected side or has a waddling gait if the dislocation is bilateral one. Because the pelvis is tipped forward, lordosis develops. Congenital dislocation of the hip joint is a fairly common condition. Successful treatment depends on an early assessment and this should not be delayed beyond the first week of life. The abnormality occurs most in girls; the condition runs in families and although usually present at birth it is often not noticed until the child begins to walk. The dislocation may be unilateral or bilateral and it may be partial or complete. The observant mother may notice that one