Question
My child doesn’t walk very steadily and always limps, which worries me a lot. A friend said it resembles congenital hip dislocation, as her colleague’s child had the same issue.
Answer
Congenital hip dislocation, also known as developmental hip dislocation or developmental dysplasia of the hip, is a common congenital malformation. The head of the femur loses its normal relationship with the joint capsule, preventing proper development before and after birth. The affected limb is bent, with poor movement and insufficient push-off power; abduction of the hip joint is limited, with the femoral head on the affected side shifting backward and upward, resulting in shortening of the lower limb and asymmetric creases on the inner side of the thigh. The skin creases on the affected side are deeper than on the healthy side, and there are more creases on the affected side.