Consultant, Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement, Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
Part 4 of 12 in Spectrum of Orthopaedic Disorder - Evaluation and Management
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Treating a Childhood Hip Problem
September 6, 2026
Developmental dysplasia of the hip, known as DDH, is a condition where the hip joint is out of its socket from birth. Left untreated into adulthood, it produces a recognisable pattern: a short leg, a limp, and eventually pain as the misplaced joint develops arthritis.
Why the leg becomes short and the patient limps
Dr. Lamba's cases showed how the condition presents by the time a patient reaches him: the hip sits outside the socket, the affected leg is visibly shorter than the other, and the patient walks with a limp that becomes more pronounced over time.
The surgical technique used to correct it
Correcting a hip that has never sat in its socket needs a different approach from a standard hip replacement. Dr. Lamba described cutting the bone so that it can be repositioned at the level of the normal hip socket, then placing a specially designed implant to hold it there. In one case, the patient was walking again a week after surgery and had regained real strength in the leg by three months out. A second, bilateral case used the same technique on both hips.
A milder pattern that still leads to arthritis
Not every case is this severe. Dr. Lamba also showed a hip that sat just at the edge of the socket rather than fully out of it, a shallower form of dysplasia that had still gone on to develop arthritis over time and ultimately needed a hip replacement of its own.
This article is based on a Jivo Masterclass session conducted by Dr. Rohit Lamba, Consultant, Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement, Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon. The article has been summarised with the assistance of an AI tool from the original masterclass recording. Watch the full Masterclass recording
This guide is based on a live Jivo Masterclass: Dr. Rohit Lamba taught doctors across Africa on April 6, 2025.
FROM THE LIVE Q&A
Doctor on the call (name unclear from transcript)
Is there a definitive treatment for arthritis?
Dr. Rohit Lamba
Dr. Lamba answered on the assumption the question was about rheumatoid arthritis, since a network issue had cut off part of the question. In the early stage, before the cartilage is damaged, it can be managed well with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs); cases that do not respond well can move to biological disease-modifying drugs, but only after full evaluation by an orthopaedic surgeon or rheumatologist. Once the cartilage is already damaged, the definitive treatment is hip replacement, and with current implants a patient can expect to stay pain-free and active for the next 30 to 35 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which group of patients is hip replacement surgery indicated for?▼
Dr. Lamba outlined four categories. The first is congenital deformity, such as developmental dysplasia of the hip, where the hip is out of the socket from birth. The second is a childhood infection, Perthes disease, or a slipped epiphysis that reshapes the hip and leads to arthritis later in life. The third is avascular necrosis that has reached an advanced, arthritic stage in early adulthood. The fourth is a hip fracture that has not united properly, healing in a poor position that causes arthritis and pain.
Is there a definitive treatment for arthritis?▼
Dr. Lamba answered on the assumption the question was about rheumatoid arthritis, since a network issue had cut off part of the question. In the early stage, before the cartilage is damaged, it can be managed well with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs); cases that do not respond well can move to biological disease-modifying drugs, but only after full evaluation by an orthopaedic surgeon or rheumatologist. Once the cartilage is already damaged, the definitive treatment is hip replacement, and with current implants a patient can expect to stay pain-free and active for the next 30 to 35 years.
What is developmental dysplasia of the hip?▼
It is a condition where the hip joint is out of its socket from birth, leading to a shorter leg, a limp, and eventually arthritis if left untreated.
How is DDH corrected surgically?▼
The bone is cut and repositioned so the joint sits at the level of the normal hip socket, and a specially designed implant is placed to hold it there.
How quickly can patients recover after DDH surgery?▼
In one case, the patient was walking again within a week of surgery and had regained real strength in the leg by three months afterward.
In This Series: Spectrum of Orthopaedic Disorder - Evaluation and Management
- 1.Spectrum of Orthopaedic Disorders
- 2.Understanding the Main Causes of Knee Arthritis
- 3.How Robotic and Computer-Navigated Systems Are Used in Joint Replacement
- 4.Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Treating a Childhood Hip Problem
- 5.Perthes Disease: When Childhood Hip Damage Surfaces Years Later
- 6.Avascular Necrosis of the Hip: Causes, Stages and Treatment
- 7.Hip Replacement and Sickle Cell Disease: Why Blood Transfusion Comes First
- 8.When Is Hip Replacement the Right Treatment?
- 9.ACL and Ligament Reconstruction: Grafts and When Surgery Is Needed
- 10.Treating Fracture Non-Union and Bone Infection with External Fixators
- 11.Reconstructing Severe Trauma: Distraction Osteogenesis for Bone and Limb Loss
- 12.Vitamin D Deficiency in Children: When Rickets Requires Corrective Knee Surgery