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Overview
Expert care to improve your child’s life
UW Health Kids orthopedic specialists care for all types of hip conditions. We offer nonsurgical therapies as well as surgical treatments. Our surgical treatments include advanced, minimally invasive procedures. These treatments use smaller incisions than open surgery, which can result in less scarring and a quicker recovery.
Conditions and disorders
Complete care for complex hip conditions
Some hip disorders are present at birth. Others develop later in life. Our team cares for children with all types of hip disorders, including the most complex.
Femoroacetabular impingement
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition in which the bones that make up the hip joint don’t fit together well. This misalignment disrupts the normal gliding motion of the hip. It can lead to pain, limping and hip stiffness.
Causes of FAI can include:
Defects present at birth
Hip dysplasia
Perthes disease
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE)
Trauma
Hip dysplasia
At the upper end of the thighbone is a ball, known as the femoral head. This ball usually fits into the socket of your pelvis bone. In a child with hip dysplasia, the socket doesn’t completely cover the ball. The joint may dislocate, which can lead to pain. It can also cause joint cartilage to wear away. In most cases, a child is born with hip dysplasia.
Perthes disease
Perthes disease occurs when blood doesn’t reach the ball on the top of the thighbone as it should. Over time, this can cause that ball (femoral head) to weaken and begin to collapse. Eventually, the blood supply returns, and bone begins regrowing. However, it may no longer fit well in the hip socket.
A child with Perthes may limp or have trouble running. Pain and muscle spasms around the joint are also possible.
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) occurs when the ball at the top of the femur moves backward. This movement results when the growth plate at the top of the femoral neck weakens. The condition can cause pain that comes and goes or appears suddenly after an injury. It may also lead to a difference in leg length and trouble standing or walking.
Treatments and research
Personalized, child-centered treatment
The type and severity of your child’s condition help determine the right treatment. Factors such as your child’s age and overall health come into play as well.
Nonsurgical treatments
When possible, we turn to nonsurgical treatments first. Some of the treatments we offer include:
Casting and bracing
To promote proper alignment and healing
Medication
To reduce pain, inflammation or infection.
Pavlik harness
To gently reposition an infant’s hips.
Physical therapy
To improve strength and flexibility and reduce symptoms.
Rest and activity restrictions
To reduce symptoms and allow time for healing.
Surgical treatments
In some cases, surgery is the best option for your child. Surgeries we perform include:
Arthroscopy
Remove damaged tissue or correct problem areas in the joint.
Cannulated screw fixation
Place screws to stabilize the femoral head, with or without removal of a weakened growth plate.
Core decompression
Relieve pressure and stimulate blood supply to the hip.
External fixation
Place surgical pins that go into bones of the hip but extend outside the body and attach to an external frame. This keeps the femoral head inside the hip socket as the hip heals.
Muscle release operations
Release muscles to reduce tightness and allow the hip to rotate correctly.
Osteotomy
Remove or reshape bone to create better hip joint alignment.
Improving care through research
UW Health Kids specialists are committed to improving the way we care for children. Our surgeons are researching ways to help children with hip dysplasia develop normally. Their technique involves placing implants near the hip’s growth plates. These implants help direct the direction of bone growth.
UW Health Kids
Our pediatric experts have served the special needs of children for more than 100 years. We focus on each child’s unique needs and offer social and emotional support to help you and your child face even the most complex condition. Our long history includes the creation of medical advances that save lives around the world. Together, we get your child back to health and enjoying being a kid.
Meet our team
Orthopedic specialists focused on your child
Our orthopedic surgeons specialize in working with kids. They offer world-class care for infants, children and adolescents with all types of hip disorders.
Our providers
Locations
The expertise you need, close to home
Our team of specialists sees patients through the Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Clinic at American Family Children's Hospital in Madison. We also offer clinics in Green Bay, Oshkosh and Weston. When you need us, we’re nearby.
Patient support and services
Learn more about hip disorders and treatments
These internet resources can help you learn more about your child’s conditions and the treatments that can address them: