In early infancy, positioning with a device to keep the legs apart and turned outward (frog-leg position) will usually hold the femoral head in the socket. If there is difficulty in maintaining proper position, a cast may be applied and changed periodically to accommodate growth.

Surgery may be necessary if early measures to reduce the joint (put the joint back in place) are unsuccessful, or if the defect is first detected in an older child.

If the dysplasia is picked up in the first few months of life, it can almost always be treated successfully with bracing. In a few cases, surgery is necessary to put the hip back in joint. An older age at diagnosis may be associated with a worse outcome and may necessitate more complex surgery to repair the problem.

• Skin irritation from reduction devices
• Untreated, will lead to arthritis and deterioration of the hip which can be severely debilitating
• Limb length discrepancies may persist despite appropriate treatment

Call your health care provider if you suspect that your child's hip is not properly positioned.