Deformities of the Hip: Causes

Pathogenesis (development of disease)

The pathogenesis of hip joint (sub)luxation is hip joint dysplasia (maldevelopment of the acetabulum) with predominant flatness of the acetabulum. Thus, the hip joint is abnormally wide.

Hip dysplasia occurs due to skeletal malformations or positional abnormalities during pregnancy.

Etiology (causes)

Biographic causes

  • Genetic burden from parents, grandparents.

Behavioral causes

  • “swaddling” (pucking) of infants (swaddling technique: swaddling the infant with blankets, sleeping bags, and other wraps) – 3.5-fold increase in late-diagnosed hip dysplasia cases after the third month of life (despite early clinical screening)