Hip Pain in a Collegiate Gymnast

A 19-year-old Division I female collegiate gymnast presented with left hip/adductor pain. Radiographic imaging confirmed a diagnosis of bilateral hip dysplasia. The patient completed conservative rehabilitation before undergoing a Bernese hip periacetabular osteotomy (PAO). Postsurgical management lasted 12 months and involved interdisciplinary care (athletic trainer, massage therapist, chiropractor, and acupuncturist). Although more common among female athletes whose sport requires extreme flexibility (67–89%), presentation of this congenital anomaly usually occurs during adolescence, reducing participation in elite competitive sports. Dysplasia diagnosis and surgical PAO require a multifaceted approach to recovery, with less than 60% of surgical cases returning to sport.