Evaluating and managing acetabular dysplasia in adolescents and young adults

Hip dysplasia is a developmental deformity in which abnormal acetabular or proximal femoral growth causes structural instability of the hip joint due to inadequate bony coverage of the acetabulum over the femoral head. Skeletally mature adolescents or young adults with underlying acetabular dysplasia may present with activity-related groin or lateral hip pain and a limp. This article reviews the current understanding of the disease and better treatment options for correcting acetabular dysplasia in symptomatic adolescents and young adults before secondary osteoarthritis develops.