Closed reduction for hip dislocation

Surgery for developmental dysplasia of the hip

Closed reduction is a specific type of surgery that is used to correct dysplasia of the hip (hip dislocation) in babies

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Surgery for a dislocated hip

Closed reduction surgery is a procedure to correct hip dysplasia (hip dislocation) in young children. It can be a fairly common operation for babies between 6 to 24 months.

If your baby's hip is dislocated, our consultant surgeon will gently manipulate the ball at the top of the thigh bone (femoral head) back into its socket. A special hip cast allows the hip joint to strengthen and stabilise the area in the longer term.

Need to know

  • What happens during surgery? icon plus

    Your child's consultant will firstly perform an arthrogram. This is a minimally invasive procedure conducted under local anaesthetic. A special dye is inserted into your baby's hip joint to produce X-ray images of the area.

    For the closed reduction procedure your baby will be placed under general anaesthetic. The surgeon will make a very small opening at your child's groin, allowing access to the adductor tendon. The tendon is often very tight, and so releasing it can take the pressure of the soft tissues around the hip joint. It is then possible to gently move the ball at the top of your baby's thigh bone (femoral head) back into its socket.

  • How to prepare icon plus

    Your child's consultant will explain how to prepare for their arthrogram, answering any questions you might have.

  • After surgery icon plus

    Your child's consultant surgeon will place them into a spica cast. This helps to ensure their hip remains in its newly aligned position. The cast is changed every six weeks and may be worn for between three to six months.

    After the spica cast is removed, your baby will likely wear a hip abduction brace for the next few weeks. This is to provide them extra support with movement and muscle strengthening, as they would have been wearing a cast for an extended period of time.

Our paediatric orthopaedic consultants

We're proud to work with leading orthopaedic experts specialising in conditions of the hip and pelvis, and whose skills are matched by their integrity and compassion. Our consultants have extensive experience working with children of all ages. 

Our locations

From complex orthopaedic surgery to diagnostic scans and procedures, we provide exceptional paediatric orthopaedic care across our network of hospitals, outpatient centres and specialist clinics.

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Our team can help with any enquiries or you can make an appointment with one of our experienced consultants.

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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.
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