About
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
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What happens icon plus
Your baby'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 baby'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. -
Afterwards icon plus
Your baby'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 consultants
Our facilities
From complex surgery to straightforward procedures, we provide exceptional care across our network of hospitals, outpatient centres and specialist clinics.
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The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place
London W1U 5NY
Appointments 0207 908 8001
Enquiries 020 3130 6833
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The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place
London NW8 9LE
Appointments 0207 483 5148
Enquiries 020 3131 7478
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London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2PR
Appointments and Enquiries 020 7234 2009
Imaging Appointments. 020 7234 2773
Switchboard 020 7407 3100 -
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road
London
SW1W 8RH
Appointments 020 7811 4000
Enquiries 020 3131 4978
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The Portland Hospital
205 - 209 Great Portland Street
London
W1W 5AH
Children's enquiries 020 7390 8020
Maternity enquiries 020 7390 6068
Gynaecology enquiries 020 7390 6200
Request an appointment
We're happy to help you make an appointment with one of our experienced consultants.