DTMT Network
Doctors have said that more and more children and youngsters are now affected with hip pain. This pain is usually not severe in early stages and the diagnosis is not made readily without advanced training to doctors.

This view was expressed recently in a workshop in Hyderabad organized by Sai Institute of Sports Injury and Arthroscopy (SISIA).

Dr. Raghuveer Reddy K., Sr. Shoulder & Knee Surgeon, SISIA, pointed out that  there are several childhood diseases leading to hip damage. These include congenital dislocation where the child is born with a dislocated hip, infection of the joint (septic arthritis), problem with circulation of the ball (Perthes disease), ball slipping on the thigh bone (Slipped epiphysis) etc.

Dr Reddy added that incidence of these problems is in the range of one in a lakh and is normally seen when the child is between 10 to 14 years of age. There are newer problems, especially in young adults, like jamming of the hip bones, which is known as femoroacetabular impingement, commonly seen in 25 to 30 years age group, with incidence being in the range of 1% of the population in that age group, leading to shape alterations. Appropriate early treatment can decrease the chance of these alterations.

The doctors said that not many youngsters are aware that pain in thigh or knee may sometimes indicate hip problems and any delay in diagnosing and treating the problem will lead to irreversible damage and arthritis of the hip joint.

They asserted that hip preservation surgery in young patients delays or arrests arthritis and also helps in avoiding or delaying total hip joint replacement surgery in future.

Dr. Reddy, advised that hip problems can be prevented by going back to older habits, of sitting on the floor and squatting or activities involving stretching of hip and performing yoga. These modifications can help, especially when the child is between 5 to 10 years of age and the hipp is in a formative stage. Carrying the baby with their hips spread apart is well known to promote healthy hip development.

Dr. Gourineni Prasad, practicing orthopedic surgeon in Chicago, said that hip preservation means saving the hip which is at risk from arthritis or hip pain, necessitating hip replacement. This needs identifying the hips at risk and treating them with appropriate surgical technique before the damage happens.