MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Medicine Children’s Orthopaedics is now offering periacetabular osteotomy (PAO), a surgical procedure that can help patients with developmental hip dysplasia avoid the need for a total hip replacement.  

Hip dysplasia is a condition in which the hip joint does not fit snugly into the socket and can be prone to subluxation, slipping out of place. Left untreated, hip dysplasia can lead to arthritis, potentially causing pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. This condition is most common in females, babies born in a breach position, and those with a family history of the condition. 

“The development of pain with hip dysplasia can take decades,” Andrew Parsons, M.D., pediatric orthopaedic surgeon, said. “Sometimes patients will have undiagnosed hip dysplasia their entire life and not require treatment. For other patients, the hip joint will develop arthritis when the patient is in their 30s and 40s and may necessitate a hip replacement.”

When discovered in newborns, hip dysplasia can be treated with bracing to properly align the hip joint and encourage proper formation. In adolescent patients who are nearing skeletal maturity, the acetabulum, or socket of the hip joint, must be reoriented to preserve hip function and prevent the development of arthritis.

PAO is a surgical procedure that reshapes the hip socket to improve the fit of the ball-and-socket hip joint. The procedure is performed through a single incision, which minimizes pain and recovery time.

“When we are able to discover and treat this condition while our patients are young,” Dr. Parsons said, “we can help preserve their hip function so they can participate in normal activities during childhood and into their adult lives.”

For more information about WVU Medicine Children’s, visit WVUKids.com.