Conservative and medical management of hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia has been managed conservatively and medically since the initial description of this disease in 1935. However, little factual information is known about the benefits of the various forms of conservative and medical management. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been a mainstay of treatment, with the only real debate being which NSAID to use. Only with the recent anecdotal reports of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan has there been any change in medical management of CHD, and this method of treatment warrants further investigation. Conservative and medical management definitely have a role in the treatment of CHD. It must be remembered, however that CHD is primarily a disease of biomechanical alterations and joint laxity, with the cartilage effects being secondary. With a great enough degree of laxity, coxofemoral incongruency, articular damage, or osteoarthritic change, conservative and medical management will not be effective. At that stage, surgical management must be considered.