[Growth of the hip]

The hip grows by a complex process involving several growth cartilages, each one playing a specific role. Dysfunction of any of these cartilages, whatever its cause, may result in architectural defects of the hip. These defects must be perfectly known in order to foresee the consequences of some hip diseases in children and sometimes to prevent these diseases by orthopaedic measures. The copious blood supply of the acetabulum protects it against all traumas, in contrast with the poor blood supply of the upper end of the femur which exposes to the risk of femoral head necrosis.