Closed reduction for hip dislocation

Closed reduction is a specific type of surgery that is used to correct dysplasia of the hip (hip dislocation) in babies.

Surgery for a dislocated hip

Closed reduction surgery is a procedure to correct hip dysplasia (hip dislocation) in young children. It can be a fairly common operation for babies between 6 to 24 months.

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.

Your child'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 child'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.

Your child's consultant will explain how to prepare for their arthrogram, answering any questions you might have.

Your child'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 Closed reduction for hip dislocation locations

The Lister Hospital

The Lister Hospital

Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
The Portland Hospital

The Portland Hospital

205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
The Wellington Hospital

The Wellington Hospital

8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital

London Bridge Hospital

27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Princess Grace Hospital

The Princess Grace Hospital

42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
Institute of Sport Exercise and Health (ISEH)

Institute of Sport Exercise and Health (ISEH)

170 Tottenham Court Road W1T 7HA London
The Shard Outpatients

The Shard Outpatients

The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Chelsea Outpatients

Chelsea Outpatients

280 King's Road SW3 5AW London
The Princess Grace Hospital Outpatients

The Princess Grace Hospital Outpatients

30 Devonshire Street W1G 6PU London
Elstree Waterfront Outpatients

Elstree Waterfront Outpatients

Beaufort House WD6 3BS Elstree
Golders Green Outpatients

Golders Green Outpatients

Golders Green Outpatients and Diagnostic Centre NW11 9PY London
The Wellington Hospital Outpatients

The Wellington Hospital Outpatients

15 - 17 Lodge Road NW8 7JA London

Patient stories

This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.