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Will My Children Have Hip Dysplasia?
Understanding Genetics, Risk, and What Families Should Know
Hip dysplasia often raises difficult questions for patients who are thinking about starting a family. One of the most common concerns is whether the condition is inherited—and whether children may face the same diagnosis in the future.
The short answer is that hip dysplasia can have a genetic component, but it is not inherited in a simple or predictable way. Having hip dysplasia does not mean your children will automatically develop the condition, nor does it mean that dysplasia can’t be identified early or managed effectively if it does occur.
Understanding how genetics, development, and environmental factors interact can help families feel more informed—and less anxious—when planning for the future. This page explains what is currently known about the genetic role in hip dysplasia, how risk is assessed, and what parents can do to support early detection and healthy hip development.
Why This Question Matters
For many patients with hip dysplasia, concerns about the future don’t stop with their own care. Questions about family planning and children’s health often surface early—sometimes even before treatment decisions are made. One of the most common and understandable questions is whether hip dysplasia can be passed on to children.
This concern is especially common among patients who have required surgery, experienced years of pain before diagnosis, or are planning pregnancy. The idea that a child might face similar challenges can be unsettling, and misinformation online often adds to that anxiety.
The reality is more nuanced. Hip dysplasia does have a genetic component, but it is not inherited in a simple or predictable way. Family history may increase risk, but it does not guarantee that a child will develop the condition. Just as importantly, modern screening and early detection have dramatically improved outcomes when dysplasia is identified early.
This page explains how genetics influence hip dysplasia risk, what parents should know about screening, and how families can approach this topic with clarity rather than fear.
“Risk does not equal certainty—and early awareness makes a difference.”
Hip dysplasia is considered a multifactorial condition, meaning it develops due to a combination of genetic predisposition and developmental factors rather than a single inherited gene.
Research shows that family history does increase the likelihood of hip dysplasia, particularly when a parent or sibling has been diagnosed. However, hip dysplasia does not follow a straightforward inheritance pattern like some genetic diseases. Having a parent with hip dysplasia does not mean a child will automatically develop the condition.
Instead, genetics influence how the hip joint forms during development. Certain inherited traits—such as joint shape, ligament laxity, or connective tissue characteristics—may increase susceptibility. Whether dysplasia actually develops depends on how these traits interact with growth, positioning, and other early-life factors.
Because of this complexity:
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Some children develop hip dysplasia without any known family history
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Others may have a family history but never experience symptoms or structural problems
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Severity can vary widely, even among relatives
This variability is why hip dysplasia is best understood as a risk-based condition, not a guaranteed outcome passed from parent to child.
“Family history increases risk—but does not determine outcome.”
How Family History Affects Risk
Family history is one of the most recognized risk factors for hip dysplasia, but it functions as a risk modifier, not a diagnosis.
Children with a parent, sibling, or close relative who has hip dysplasia are statistically more likely to develop the condition than those without a family history. This increased risk reflects shared genetic traits that influence how the hip joint forms during development—not a direct inheritance of the condition itself.
Importantly, the presence of family history does not predict:
Whether dysplasia will occur
How severe it might be
Whether treatment would ever be needed
Some children with a strong family history have completely normal hip development, while others with no known family history may still develop dysplasia. Even within the same family, presentation and severity can vary significantly.
Because family history raises awareness rather than certainty, it serves a critical role in early monitoring and screening, not in labeling a child as destined to have hip problems.
Knowing your family history allows pediatric providers to:
Monitor hip development more closely
Use imaging earlier when appropriate
Identify subtle abnormalities before symptoms develop
Early awareness shifts the focus from fear to prevention—ensuring that if dysplasia does occur, it can be addressed at the earliest and most effective stage.
Other Factors That Influence Hip Dysplasia Risk
While genetics play an important role in hip dysplasia risk, they are only part of the picture. Hip development is influenced by a combination of biological and environmental factors that act during pregnancy and early infancy.
Certain conditions can increase the likelihood that a developing hip does not form with optimal stability or coverage. These factors affect how the femoral head sits within the socket during critical periods of growth.
Well-recognized non-genetic risk factors include fetal positioning in the womb, particularly breech presentation, where the hips may be placed under sustained stress. First-born children are also at slightly higher risk, likely due to a tighter uterine environment during early development.
Sex plays a role as well. Hip dysplasia is more commonly diagnosed in females, which may be related to differences in ligament laxity and sensitivity to maternal hormones that increase joint flexibility during pregnancy.
Postnatal factors can also influence hip development. Swaddling techniques that force the legs into extended, inward positions may limit normal hip motion in early infancy. For this reason, hip-safe swaddling practices that allow the legs to bend and move freely are widely recommended.
These factors do not cause hip dysplasia on their own. Rather, they interact with underlying susceptibility. A child without genetic risk may still develop dysplasia due to developmental factors, while a child with genetic risk may never develop the condition at all.
Understanding these influences reinforces an important message: hip dysplasia is not the result of something a parent did or failed to do, and early awareness allows for monitoring rather than worry.
Screening and Early Detection in Children
When it comes to hip dysplasia, early detection makes a meaningful difference. Identifying abnormal hip development in infancy or early childhood allows for timely intervention—often before symptoms develop and long before surgery is ever needed.
Because family history increases risk, children with a known history of hip dysplasia should be monitored more closely, even if no signs are present at birth. This does not mean something is wrong; it simply ensures that hip development is tracked carefully during key growth periods.
Routine newborn exams include screening for hip stability, but physical exams alone may not detect subtle dysplasia. For infants with risk factors—such as family history, breech positioning, or clinical concern—imaging may be recommended. This often includes ultrasound in early infancy and X-rays later as the hips mature.
Early screening allows providers to:
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Identify dysplasia before pain or limitation develops
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Use non-surgical treatments when appropriate
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Monitor development over time to ensure normal hip growth
When hip dysplasia is identified early, treatment is often simpler and highly effective. In many cases, early intervention can guide normal development and prevent long-term joint problems altogether.
For families with a history of hip dysplasia, proactive screening is not a cause for alarm—it is a tool for reassurance and prevention.
What Parents Can Do Now
For parents with a personal or family history of hip dysplasia, the most important step is awareness—not worry. Understanding risk allows families and providers to take a thoughtful, proactive approach to monitoring hip development.
Parents can start by sharing any known history of hip dysplasia with their child’s pediatrician or healthcare provider. This information helps guide screening decisions and ensures that hip development is evaluated with appropriate context.
During infancy, parents can support healthy hip positioning by:
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Using hip-safe swaddling techniques that allow the legs to bend and move freely
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Avoiding prolonged positioning that forces the hips into extension or inward rotation
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Choosing carriers or seats that support natural hip flexion and abduction
As children grow, paying attention to movement patterns can be helpful. While many variations in walking and posture are normal, persistent limping, asymmetry, or activity-related pain should be evaluated.
Most importantly, parents should feel comfortable asking questions. Early conversations with pediatric providers or specialists can clarify whether monitoring or imaging is appropriate—and often provide reassurance when development is progressing normally.
Taking these steps does not mean expecting a problem. It means creating the best environment for healthy development and early intervention if needed.
“Awareness supports early care—not unnecessary concern.”
Summary
Hip dysplasia can have a genetic component, but it is not inherited in a simple or predictable way. Having a personal or family history of hip dysplasia may increase risk, but it does not determine whether a child will develop the condition or require treatment.
Hip development is influenced by a combination of genetics, growth, and early positioning. Because of this, awareness and early screening—not fear—are the most effective tools for protecting long-term hip health.
For families with a history of hip dysplasia, sharing that information with pediatric providers allows for thoughtful monitoring and timely evaluation when needed. When dysplasia is identified early, outcomes are often excellent, and many children never experience long-term symptoms.
The goal is not to anticipate a problem, but to ensure that if one arises, it is recognized early—when care is simplest and most effective.