Acetabular Dysplasia is abnormal development of the hip – hip dysplasia – and is a situation which is caused by insufficient progress in the growth of the individual’s hip. The normal shape of the hip is concave but with this abnormality, the consequential hip is shallow and “bowl shaped” instead of “cup shaped”. The roof of the hip which provides support is sloped steeply upward and outward than having it’s normal position which is horizontal. Because of the anomalies, the higher portion and frequently the front portion of the femoral head is only partly covered by the hip.

Those individuals with this abnormality usually develop thru childhood and adolescence without any problem or in most cases any knowledge of this problem. But by the age of 30 the patient normally will begin to experience pain in the hip and often will seek professional attention. X-rays will show the abnormality. Some patients might have been managed or seen for hip problems as an infant/child.