Pediatric orthopedic specialist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta laughs with a hip patient in clinic

Hip Program

We offer specialized care for children and teens with hip injuries and conditions. Because kids are still growing and developing, where you take them matters. Our orthopedic specialists have the expertise to treat pediatric hip conditions.

USNWR Orthopedics

View our Rankings

Learn more about our U.S. News & Report hospital ranking.

Contact Us

Call 404-255-1933 to reach our team.

Find a Doctor

Connect with our pediatric orthopedic specialists.

Find a Location

Find a convenient location near you.

Make an Appointment

Schedule an appointment online.

Hip pain in children and teens may develop from an overuse injury, an infection or a problem that was present from birth (congenital).

And even if your child or teen does have a hip problem, he might actually complain of pain in his knee or thigh instead. That’s why it is important to know when you should take your child to a doctor to have his hip checked out.

When should your child or teen see a pediatric orthopedic specialist for hip pain?

At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we recommend contacting a pediatric orthopedist about your child’s or teen’s hip problems if:

  • The pain continues to develop and doesn’t go away with at-home treatments.
  • You see signs of infection.
  • Your child or teen doesn’t want to bear weight on the side of the hip injury.
  • Symptoms become more severe and more frequent.
  • Soreness after a workout lasts more than a few days.
Dr. Flanagan smiles in clinic with hip surgery patient.

Hip

The hip joint is a simple ball and socket joint. A ball-shaped piece of bone fits inside a socket, allowing movement in many directions.

  • The ball, or femoral head, is at the top of the thighbone.
  • The socket, or acetabulum, is in the pelvic bone.

The surfaces of the hip joint are covered with a smooth, cushioning layer called articular cartilage. A slippery liquid called synovial fluid allows the two adjoining bones to move smoothly.

The ball and socket join in the hip to help keep the hip stable. A layer of cartilage called the labrum surrounds the socket and provides more depth and stability. The hip is also surrounded by a joint capsule, which adds even more stability.

The hip is one of the largest joints in the body and absorbs a lot of stress during daily activities, such as walking, running or jumping. Some of the strongest muscles in the body attach around the hip joint, enabling us to do these activities.

Pelvis

The pelvis is made up of the sacrum and coccyx (tailbone) of the spine, along with the innominate bones (ilium, ischium and pubis) that fuse together during puberty to provide protection for many of our organs, muscles and neurovascular structures. Injury to the pelvic area can result in major damage to those other important structures.

Pelvic injuries are quite rare in children, but when they happen, they can be quite serious. These injuries are almost always severe and often involve injuries to other organs inside the pelvis, such as blood vessels. Though pelvic injuries are typically due to high-energy trauma, such as car accidents, they can also occur during other activities like playing sports.

Hip conditions in children and teens are much different than hip conditions in adults. A child’s hip condition that is left untreated could lead to larger problems later in life, such as long-term pain, discomfort, or issues with walking or sitting.

Our orthopedic specialists are trained in recognizing and treating pediatric hip conditions, including:

The Importance of Hip Health

W Sitting and Hip Pain in Kids

At Children’s, we treat a wide range of hip conditions in kids. Tim Schrader, MD, Medical Director of the Hip Program at Children’s, weighs in on W sitting, the importance of stretching, and shares a few tips for keeping young hips healthy at any stage of development.

learn more

Support on Facebook

Dr. Flanagan with pediatric patient with hip conditions

Joined at the Hip

This Facebook page offers a forum for families in the Children's Hip Program to ask questions, share tips and celebrate milestones with other hip patient families.

Learn more
Dr. Willimon talks to young adult hip patient in clinic.

Joined at the Hip Young Adults

This Facebook page offers online support for families nationwide with teenagers who have a hip injury or condition, so that they can share their stories, successes and issues with others who may understand the experience.

Learn more

Your child’s or teen’s treatment will depend on the type of injury and how it is affecting him. Our team uses advanced techniques and cutting-edge diagnosis research to care for your children and teens with hip conditions. We tailor our approach for each patient and will work with you to create a treatment plan just for your child.

Evaluations and diagnostic tests for children’s hip conditions and injuries may include:

Management and treatments for hip issues may include:

  • Medications
  • Casting or bracing (orthotics)
  • Pain management
  • Physical therapy
  • Rest (reduced activity, crutches, wheelchair or traction)
  • Sports medicine
  • Surgery
    • Femoral head redirection surgery for SCFE
    • Hip arthroscopy and surgical hip dislocation for hip impingement
    • Minimally invasive techniques to treat most hip conditions, including decompression and hip distraction for treatment of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
    • Periacetabular osteotomies (Ganz) for teens and adults with hip dysplasia  
Radiology Fit for Kids

Radiology for children requires specialized knowledge.

There is more cartilage in kids’ growing bones, which can make a child’s X-ray look incomplete. It’s important to see board-certified pediatric radiologists and pediatric orthopedic providers who specialize in recognizing and treating broken bones in growing kids and teens.

LEARN MORE

Children and teens’ hip conditions are much different than hip conditions in adults, so where you take them matters. We know that you want to bring your child to the best pediatric hip doctors possible. The orthopedic specialists at Children’s are trained in recognizing and treating pediatric hip conditions and working with children to help them recover more quickly. We work with patients and their families to set and reach goals together. Our Hip Program is led by Tim Schrader, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon with Children’s Physician Group–Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

Orthopedic surgeons

Orthopedist

 
 

Contact Us 404-255-1933