Development of osteoarthritis in adults with untreated hip dysplasia: a longitudinal observational study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2340/17453674.2026.46828Keywords:
Adult hip dysplasia, Center edge angle, Hip, Osteoarthrosis, Pelvis and acetabulum, Radiological imagingAbstract
Background and purpose: Although hip dysplasia is a risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA), its natural progression in adults remains poorly understood. In a longitudinal observational study, we aimed to estimate differences in OA incidence, time to OA, and minimum joint space width (JSW) between dysplastic hips and contralateral non-dysplastic hips.
Methods: Adults aged 20–70 years who underwent pelvic radiographs in Malmö, Sweden, during 2007–2008 were included. Inclusion criteria were unilateral hip dysplasia (lateral center edge angle ≤ 20°), no OA at baseline, and available follow-up imaging of both hips. OA incidence was assessed using last available follow-up imaging, whereas minimum JSW was measured bilaterally on the last available radiograph of native hips.
Results: 50 participants (median age 47 years, IQR 39–62, 36 women) were included, with median follow-up 12.5 years (IQR 7.8–14.7). OA developed in 19/50 dysplastic hips and 16/50 non-dysplastic hips, corresponding to a paired risk difference of 6 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI] –7 to 20). Mean time to OA was 8.2 years (SD 5.2) for dysplastic hips and 9.6 years (SD 5.1) for non-dysplastic hips (mean difference –1.2 years, CI –4.8 to 2.4). Minimum JSW at follow-up was 3.3 mm (SD 1.3) in dysplastic hips and 3.5 mm (SD 0.9) in non-dysplastic hips (mean difference –0.2 mm, CI – 0.6 to 0.2).
Conclusion: No clear differences were observed in OA incidence, time to OA, or minimum JSW between dysplastic and contralateral non-dysplastic hips.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Rebecka Vinge, Cecilia Rogmark, Daniel Wenger, Søren Overgaard, Carl Johan Tiderius
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