Hip dysplasia in wrestlers: three lessons learned

Hip problems due to dysplasia are commonly associated with female athletes in sports demanding supraphysiologic motion, such as ballet, gymnastics and figure skating. However, hip problems are rarely mentioned among wrestlers, a male sport in which flexibility is advantageous. Dysplasia may have a mostly unrecognized prevalence among wrestlers that can lead to problems and benefit from reorientation periacetabular osteotomy (PAO). Study design in this research is Level 4 evidence case reports. Three consecutive intercollegiate wrestlers ages 20, 21 and 22 years underwent PAO for dysplasia and are reported. Two underwent concomitant arthroscopy. Each returned successfully to intercollegiate wrestling at 6, 8 and 11 months. There were no complications. This work concludes that dysplasia has an unknown but mostly unrecognized prevalence among wrestlers. With proper recognition and treatment with PAO, there is a reasonable expectation that they could return to wrestling.