The hip is the largest “ball and socket” joint in the human body, and is held together by structures such as ligaments, tendons and the joint capsule. The “ball” is the femoral head, which is located at the top of the thigh bone (femur), and the “socket” is the acetabulum, which is part of the pelvis. Normally, the femoral head and the acetabulum are well matched so that the “ball” can rotate freely in the “socket”. Articular cartilage is the smooth, flat surface covering the femoral head and acetabulum that allows the hip joint to move easily and freely. The labrum is a type of cartilage that sits on the rim of the acetabulum, completely enclosing the hip joint and allowing a certain amount of fluid to remain in the joint. The labrum also works with the muscles, ligaments and joint capsule around the joint to stabilize the hip. Doctors use a variety of terms when describing hip dysplasia, depending on the severity and onset of the condition, such as: hip dysplasia, developmental hip dysplasia, developmental hip dislocation, acetabular dysplasia, hip dislocation, and congenital hip dislocation. Hip dysplasia usually refers to a problem with the shape of the hip joint that prevents the “socket” of the hip joint from holding and supporting the head of the femur, which can lead to abnormal wear and tear of the cartilage and labrum. When the joint is dislocated or the “socket” is shallow, the cartilage wears down faster. It’s like the tread on a car tire. If a car tire is out of balance or shifted, the tread on the tire will wear faster than normal. Once the tread on a tire is worn down, it needs to be replaced. Although there are a number of scientists working on related research, there is no single reliable method to regrow worn cartilage. Current treatments depend largely on lifestyle changes and surgery. For example, the use of crutches, weight loss or arthritis medications can help in the short term, but because the joints themselves are irreversibly changed, non-surgical treatments do not provide patients with reliable long-term results, and the condition may worsen over time.