There are several conditions that affect the hip in childhood and can lead to the early development of osteoarthritis. These are-

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)

DDH is caused when the developing hip in the later stages of pregnancy and early infancy, dislocates.

The cartilage of the head and the socket can become arthritic early in life due to the abnormal shape of the joint. In some cases, this may require total hip replacement in teenagers or early 20s.

Legge-Calve-Perthes Disease

In this condition, there is loss of blood supply to part of the femoral head called the epiphysis and it dies due to Avascular Necrosis (AVN). Again, early hip replacement is seen in patients with Perthes disease.

Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis (SUFE)

In SUFE, the growth plate, or physis, of the femoral head becomes unstable and slips. This can lead to deformity of the femoral head and development of early osteoarthritis as well as reduced range of motion and abnormal position of the hip. It occurs most commonly in obese adolescents and children with endocrine disorders.