Dr. Kelly Rabenstein / Behavioral health and hip dysplasia

This episode is part three of this mini-series dedicated to Patient Leadership. Today, we approach hip dysplasia from a different, essential perspective: behavioral health.

I’m lucky to be joined by Dr. Kelly Rabenstein, a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. She is a licensed psychologist working in Bio-Behavioral Medicine, and our conversation explores the psychological dimensions of developmental hip dysplasia that are often present but rarely addressed directly.

We discuss parental anxiety at the time of diagnosis, the behavioral challenges surrounding treatment

 adherence in infancy, and the longer-term psychological impact on adolescents and young adults living with hip dysplasia. We talk about how uncertainty is processed, how medical language shapes perception, and how clinicians can communicate in ways that reduce fear while preserving clarity.

This episode is forward-looking. If hip dysplasia is a condition that can span decades, then behavioral health cannot be peripheral to care. It must be integrated from the beginning. I think you will find this discussion thoughtful, practical, and deeply relevant to both clinicians and families navigating this journey.