The Limping Child

Essentially the key decisions to establish is whether the child has a benign cause for limping such Transient Synovitis (which the commonest cause) or a more serious cause such as

• Infections: Osteomyelitis / Septic Arthritis, discitis, soft tissue, viral myositis
• Trauma / fractures
• Non accidental or inflicted injury
• Malignancy - Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, bone tumours, eg: spine or long bone
• Rheumatological disorders and reactive arthritis
• Intra-abdominal pathology, eg: appendicitis
• Inguinoscrotal disorders, eg: testicular torsion
• Vasculitis, serum sickness
• Functional limp

For a detailed Guideline approach - follow the RCH Melbourne link:

RCH Melbourne : Limping Child Guideline