Information
Always check the hip, if they complain of knee pain.
Differential is wide and includes:
- Transient synovitis
- Septic arthritis
- Osteomyelitis
- MSK /spinal tumour
- Leukemia
- SCFE
- Perthes
- Inflammatory e.g. JIA
- Neuromuscular e.g. Cerebral Palsy
- Developmental e.g. DDH, leg length discrepancy
M.A. & M-J.S. 17-9-26
Refer to ED acute limp and red flags
Red flags:
- Unwell/pyrexial child
- Duration >7 days
- Worsening / recurrent limp
- Pallor, bruising, petechiae
- Nocturnal symptoms
- Inability to weight bear
- Restricted joint movement
- Swollen, red, hot joint/skin
Chronic limp, refer to Paediatric Orthopaedics
