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
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
