The Limping Child

Abstract

Evaluation of a limping child requires careful consideration and a basic knowledge of potential problems affecting the child. The most important point is not to miss or delay diagnosis of the septic hip. This is truly an orthopedic emergency. Complaints of knee pain should not throw the physician off the track of a diagnosis of hip disease. It is also important to be aware of how the medical history affects the musculoskeletal system. Many causes of limp are best analyzed by repeat examination and stepwise laboratory and radiographic evaluation. One should realize that a painful limp can be caused by something as mundane as a thorn in the heel or as serious as a tumor of the spine: Be suspicious.