Abstract
IntroductionThe high incidence of transient synovitis in early childhood makes it the first suspected pathology in a limping child. Trauma, which has long been regarded as a causative factor for transient synovitis, may be underestimated in a non-cooperative toddler.After excluding most serious conditions, such as septic arthritis, a speculative diagnosis of transient synovitis can be made, and this can easily mask a subtle musculoskeletal injury.Case presentationsWe report the cases of three Caucasian patients (two boys, aged 20-months- and three-years-old, and one girl, aged two-years-old), with tibial torus and toddler's fractures which were late-diagnosed due to an initial misdiagnosis of transient synovitis of the hip.ConclusionIn a non-cooperative child musculoskeletal trauma can be mistaken as a simple causative factor for transient synovitis of the hip and this can easily prevent further investigation for a possible subtle musculoskeletal injury of the lower extremities.Our experience with the presented cases suggests the need to be more vigilant in the differential diagnosis of transient synovitis in young children.
Highlights
The high incidence of transient synovitis in early childhood makes it the first suspected pathology in a limping child
In a non-cooperative child musculoskeletal trauma can be mistaken as a simple causative factor for transient synovitis of the hip and this can prevent further investigation for a possible subtle musculoskeletal injury of the lower extremities
Our experience with the presented cases suggests the need to be more vigilant in the differential diagnosis of transient synovitis in young children
Summary
In non-cooperative young children, musculoskeletal trauma can be mistaken as a simple causative factor for TS of the hip which can preclude further investigation for a possible subtle musculoskeletal injury of the lower extremities. Our experience with the presented cases suggests the need to be more vigilant in the differential diagnosis of TS in early childhood. We believe that a detailed history should be taken from the parents and that a musculoskeletal injury should always be considered, even with a minor trauma history. MD revised the manuscript and gave final approval of the version to be published. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
