GPAtlas🧭 When to suspect
A limp is a presentation, not a diagnosis. In a child, it requires careful clinical evaluation to differentiate benign, self-limiting conditions from limb- or life-threatening pathology.
The primary role of the GP is to identify red flags that suggest serious underlying causes such as septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, malignancy, or non-accidental injury (NAI), and to recognise age-specific orthopaedic conditions that require urgent intervention to prevent long-term joint destruction.
The differential diagnosis is heavily guided by the child's age:
| Age Group | Classic Differentials |
|---|---|
| 0–3 years | Septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), non-accidental injury (NAI). |
| 3–10 years | Transient synovitis (most common), Perthes' disease, septic arthritis, leukaemia. |
| 10–16 years | Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE/SUFE), avulsion fractures, Osgood-Schlatter disease, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). |
Source: BMJ · RCEM
🔒 Sign up free to read the full topic
You're viewing a free preview. Create a free account to unlock the rest.
Sign up free →
Inside the full topic
🔒 History🔒 Red Flags🔒 Examination🔒 Patient Explanation🔒 Investigations🔒 Management🔒 Non-pharmacological Treatment🔒 Pharmacological Treatment🔒 Special Notes & Safeguarding🔒 Referral Pathways🔒 Take Home Messages
Sample topics are open to everyone in the Free Sample Bundle.