This document provides an overview of common causes of hip pain in children, including septic arthritis, congenital coxa vara, transient synovitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, and slipped capital femoral epiphysis. It describes the anatomy of the hip joint and bones. For each condition, it covers typical presentation, diagnostic approach, treatment options, and important clinical signs. The document emphasizes taking a thorough history and physical exam to differentiate between infectious, inflammatory, orthopedic, and neoplastic etiologies of hip pain in children.
2. Hip Joint Anatomy
The hip joint is a ball-and-socket synovial joint: the ball is the femoral head,
and the socket is the acetabulum.
The hip joint is the articulation of the pelvis with the femur, which connects
the axial skeleton with the lower extremity
3. Hip Bone Anatomy
Hip bone, is formed by the fusion of the ilium, the ischium, and the pubis,
which occurs by the end of the teenage years.
4. Femoral Bone Anatomy
The superior end of the femur consists of a head, a neck, and greater and
lesser trochanters. The head of the femur is angled superomedially and
slightly anteriorly when articulating with the acetabulum.
5.
6.
7. Approach to Hip Pain in Childhood
Hip pain is common in children and adolescents and has a broad range of
causes, ranging from the benign to the potentially devastating.
The history and examination of the child with hip pain are focused on
distinguishing between infectious, inflammatory, orthopedic, and neoplastic
etiologies.
8. Infectious – Infectious pain is usually acute, localized, and severe (eg, refuses
to bear weight); it is generally accompanied by fever, elevated white blood
cell (WBC) count, and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-
reactive protein (CRP)
Inflammatory – Inflammatory pain typically is chronic or has insidious onset
(with the exception of transient synovitis, which has acute onset); may be
accompanied by other findings (eg, rash, nail pits, uveitis), involve joints
other than the hip, and recur; refusal to bear weight is uncommon
Orthopedic – Pain is usually localized to the hip but may be referred to the
thigh or knee; may have acute or insidious onset; pain increases with activity
and decreases with rest; systemic symptoms are absent; ESR and CRP are
usually normal
Neoplastic – Pain is characteristically worse at night and unrelated to activity;
may be associated with systemic symptoms and laboratory abnormalities (eg,
anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase or
uric acid)
9. Pain from true hip pathology is typically experienced in the groin, though
children and even adults may localize the pain to the thigh or knee.
Pain that alters function (limp, alteration in activities) should be explored
fully, whereas transient or fleeting hip pains are typically of limited
significance.
Important aspects of the history in the child with hip pain include the age and
sex of the child (table 3); the onset, duration, severity, and location of the
pain; associated systemic symptoms; past medical history; family history; and
social history
Acute onset of hip pain, particularly when it is severe, is associated with
infectious processes (eg, septic arthritis, Lyme disease, bacterial
osteomyelitis), transient synovitis, and trauma. Hip pain of insidious onset is
more likely to be caused by slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), Legg-
Calvé-Perthes disease (LCP), or juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA, formerly
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis).
10. Severe pain (eg, refusal to bear weight) typically is caused by acute infections
(eg, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis), malignancy (eg, leukemia,
osteosarcoma), and trauma (eg, fracture). Less severe pain (eg, limps, but
willing to bear weight) is more characteristic of transient synovitis, JIA,LCP,
or SCFE.
A history of previous episodes of similar symptoms in the same or
contralateral hip increases the likelihood of JIA, in particular psoriatic JIA, or
transient synovitis, which has a recurrence rate of up to 15 percent
Conditions that affect the hip alone (eg, SCFE,LCP) are unlikely if the patient
has joint pain at other sites. JIA rarely presents with isolated hip
involvement.
Recent upper respiratory tract infection may suggest transient synovitis but is
nonspecific; viral infections are common in children and also may
coincidentally precede septic arthritis or trauma
The recent use of antibiotics can alter the presentation of septic arthritis or
osteomyelitis.
11. A positive family history of inflammatory arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory
bowel disease, or uveitis may be associated with JIA.
Avid sports participation, a fall, or other injury suggests traumatic hip pain.
However, minor trauma occurs commonly in childhood, and initial symptoms
of inflammatory or malignant disease often are attributed to an incidental
injury.
Sexual activity may suggest infectious (eg, gonococcal) or reactive (eg,
Chlamydia trachomatis) arthritis; however involvement of the hip is unusual.
12. The examination of the child with hip pain is targeted to determine whether
the pain is coming from inside or outside the hip joint and whether it is an
isolated problem or a manifestation of a systemic condition.
Observation
The examiner should look for asymmetry of the pelvis, thighs, and knees. The
position in which the femur and pelvis are held should be noted; partial flexion and
external rotation of the hip may indicate increased intraarticular pressure.
Palpation
The hip joint cannot be palpated directly, but tenderness at the anterior superior
iliac spine, greater trochanter, or elsewhere along the femur suggests a source of
pain external to the hip joint.
Range of motion
Range of motion should be evaluated in both the supine and prone position. The
pelvis should be stabilized as much as possible during examination of range of
motion
Ability to bear weight
The inability to bear weight is a sign of serious pathology until proven otherwise.
Children who are unable to bear weight should not be sent home until a diagnosis
is made and therapy instituted.
13. Septic Arthritis
Children with septic arthritis generally present with an acute onset of joint
pain, limited movement and fever.
Limping or non-weight bearing is typical in lower limb joints.
Male
Ill-appearing
Irritability and Pseudoparalysis
Weight-bearing and motion of the affected hip are quite painful and strongly
resisted in all patients
Fever > 38.5°C
Refusal to bear weight within the week before presentation
(ESR) > 40 mm/h
C-reactive protein (CRP) >2 mg/dL (20 mg/L)
Peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count > 12,000 cells/microL
14. Diagnosis
Diagnosis is confirmed by ultrasound-guided aspiration of inflammatory hip fluid
with identification of a causative organism by blood or synovial fluid culture.
Treatment
Therapy consists of urgent and, in some cases, repeated drainage to avoid buildup
of intraarticular pressure that may impede local blood flow, and administration of
parenteral antibiotics.
15. Congenital Coxa Vara
Coxa vara includes all forms of decrease of the femoral neck-shaft angle to
less than 120-135°
The term congenital coxa vara has been applied to two types of coxa vara
seen in infancy and childhood. The first type is present at birth, is rare, and is
associated with other congenital anomalies, such as proximal femoral focal
deficiency. The second type, usually not discovered until the child is walking,
is more common than the first and is associated with no other abnormality.
Coxa vara, often bilateral, is characterized by a progressive decrease in the
angle between the femoral neck and shaft, a progressive shortening of the
limb.
CCV has characteristic clinical and radiographic features that help
differentiate it from other forms of coxa vara. It is commonly associated with
a significant limb-length discrepancy.
16.
17. Presentation
Patients who have congenital coxa vara (CCV) usually present with gait
abnormalities. Affected children generally present between the time they
begin ambulation and age 6 years.
In most patients, the gait abnormality is progressive and, notably, pain free.
Unilateral involvement with an associated relative limb-length discrepancy
and Trendelenburg limp may be noted. This discrepancy in limb lengths
usually is mild, ranging from 1.5 to 4.0 cm.
18. Treatment
A large percentage of patients with congenital coxa vara (CCV) will require
surgical intervention.
Treatment of CCV is contraindicated in children who demonstrate any of the
following:
Lack of symptoms on clinical assessment
Radiographs showing a Hilgenreiner epiphyseal angle (HEA) of less than 45°
Radiographs showing an HEA of 45-60° with no documented progression
In such situations, close clinical and radiographic follow-up is warranted.
19. Medical therapy
Many forms of nonoperative treatment have been proposed for CCV, including spica
cast immobilization and skeletal pin traction with bed rest, with generally
unsatisfactory results. It is generally accepted that no place remains for
conservative nonoperative measures for individuals who require treatment of
either symptomatic or progressive CCV.
20. Hilgenreiner Epiphyseal angle
Weinstein et al proposed a radiologic means of quantifying CCV. [16] This
measure, the HEA, is the angle subtended by the horizontal Hilgenreiner line
through the triradiate cartilages and an oblique line through the proximal
femoral capital physes (see the image below). A study of normal values of the
HEA found that the angle in children younger than 7 years averages 20°, with
a wide variation of 4-35°. The mean value for those aged 8 years to maturity
is 23°.
21.
22. Surgical Therapy
The treatment of choice for correction of developmental coxa vara is
subtrochanteric osteotomy to place the femoral neck and head in an appropriate
valgus position with the shaft of the femur. Surgery can be delayed until the child
is 4 or 5 years old to make internal fixation easier. Surgical treatment is indicated
when coxa vara deformity is progressive, painful, unilateral, or associated with
leg-length discrepancy or when the Hilgenreiner-epiphyseal (H-E) angle is greater
than 60 degrees. Surgery also is indicated when the neck-shaft angle is 110 degrees
or less.
Regardless of the method of osteotomy, the deformity can recur, so children should
be examined periodically after surgery until their growth is complete.
23. Transient Synovitis
Transient synovitis (TS) is the most common cause of acute hip pain in
children aged 3-10 years. The disease causes arthralgia and arthritis
secondary to a transient inflammation of the synovium of the hip.
24. Presentation
Unilateral hip or groin pain is the most common symptom reported; however, some
patients with transient synovitis (TS) may report medial thigh or knee pain.
Very young children with transient synovitis may have no symptoms other than
crying at night
Recent history of an upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngitis, bronchitis,
or otitis media is elicited from approximately half of patients with transient
synovitis.
A prospective study from the University of Edinburgh Medical School reported that
the symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, or common cold/runny nose were more likely
to precede transient synovitis. Other symptoms suggestive of either viral or
bacterial infections were not significantly prominent.
Children with transient synovitis are usually afebrile or have a mildly elevated
temperature; high fever is rare.
Some patients with transient synovitis may not report pain and may present with
only a limp.
Male to Female Ratio is 2:1
25. Treatment
The management of transient synovitis is conservative, with the use of
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and return to full activity as tolerated
Recurrence rates from 4 to 15 percent have been reported
26. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common chronic
rheumatologic disease in children and is one of the most common chronic
diseases of childhood.
27. Sign and Symptoms
Arthritis present for at least 6 weeks before diagnosis
Either insidious or abrupt disease onset, often with morning stiffness or
gelling phenomenon and arthralgia during the day
Complaints of joint pain or abnormal joint use
History of school absences or limited ability to participate in physical
education classes
Spiking fevers occurring once or twice each day at about the same time of
day
Evanescent rash on the trunk and extremities
Psoriasis or more subtle dermatologic manifestations
28. Treatment
Because of the success of medical therapy in the treatment of juvenile
idiopathic arthritis, surgical treatment is infrequently needed.
Pharmacologic therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),
disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologic agents, or intra-articular
and oral corticosteroids
Psychosocial interventions including counseling for patients and parents
Measures to enhance school performance
Improved nutrition
Physical therapy to relieve pain and to address range of motion, muscle
strengthening, activities of daily living, and conditioning exercises
Occupational therapy including joint protection, a program to relieve pain, range
of motion, and attention to activities of daily living
29. Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) is avascular necrosis (AVN) of the proximal
femoral head resulting from compromise of the tenuous blood supply to this
area. LCPD usually occurs in children aged 4-10 years. The disease has an
insidious onset and may occur after an injury to the hip.
Differentiating an irritable hip with transient synovitis from the acute
symptoms of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease can be difficult. Distinguishing
characteristics involve the sex and age of the patient and the duration of
symptoms. Irritable hip syndrome occurs twice as frequently in boys as in
girls, whereas Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease occurs three times more frequently
in boys than in girls. The average age of patients with irritable hips is 3 years,
and the average age of patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease is 7 years.
Children with irritable hips have an average duration of symptoms of 6 days,
whereas children with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease have symptoms present for
an average of 6 weeks.
30. Presentation
Clinical features of LCP includes insidious onset of hip pain with limp and
activity-related pain
Pain may be present with passive range of motion and limited hip movement,
especially internal rotation and abduction.
Children with LCPD can have a Trendelenburg gait resulting from pain in the
gluteus medius.
31. Treatment
Consultation with an orthopedist is recommended. Goals in the treatment of
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) include the following:
Eliminating hip irritability
Restoring and maintaining good range of motion in the hip
Preventing femoral epiphyseal collapse
Attaining a spherical femoral head when the hip heals
Initial therapy includes minimal weightbearing and protection of the joint,
which is accomplished by maintaining the femur abducted and internally
rotated so that the femoral head is held well inside the rounded portion of
the acetabulum. Abduction and rotation of the femur are accomplished by
means of either the use of orthotic devices (bracing) or surgery (osteotomy).
The Scottish Rite brace achieves containment by abduction while allowing
free knee motion.
32.
33. Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
In Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis(SCFE) the femoral epiphysis slips
posteriorly, resulting in a limp and impaired internal rotation.
34. Presentation
The typical patient is an obese child in early adolescence.
The mean age of presentation is 12 years in girls and 13.5 years in boys.
The Male to Female Ratio is 1.5:1
SCFE is bilateral in 20 to 40 percent of cases.
Acute hip pain
Inability to walk
Patients often hold their affected hip in passive external rotation.
Simultaneous external rotation and abduction of the hip during hip flexion.
35. Treatment
The ideal treatment of SCFE would restore the biomechanics of the hip,
prevent additional slipping of the epiphysis, and stimulate early physeal
closure while avoiding the complications of osteonecrosis, chondrolysis, and
osteoarthritis. Stabilization of the slip and closure of the physis are relatively
easy to obtain by a variety of methods; however, restoration of hip
biomechanics and prevention of complications has proved more difficult.
Methods of operative treatment of SCFE have included percutaneous and open
in situ pinning, ORIF, epiphysiodesis, osteotomy, and reconstruction by
arthroplasty, arthrodesis, or cheilectomy. Each technique has its proponents
and opponents, and the choice of treatment must be individualized for each
child, depending on age, type of slip, and severity of displacement.
36. Osteoid Osteoma
Osteoid Osteoma is a relatively common benign bone tumor.
The proximal femur is the most common site of occurrence.
Osteoid Osteoma may occur in all age groups, however most patients present
in the teenage years.
37. Presentation
The typical patient with an osteoid osteoma has pain that is worse at night
and is relieved by aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti inflammatory
medications.
Increased levels of cyclooxygenases and prostaglandins have been
demonstrated in the lesions.
When the lesion is near a joint, swelling, stiffness, and contracture may
occur.
The pain is typically nocturnal and aching.
38. Treatment
Medical therapy
Initial treatment of osteoid osteoma remains nonoperative, with medications
consisting of aspirin or other NSAIDs.
Surgical therapy
Surgical intervention is generally indicated for patients whose pain is unresponsive
to medical therapy, those who cannot tolerate prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and those who are not amenable to activity
restrictions.