Acute Limping in a Young Child: Evaluation and Management Review

• Published in: Journal for nurse practitioners Vol. 11; no. 10; pp. 1004 - 1010
• Main Author: Lyons, Rachel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Elsevier Inc 01-11-2015; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Abdomen; Age; antalgic gait; Appendicitis; Arthritis; Bone cancer; Carers; Children & youth; Claudication; Diagnosis; fracture; Fractures; Health professionals; Infections; Kidnapping; limp; Pain; Physiology; Preschool children; Primary health care; Rheumatism; septic arthritis; transient synovitis; Young children; transient synovitis; limp; septic arthritis; antalgic gait; fracture
• ISSN: 1555-4155; 1878-058X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.08.023

The acute onset of a limp may be a diagnostic challenge in providing care and management within the pediatric population. The anatomy and physiology of a child's musculoskeletal system is quite different than an adult, requiring the practitioner to acknowledge specific etiologies that are prevalent within this population. A limp is a symptom and not a diagnosis, enforcing the importance of a thorough history and physical assessment to aid in narrowing the differential diagnoses. As the primary health care provider, the practitioner has an important role in accurately identifying, diagnosing, and managing conditions while providing resources to caregivers and patients.
•A limp is a symptom and not a diagnosis.•Important differences in musculoskeletal physiology and anatomy exist.•The incidence of acute-onset limping in a child is not known in the US.•The acute onset of a pediatric limp may be a diagnostic challenge in providing care and management.•Increasing knowledge will support practitioneriagnostic cha.