The differential diagnoses of a limp in a child are broad. Normal age-related gait must first be differentiated from gait impairment. Once gait impairment is identified, differential diagnoses are narrowed as the history and physical examination findings begin to suggest a source for the limp. In many instances, a diagnosis is reached with the assistance of both laboratory testing and radiographic findings. Well-defined treatments exist for most causes and vary with the severity of the disease process or injury. Thankfully, most children respond well to therapy and resume walking normally without sequelae.
Synonyms and related keywords: hip dysplasia, developmental dysplasia of hip, leg length inequality, equinovarus deformity, clubfoot, torsional deformities, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, plantar fasciitis, Osgood-Schlatter disease, osteochondritis dissecans, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, toddler's fracture, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, toxic synovitis of the hip, transient synovitis of the hip, septic arthritis, septic arthritis of the hip, septic arthritis of the knee, septic arthritis of the ankle, osteomyelitis, gait disturbance, discitis, spondylolysis, metatarsus adductus, avascular necrosis of navicular/foot, avascular necrosis of second metatarsal, patellofemoral syndrome, osteogenic sarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, neuroblastoma, leukemia, soft tissue injuries of the ankle, popliteal cyst, ankle fractures, femur fractures, foot fractures, hip fractures, knee fractures, pelvis fractures, tibia and fibula fractures, osteoid osteoma, tarsal coalition, stress fractures

Virtual Childrens Hospital MetaTextbook of Pediatric Radiology: Musculoskeletal Conditions. Part of PediatricRadiology.com, a pediatric radiology and pediatric imaging digital library that can be used by radiologists and pediatricians while working for pediatric radiology learning, teaching, and communicating. Specifically, PediatricRadiology.com can be used by radiologists and pediatricians at the point-of-care to seek answers to questions for the purpose of improving patients' care, outcomes, and lives.

Database of Inherited Diseases. Part of the NLM site and works like PubMed
This database is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders authored and edited by Dr. Victor A. McKusick and his colleagues at Johns Hopkins and elsewhere, and developed for the World Wide Web by NCBI, the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The database contains textual information and references. It also contains copious links to MEDLINE and sequence records in the Entrez system, and links to additional related resources at NCBI and elsewhere. Highly Reputable

Notes on -
Acute Musculoskeletal Injuries
Back Pain
Clavicle Fractures
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)
Flat feet
Growing Pains
Hair Tourniquets
Hip Pain
Intoeing
Limp or Painful Lower Extremity
Nursemaid's Elbow
Osgood-Schlatter's Disease
Osteomyelitis
Puncture wounds of the foot
Scoliosis
Torticollis

Review of current issues in Paediatric Orthopaedics (2005) The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American). 2005;87:1171-1179. Mininder S. Kocher, MD, MPH1 and Peter O. Newton, MD2
Includes sections on
Brachial Plexus Palsy
Elbow, Forearm and Hand problems
Perthes Disease
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)
Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
Blount Disease
Epiphyseodesis
Tibial Pseudarthrosis
Fibular Hemimelia
Clubfoot
Flatfoot
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Supracondylar Humeral Fractures
Forearm Fractures
Femoral Fractures
Tibial Fractures
Tumors
Cerebral Palsy
Myelodysplasia
Muscular Dystrophy
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Fibrous Dysplasia
Limb-Length Discrepancy
Infection
Surgical Referral Guidelines
Adolescents and Anabolic Steroids
Atlantoaxial Instability in Patients with Down Syndrome
Managed Care and Children with Special Health-Care Needs
Knee Brace Use in the Young Athlete

The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American) 83:959-966 (2001) John F. Sarwark, MD Children’s Memorial Hospital, 2300 Children’s Plaza, Chicago, IL 60614. E-mail address: j-sarwark@northwestern.edu
The purpose of this Specialty Update is to serve as a primary source and review for the general orthopaedic surgeon who wishes to stay up-to-date in pediatric orthopaedics. The selected topics have value for the practicing orthopaedist and are important in their own right for the advancement of knowledge in the specialty.

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