RT Book, Section
A1 Copley, Lawson A. B.
A2 Rudolph, Colin D.
A2 Rudolph, Abraham M.
A2 Lister, George E.
A2 First, Lewis R.
A2 Gershon, Anne A.
SR Print(0)
ID 7020254
T1 Chapter 211. The Limping Child
T2 Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22e
YR 2011
FD 2011
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-149723-7
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=7020254
RD 2024/04/19
AB Among  the  causes  of  gait  abnormality  in  childhood,  those  that  should  be  kept  in  mind  in  acute  settings  include  infection,  trauma,  and  malignancy.  Children  who  develop  a  limp  acutely  should  be  evaluated  carefully  with  a  detailed  history  and  physical  examination,  appropriate  radiographs  and  laboratory  studies,  and  timely  referral  for  subspecialty  evaluation  in  order  to  exclude  these  potentially  worrisome  causes.  When  necessary,  the  lower  extremity  should  be  carefully  immobilized  and  protected  from  weight  bearing  until  a  definitive  diagnosis  can  be  achieved.  When  infection  is  suspected,  the  workup  should  be  conducted  in  either  an  observation  or  inpatient  status  until  the  diagnosis  is  confirmed  or  excluded.  This  ensures  that  appropriate  diagnostic  and  therapeutic  resources  can  be  brought  to  bear  in  a  timely  manner  before  the  infection  worsens  without  a  correct  diagnosis.  Regardless  of  the  underlying  cause  of  the  limp,  vigilance  is  necessary  in  order  to  make  an  accurate  diagnosis  in  a  timely  manner  to  ensure  the  best  outcome.