Transitory synovitis of the hip
- Transitory coxitis = transitory synovitis of the hip = irritable hip
- Epidemiology
- Most common cause of acute hip pain in children 3 – 8 years
- Boys > girls
- Etiology
- Occurs without precipitating cause in most cases
- May follow upper respiratory tract infections or trauma
- Pathology
- Synovitis of the hip
- Clinical features
- Almost always unilateral
- After upper respiratory tract infections
- This may give transitory coxitis a season appearance
- Often recurs
- Antalgic limp
- Thigh/knee pain
- Flexion contracture
- Limited internal rotation
- No fever
- Diagnosis
- ESR, CRP, WBC slightly raised
- US/MRI show hip joint effusion
- X-ray shows nothing
- Treatment
- The condition is self-limiting after a few weeks in most cases
- Rest
- NSAIDs
- Joint fluid aspiration
- This can also exclude septic arthritis, which may cause similar symptoms
- Complications
- The pressure caused by the effusion can cause avascular necrosis of the femoral head
- Epidemiology