Differential diagnosis of pediatric hip pain

Approach to the differential diagnosis of hip pain: A practical approach by age

  • < 4 years Common – osteomyelitis / septic arthritis of hip, transient synovitis of hip, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, referred pain from limb, non-accidental trauma
  • < 4 years Uncommon – leukemia, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, neuroblastoma metastasis
  • 4-10 years Common – osteomyelitis / septic arthritis of hip, transient synovitis of hip, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
  • 4-10 years Uncommon – leukemia, Ewing sarcoma
  • 10-16 years Commmon – osteomyelitis / septic arthritis of hip, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, hip apophyseal avulsion fracture
  • 10-16 years Uncommon – leukemia, Ewing sarcoma, osteoid osteoma, osteosarcoma