Article Text
Letter
Recurrent limp in a young boy
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A child aged 2 years 8 months was referred to our rheumatology unit for evaluation of recurrent acute pain and limited motion of the left hip.
In March 2003 he had been seen at the emergency department of our hospital for a painful, flexed, and abducted left hip. On that occasion, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 35 mm/1st h, white blood cells (WBC) 8.3×109/l, and C reactive protein (CRP) 32.7 mg/l (normal value <5 mg/l). Ultrasound of the joint showed mild effusion with normal synovial thickness on the left hip, and a transient hip synovitis (THS) was diagnosed. The pain and limp responded to a 3 day course of anti-inflammatory drug treatment.
One month later, the boy returned again with a limp and pain in the …