Diagnostic Approach to Limp in Children

"Limp" is a common complaint of children presenting to the emergency department or physician's office. For most patients presenting with limp, the diagnosis and management can be completed in the physician's office or emergency department by gathering a detailed history, performing a careful physical examination, and requesting a few laboratory and imaging studies. This article reviews common causes of atraumatic limp in children and discusses the evaluation and management of these conditions.