Condition Age at presentation Sex distribution Pyrexia Presentation Blood tests Radiology
Perthes disease 4-10 years x4 more common in boys No
  • Painful limp
  • Hip or knee pain
  • Reduced ROM in hip
 Normal
  • Plain x-ray
  • MRI
  • Bone scan
Developmental dysplasia of the hip From birth x7 more common in girls No Not painful Normal
  • Ultrasound up to 6months
  • X-ray after 6 months
Septic arthritis 2-11 years More common in boys 38C+
  • Acute systemic illness
  • Painful
  • Will not walk
  • WCC raised
  • ESR raised
  • CRP raised
  • Plain x-ray can be normal
  • Ultrasound may show fluid
  • MRI shows fluid
Irritable hip 2-11 years More common in boys No or less than 37.5C Limp +/- pain in groin thigh and knee
  • WCC normal
  • ESR normal
  • CRP normal or sl raised
  • Ultrasound may show fluid (sterile)
  • X-ray normal
Slipped upper femoral epiphysis Teens x4 more common in boys, never after menarche in girls No Painful limp, chronic, becomes acute Normal X-ray antero-posterior + frog lateral