Hip Problems, Age 11 and Younger
When To See a Doctor
You have answered Yes to:
Is your child unable to normally bend, straighten, or move a leg?
See significance of an inability to normally bend, straighten, or move a leg if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your child's hip symptoms.
Call your child's health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Is your child not able to bend, straighten, or move a leg normally?
Yes Does your child have severe hip pain and he or she does not want to move the affected leg?
Yes Has your child had hip surgery and now has sudden moderate to severe hip pain and cannot move the hip or leg?
Yes Is your child unable to move a leg normally after having a leg brace, cast, or splint put on (not because the splint is in the way)?
You may wait to see if your child's symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
Yes After 48 hours of home treatment, is your child's hip still stiff and he or she cannot move the hip normally?
Your child needs an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
Yes Does your baby have extra skin folds on the inner side of one thigh compared with the other thigh so the skin folds do not look like the same pattern on each thigh?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: October 27, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics | |
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