Transient Synovitis of the Hip: A Cause of Hip Pain in Children

Transient synovitis of the hip is an inflammation and swelling of the tissues around the hip joint. Usually only one hip is affected. This condition is called "transient" because it lasts only a short time. Transient synovitis of the hip is the most common cause of sudden hip pain in children.

Transient synovitis of the hip usually occurs in children between 3 and 10 years old. Sometimes it occurs in children younger than 3. It is more common in boys than in girls.

The cause of transient synovitis of the hip is unknown. It might be due to a virus or it might be from an allergic reaction to an infection somewhere else in the body.

The main symptom is pain in the hip. In some children, the hip pain gets worse very quickly. In other children, the hip pain gets worse slowly. At first, the hip pain may be so mild that they don't know there is something wrong.

When the pain gets bad enough, children with transient synovitis have a hard time walking. If your child has transient synovitis of the hip, he or she may have pain whenever the hip is moved. Your child may walk with a limp. Because of the pain, your child may have trouble standing. Some children may have pain of the inner thigh or knee area, instead of around the hip. Many children with this condition want to lie on their back with the knee on the side that hurts bent and turned out with their foot pointed away from their body. This position may lessen the pain.

Your doctor will look at your child's hip to find out what kind of movement makes the pain worse. Your doctor may order blood tests and x-rays. These tests will help your doctor make sure that the cause of hip pain isn't something more serious than hip synovitis.

Rest at home is the most important way to help your child's hip get better. Your child may need to take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen (brand names: Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), to reduce the swelling and inflammation around the hip joint.

Your child's doctor will probably ask you to take your child's temperature regularly and to report any temperature higher than 99.5°F. A fever may mean that your child has a problem other than hip synovitis. To make sure that your child is doing well, your doctor may want to recheck your child 12 to 24 hours after the first visit.

With rest and medicine, your child's hip will probably get better in 3 or 4 days. After the pain leaves, your child can resume his or her usual activities. In most children, there are no complications from transient synovitis of the hip. They recover completely. To make sure everything is all right, your doctor may want to take another x-ray of your child's hip in about 6 months.

If the pain is still bad after 10 days, your child should be rechecked by your doctor. Your doctor may order some tests to make sure there isn't something else wrong with your child's hip.