The limp in childhood is a problem faced often. It causes anxiety because the reason for the limp can be obscure and indeed there may not even be an identifiable cause.

Causes

Painful Limp

This limp may be due to;
Irritable hip syndrome
Stress fracture
Septic arthritis
Osteomyelitis
Tuberculosis
Perthe's disease
Slipped upper femoral epiphysis
Acute arthritis
Hypermobility syndrome
Juvenile chronic arthritis
Congenital pseudoarthrosis of tibia
Bone tumour

Limp due to unequal limb lengths

This type of limp is usually painless, it may be due to

Congenital short femur
Coxa vara
Growth arrest
Hemiatrophy and hemihypertrophy

Paralytic Limp

A paralytic cause of limp must be considered when no other abnormality can be found.
Cerebral palsy
Spina bifida
Progressive neuropathy
Poliomyelitis
Transverse myelitis
Guillain - Barre syndrome
Spinal cord tumours

Stiff Leg Limp

A painless stiff joint can occasionally be the cause of a limp in childhood.
Limp associated with talipeqs equino varus or vertical talus.
Post - traumatic or post Infective joint stiffness.

Trendlenberg Limp

This is due to abnormal functions of the hip muscles. It may be associated with paralytic limp.

• Congenital dislocation of hip.
• Congenital coxa vara
• Paralysis of hip muscles