Learn About Toxic Synovitis
Toxic synovitis is a condition affecting children that causes hip pain and limping.
Synovitis - toxic; Transient synovitis
Toxic synovitis occurs in children before puberty. It usually affects children from 2 to 12 years old. It is a type of inflammation of the hip. Its cause is not known. Boys are affected more often than girls. It can also occur after a common cold or viral infection.
Symptoms may include:
- Hip pain (on one side only)
- Limp
- Thigh pain, in front and toward the middle of the thigh
- Knee pain
- Low-grade fever, less than 101°F (38.33°C)
- Child only walking on toes and refusing to walk normally
Aside from the hip discomfort, the child does not usually appear ill.
Treatment often includes limiting activity to make the child more comfortable. But, there is no danger with normal activities. Your child's health care provider may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain.
Tidewater Orthopaedic Associates Inc.
Robert Campolattaro is a Hand Surgeon and an Orthopedics provider in Hampton, Virginia. Dr. Campolattaro and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Toxic Synovitis. His top areas of expertise are Rhizarthrosis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Dupuytren Contracture, Infantile Myofibromatosis, and Fasciotomy. Dr. Campolattaro is currently accepting new patients.
University Of Maryland Orthopaedic Trauma Associates, P.A.
Mark Gage is an Orthopedics provider in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Gage and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Toxic Synovitis. His top areas of expertise are Acute Pain, Toxic Synovitis, Infectious Arthritis, Hip Replacement, and Bone Graft.
John Mccarthy is an Orthopedics provider in Williamsburg, Virginia. Dr. Mccarthy and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Toxic Synovitis. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Coccydynia, Tenosynovitis, Hip Replacement, and Knee Replacement. Dr. Mccarthy is currently accepting new patients.
The hip pain goes away within 7 to 10 days.
Toxic synovitis goes away on its own. There are no expected long-term complications.
Contact your child's provider for an appointment if:
- Your child has unexplained hip pain or a limp, with or without a fever
- Your child has been diagnosed with toxic synovitis and the hip pain lasts for longer than 10 days, the pain gets worse, or a high fever develops
Published Date: August 30, 2023
Published By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Sankar WN, Winell JJ, Horn BD, Wells L. The hip. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 698.
Singer NG, Onel KB. Evaluation of children with rheumatologic complaints. In: Hochberg MC, Gravallese EM, Smolen JS, van der Heijde D, Weinblatt ME, Weisman MH, eds. Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 103.