Transient Synovitis of Hip or Why Can’t My Child Walk

Today I learnt of a new medical term that can affect the hips! Transient Synovitis of hip is an inflammation or virus that causes hip pain.

Transient synovitis isn’t what I had planned for a nice sunny May day. Erin woke and announced she couldn’t walk and her hip was really hurting.  I watched her as she limped, then she asked to me carry her, cried and refused to walk another step.  I felt sick.  Utterly sick. Had the bone graft from her previous hip surgery slipped or moved? I knew there had been no trauma but with her hip history we were not ignoring this especially as it was the same right hip.

A call to 111 resulted in an appointment at the local out of hours where they would assess her. Our appointment was running 2 hours late but once seen the GP took her pain very seriously especially with Erin’s hip history and he could see the scars running down the leg.

A few things were mentioned like transient synovitis. However, the hospital system is at breaking point (another post on that soon) and we then left out of hours to walk into A&E at her doctors instruction.

Another hour of waiting and then Erin was whisked off for Xrays. I could see the Xrays and there was no change from last years which was a relief to me although I could see the radiographer looking less confident.

The date was also playing games with us as it was three years ago this week we had the salters pelvic osteotomy.

Some more waiting and Erin was still limping and refusing to walk. The orthopaedic doctor looked at the Xrays but wanted a second opinion because her hips are still not symmetrical and don’t look the same therefore her Xrays are difficult to read for someone who is not an expert on DDH. Erin’s operations had taken place at the same hospital but unfortunately, none of her surgeons was on call that weekend.

I was then told that Erin had one of two diagnosis either transient synovitis of the hip or a much more severe diagnosis of septic arthritis. Therefore Erin needed blood tests which are never nice and she wasn’t terribly impressed with this.

By now we had been moved from A&E to the children’s assessment centre. Thankfully it meant Erin got fed as we had now been there for seven hours.

Blood tests came back showing it was not septic arthritis and therefore that rules in transient synovitis of the hip but still they wanted Erin to be seen by a senior orthopaedic consultant.

What is Transient Synovitis?

Transient Synovitis of the Hip is similar to having a cold in your hip and is a relatively common cause of hip pain in children. And because of Erin’s history, it seems that she is more prone to it. Basically, as Erin’s hip socket has been cracked open (twice) and the joint is made from graft it means that if she is run down, has a cold or virus that it can also manifest itself in hip pain and this is self-limiting although worrying for parents.

Hip pain should always be checked out and I was told yesterday that I should always just take her to A&E if she refuses to weight-bear. Transient Hip Synovitis is usually one-sided and can last for a few weeks with the initial onset being sudden.

The most painful period is the first few days and then it will ease.

Treatment for Transient Synovitis

Warm baths will help and swimming as it loosens the joint up. Erin hasn’t been swimming in a while and I wonder if this has now impacted on her joint.

Today we are on bed rest and I have that reminder that DDH is going to last a lifetime and give us a scare when we least expect it. The xrays look good and for that, we take a win but the hip health battle continues. Other hip conditions include snapping hip syndrome and this also causes pain in children.

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