Hip Injuries, Age 11 And Younger: Check Your Symptoms

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When to See a Doctor

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 unable to bend, straighten, or move a leg normally?

Yes

Does your child have severe hip pain and 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 not able 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?

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.

Last updated:	September 15, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer