Physical Therapy in South Portland for Pediatric Issues

Welcome to Southern Maine Physical Therapy's guide for Transient Synovitis of the Hip in Children.

Transient synovitis of the hip is an acute inflammatory condition of the inner lining of the hip. Transient means it is temporary and doesn't last long. Transient synovitis is also known as toxic synovitis or irritable hip.

This condition affects young children (boys more than girls) most often. In fact, it's the most common cause of acute hip pain in young children between the ages of three and 10. However, there are reports of transient synovitis in children less than one year old and in adults.

This guide will help you understand:

• how the condition develops
• how doctors diagnose the condition
• what treatment options are available

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What parts of the hip are affected?

The hip joint is a true ball-and-socket joint. The bones of the hip are the femur (the thighbone) and the pelvis. The top end of the femur is shaped like a ball. This ball is called the femoral head. The femoral head fits into a round socket on the side of the pelvis. This socket is called the acetabulum.

Transient synovitis affects the inner lining of the hip joint including the synovium and joint capsule. The synovium is a membrane that seals the synovial fluid in the joint to lubricate the joint surface. It is between the articular cartilage and the joint capsule. The joint capsule is a watertight sac that surrounds a joint. In the hip, the joint capsule is formed by a group of three strong ligaments that connect the femoral head to the acetabulum. These ligaments are the main source of stability for the hip. They help hold the hip in place.

Articular cartilage is the material that covers the ends of the bones of any joint. Articular cartilage is about one-quarter of an inch thick in the large, weight-bearing joints like the hip. In the hip, articular cartilage covers the end of the femur and the socket portion of the acetabulum in the pelvis. The cartilage is especially thick in the back part of the socket, as this is where most of the force occurs during walking and running.

Articular cartilage is white and shiny and has a rubbery consistency. It is slippery, which allows the joint surfaces to slide against one another without causing any damage. The function of articular cartilage is to absorb shock and provide an extremely smooth surface to make motion easier. We have articular cartilage essentially everywhere that two bony surfaces move against one another, or articulate. 

 What causes this condition?

The exact cause of this problem is unknown. In some cases, it may develop after a recent viral infection (such as a cold or upper respiratory infection). In a smaller number of children, trauma to the hip is followed by transient synovitis.

There is much debate about a possible link between transient synovitis and another condition called Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. In Perthes disease, the blood supply to the growth center of the hip (the capital femoral epiphysis) is disturbed, causing the bone in this area to die. The blood supply eventually returns, and the bone heals.


Only a small number of children with transient synovitis develop Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. It's possible the prolonged increase in pressure inside the joint causes loss of blood supply to the hip. Some experts suspect children who develop Perthes disease may have undetected transient synovitis before collapse of the femoral head occurs.

What are the symptoms?

Inflammation and effusion (swelling) can cause sudden hip pain. Usually only one hip is involved. The child may refuse to walk or may limp when walking as the first sign of a problem. Younger children who aren't walking yet stop crawling or change the way they get around. They may cry at night or when having the diaper changed.

Your child may have a slight fever. A high fever is usually a sign of something more serious such as septic arthritis (bacterial infection of the hip) or osteomyelitis (bone infection).

In all age groups, there is usually a loss of hip motion. The child doesn't want to put weight on that leg. The painful symptoms may travel to the thigh, groin, or knee on the same side. Sometimes there isn't hip pain but just groin, thigh, or knee pain.

Your child may want to keep the hip and leg in a resting position of flexion (bent), external rotation (turned outward), and abduction (away from the other leg). This position opens up the joint capsule helps reduce the pain by taking pressure off the soft tissue structures.

How do health care professionals diagnose this condition?

The history and physical examination are probably the most important tools the used to diagnose transient synovitis of the hip. When you first visit Southern Maine Physical Therapy your Physical Therapist will ask you or, if your child is old enough, even ask your child questions about when the pain started, where exactly the pain is, and what motions or activities make the pain better or worse.

Our Physical Therapist in *client_area* will also conduct a physical examination to determine which movements cause pain or are limited. They will also palpate around the hip to locate the exact location of the pain.

The majority of patients will be referred to a doctor for further diagnostic tests such an X-ray, an ultrasound, and/or blood tests that can help to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. Once the diagnostic examination is complete, the Physical Therapists at Southern Maine Physical Therapy have treatment options that will help speed the recovery of your child so they can return to the carefree and active lifestyle they are meant to be living.

The main goal of treatment for transient synovitis of the hip in children is to decrease the pain and maintain hip range of motion. After assessing your child, our Physical Therapist at Southern Maine Physical Therapy may choose to use ice on the hip if it is in the acute phase of pain or may apply heat at a later phase to decrease inflammation and assist with pain control.

Next, some gentle exercises may be prescribed by your Physical Therapist to ensure that the hip maintains its range of motion and to assist in the healing process. These exercises should not cause pain.  Many children will feel most comfortable if they keep the leg turned out during rest so they should be allowed to do this. Any position that is comfortable will help the healing process. Your Physical Therapist will answer any questions you have on the ‘do’s’ and ‘don’t’s’ regarding exercise and positioning while the hip is healing.

Painful weight bearing on the injured leg should be avoided in order to decrease pain and allow healing. Some patients may need crutches to avoid painful weight bearing. Before leaving the clinic your Physical Therapist will assess whether crutches should be used to ambulate for your child and, if needed, can adjust and fit the crutches. Generally, if the child cannot walk somewhat normally due to pain, then your Physical Therapist will suggest that crutches be prescribed.

Finally, our Physical Therapist in South Portland can advise on a return to activity schedule; vigorous physical activities such as running, jumping, and participating in sports activities should be avoided during the acute phase and will be added back as tolerated on the recommendation of your Physical Therapist.

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X-rays are usually taken. Though radiographs don't show synovitis, they do help the physician rule out a fracture, tumor, or slipped capital femoral epiphysis (slippage of the growth plate). More advanced imaging such as MRI or bone scan may be needed if there is a need to rule out other more serious problems.

A blood test will show mild inflammation. If needed, the physician may order an ultrasound of the hip. This test will show any effusion (fluid collection) in the hip joint. Drawing the fluid out with a needle called needle aspiration will show if there is pus in the joint from septic (bacterial) arthritis. The fluid is clear in transient synovitis.

Antiinflammatory drugs will likely be prescribed along with rest from activity during the acute phase of pain.

Surgery is not usually necessary. In severe cases of transient synovitis children may be hospitalized for observation and leg traction. Applying pull on the hip through the leg can reduce the pressure inside the joint capsule. If the child is cooperative, home traction may be possible.