Acute non-traumatic hip pathology in children: incidence and presentation in family practice

作者：Krul Marjolein^*; van der Wouden Johannes C; Schellevis Francois G; van Suijlekom Smit Lisette W A; Koes Bart W

来源：Family Practice, 2010, 27(2): 166-170.

DOI：10.1093/fampra/cmp092

• Children
• family practice
• hip pathology
• incidence
• transient synovitis

Objective. To provide population-based data on symptom presentation and incidence rates of non-traumatic acute hip pathology in family practice.
Methods. We analysed data from a large national survey of family practice (104 practices), which was carried out by the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL) in 2001. We included all children aged 0-14 years. Incidence rates were calculated by dividing the total number of cases (numerator) by the average study population at risk (denominator).
Results. Our study population consisted of 73 954 children aged 0-14 years, yielding 68 202 person-years. These children presented with 101 episodes of acute non-traumatic hip pathology. The presenting feature in 81.5% of the children was pain, in 8.6% limping and 9.9% presented with both symptoms. Only 27% of the participating family practitioners (FPs) reported whether the child had a fever. The incidence rate for all acute non-traumatic hip pathology was 148.1 per 100 000 person-years, and for transient synovitis, this was 76.2 per 100 000 person-years.
Conclusion. In family practice, most children with acute non-traumatic hip pathology present with pain as the initial symptom. FPs need to be more aware that fever is the main distinguishing factor between a harmless condition and a life-threatening condition. Transient synovitis is the diagnosis with the highest incidence rate.

• 出版日期2010-4