Toxic synovitis, which is also known as transient synovitis for its transient aseptic inflammatory nature is a much milder infection and is presumed to be a post viral syndrome of sorts. Toxic synovitis is the diagnosis with the highest incidence rate (6) but remains a diagnosis of exclusion. Elevated white count and inflammatory markers (ESR and CRP) and decreased range of motion at the hip (presumably due to inflammatory fluid in the joint space) may help point towards this diagnosis as well (1). Septic arthritis, a surgical emergency, is always to be suspected when a child of any age presents with hip pain, fever, irritability and toxic appearance without a history of trauma. In this setting, the differential can vary from relatively harmless conditions like transient synovitis to life threatening septic arthritis, which is the most dreaded possibility requiring a swift diagnosis to avoid destruction of the articular cartilage and reduce the risk of developing early arthritis.
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Interventional Radiology Independent Residency Program.Interventional Radiology Integrated Residency.
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Pediatric Radiology On Call Survival Guide.