Abstract

It is common for a child to limp for a period of time after a minor injury. However, there are a multitude of diseases as the cause of limping ranging from infectious to metabolic or developmental acute or chronical pathologies and delays in diagnosis can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Because foot, leg, knee, hip and even spine related etiologies can cause limping, it can get very difficult to make a differential diagnosis of this commonly seen condition. The avulsion injuries, in especially adolescent, athlete patient population with hip pain and limping complaint, should be always kept in mind for unexplained etiology of limping. We report a proximal rectus femoris avulsion injury in a 12-years-old boy presenting with acute right hip pain and limping for 6 weeks which is remained undiagnosed. Pain and limping were started 2 weeks after his hospitalization due to acute pneumonia.

Keywords: Limping child; Rectus femoris; Avulsion injury; Halter; Adolescent

Abbreviations:HALTAR : The Hip Antero-Superior Labral Tear with Avulsion of Rectus Femoris; MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging; AIIS: Anterior Iliac Ischial Spine