An acutely limping child can be a diagnostic conundrum with diagnosis ranging from a simple sprain to devastating infections which can lead to life-long complications. This session is intended for PAs practicing in family medicine, pediatrics, urgent care, and emergency environments. PAs practicing in adult orthopaedics will benefit from the reminder that pediatric patients are not just “little adults." The presentation will cover some of the most common causes and treatment for an acutely limping child including patient presentation, clinical examination, diagnostic evaluation, and current guidelines for treatment.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:
Identify the common causes for an acutely limping child and discuss the pathology of each
Discuss the evaluation and treatment of the common causes of the acutely limping child
Interpret laboratory, radiographic, and clinical data related to the acutely limping child
Recognize the causes of an acutely limping child that require emergent treatment
