Abnormal Gait / Limp

Children below the age of eight often have a variable pattern of walking (gait) which is considered normal. A consistently abnormal gait however, is referred to as a limp and may be a sign of more significant pathology.

In young children, persistent limp may suggest an infection or inflammation of a joint. In older children, hip conditions such as Perthes’ disease, Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE), or inflammation around a growth plate (eg: Osgood-Schlatter’s disease at the knee or Sever’s disease at the heel) are some of the more common causes.

Symptoms such as night pain, fever, or unexplained weight loss raise concerns for a more malign issue and require urgent review.