Acute hip pain in the nonambulatory infant: Salter-Harris type I fracture in the capital femoral epiphysis without a traumatic history.

An otherwise healthy 11-month-old girl was brought to the hospital after her parents noted the acute onset of right hip pain and refusal to bear weight. No abnormalities were seen in the initial radiographs, laboratory values were within reference range, and noninvasive workup was negative for septic arthritis. The parents reported a recent minor fall from a standing position, but stated that the child seemed to return to normal without pain after a few minutes of crying. A hemarthrosis without purulence was found upon joint aspiration, and the patient improved significantly after administration of anti-inflammatory medication. Follow-up radiographs 13 days after initial presentation showed an extremely rare Salter-Harris type I proximal physeal fracture well into the healing process.

Duke Scholars

Author Douglas George Orndorff Orthopaedic Surgery