causes of childhood limp
In children older than 10 years, the most common cause of limping is ankle sprain (Sty et al.). Overuse syndromes are caused by microtrauma; examples of overuse syndromes are stress fracture, Osgood-Schlatter disease, shin splints, Sever's disease, and chondromalacia patellae.
The child should be carefully examined because. nonmusculoskeletal conditions can cause limping. Based on the most probable diagnoses suggested by the history and. physical examination, the appropriate use of laboratory tests and imaging studies can help confirm the diagnosis. (Am. Fam Physician. 2009;79(3):215-224.