Epidemiology
Transient synovitis is the most common cause of acute hip pain and limp in children ages 2 to 12 years. The mean age is 5 to 6 years, and up to 3% of children have an episode at some time during their childhood.[1][2] One large Dutch survey of children ages 0 to 14 years found that the incidence rate for all acute nontraumatic hip pathology was 148.1 per 100,000 person-years, and for transient synovitis this was 76.2 per 100,000 person-years.[1] Transient synovitis is extremely uncommon in adults.[3] It tends to occur more in the fall and winter months. It is about twice as common in boys compared with girls and uncommon among black children.[4] It is rarely bilateral. Recurrent episodes occur in 4% to 17% of children. Those who do have a recurrent episode usually have a benign course, although in about 10% it may be the presenting feature of a chronic inflammatory condition.[5]
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