Irritable hip in children

  • The only UK private hospital dedicated to treating women and children
  • 40,000+ babies, children and young people cared for every year
  • The first UK private hospital to install a low-radiation x-ray scanner
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IRRITABLE HIP IN CHILDREN AT HCA HEALTHCARE UK

Why choose us?
Our expert teams are dedicated to the care and treatment of your child. If you’re concerned about their hip, then we can help.  We’re a leading provider of private paediatric orthopaedic care in the UK, with over 97% of our orthopaedic patients rating us as ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’. 

You’ll get access to some of the UK’s leading paediatric orthopaedic consultants and receive specialist treatment, tailored to your child’s needs. You can also book an appointment in as little as 24 hours. 
Irritable hip, sometimes knows as transient synovitis, is a temporary condition which flares up when a hip joint becomes sore or inflamed. It’s the most common cause of hip pain in children but it’s not serious and often clears up on its own with rest and non-prescription pain medication. 
We don’t yet know what causes irritable hip, but your child can sometimes be more at risk if they’ve had a viral infection or a fall. 

Your child might experience sudden pain in their hip, thigh or knee, or may start to walk with a limp. Other symptoms can include trouble with walking, standing or crawling. 

Irritable hip should clear up with rest, but you should take your child to see a consultant if:

  • They develop a fever or are otherwise unwell
  • There’s obvious swelling or redness on any part of their hip or leg
  • Their pain persists, gets worse or isn’t relieved by ibuprofen or paracetamol
  • They’re in pain when they’re resting
  • They don’t improve within three days, or haven’t recovered fully in two weeks
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No.1

in London for private orthopaedic care

40,000+

babies, children and young people cared for every year

20+

paediatric orthopaedic consultants

Next-day appointments

Access to a consultant within 24 hours


State-of-the-art diagnostics

With results in as little as 48 hours

Treatments for complex conditions

We focus our breadth of expertise on your child

Worried about your child’s hip?

Get in touch with a surgical orthopaedic specialist and receive expert help.

Have a referral letter and need to book?

Simply book a test, scan or treatment directly today.

Unsure of a diagnosis and need some answers?

We can help you get the clarity you need.

IRRITABLE HIP DIAGNOSIS AT HCA UK

Get a fast and accurate diagnosis

If you’re concerned about your child’s hip, we can offer expert advice from some of the UK’s leading specialists. You’ll have fast access to state-of-the-art diagnosis, with results in as little as 48 hours. This will help to rule out other conditions such as broken bones, Perthes' disease, or slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE)

During your appointment, your consultant may:

  • Examine your child's hip, leg or knee
  • Try to gently move their leg in different directions
  • Ask about any recent injuries or illnesses
  • Arrange for an X-ray
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IRRITABLE HIP TREATMENTS AT HCA UK

Personalised advice and care

Thankfully, most cases of irritable hip aren’t serious, and your child’s hip should get better with just a period of rest. You can also use over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to help with their comfort and recovery. 

If your child’s condition is still worrying you and you’d like expert advice, you’ll be in safe hands with us. You can see a paediatric specialist within 24 hours, who’ll make an accurate assessment of your child’s condition and make sure they’re getting the right care soon as they need it. 

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Accessing private health care

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Self-pay

You don’t need health insurance for your child to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all of our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.

And we’ll give you a clear and transparent quote from the start, outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.

Book an appointment

FAQs

Every moving joint in the body has a lining called the synovial membrane that lubricates the joint as it moves. It can become inflamed for a short period of time, which increases the amount of fluid in the membrane, and that inflammation causes pain. 
Walking or standing can be painful, so keep your child home from school and make them as comfortable as possible. It often helps for them to lie on their back.  
Irritable hip usually occurs in children aged between 3 and 10 years old and is more common in boys than girls.
You child should avoid physical play or exertion for a couple of weeks after the irritation has passed. Gentle swimming may help their recovery during that time, and they can slowly return to being active after a couple of weeks of being pain-free. 

Looking back now, I can’t believe how quickly she bounced back… The physio team had her up and out of bed three days after the surgery. And it’s been mostly progress from there.

Trevor, dad of Rhiannon
paediatric orthopaedics patient, HCA UK

This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.