The role of ultrasound in the emergency department evaluation of the acutely painful pediatric hip.

Children presenting with hip pain or a limp are a diagnostic challenge for the clinician. The differential diagnosis is extensive, and the workup can be broad. This review focuses on differentiating between transient synovitis and septic arthritis of the hip. The role of bedside ultrasound in the clinical evaluation of these patients is addressed, including the technique and appropriate indications for bedside ultrasound of the hip in the emergency department.