Abnormal gait in a child with fever: diagnosing septic arthritis of the hip.

The diagnosis of septic arthritis should be considered in all children with hip pain. We review the evaluation of children who present with fever and hip pain, emphasizing features that may assist in distinguishing septic arthritis of the hip from transient synovitis. We also discuss the impact of the increased prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on the management of septic arthritis of the hip.