Tibial torus and toddler's fractures misdiagnosed as transient synovitis: a case series
2011

Misdiagnosis of Fractures in Young Children

Sample size: 3 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Seyahi Aksel, Uludag Serkan, Altıntaş Burak, Demirhan Mehmet

Primary Institution: American Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Istanbul, Turkey

Hypothesis

Can transient synovitis be misdiagnosed in young children with tibial torus and toddler's fractures?

Conclusion

Musculoskeletal trauma in non-cooperative children can be mistaken for transient synovitis, delaying proper diagnosis.

Supporting Evidence

  • The misdiagnosis of transient synovitis delayed the true diagnosis of fractures.
  • All three cases involved children who were uncooperative during examinations.
  • Initial symptoms were similar to transient synovitis, complicating diagnosis.

Takeaway

Sometimes when little kids hurt their legs, doctors think it's just a sore hip, but it could actually be a broken bone.

Methodology

Case series of three children with misdiagnosed tibial torus and toddler's fractures.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in initial diagnosis due to the children's inability to communicate effectively.

Limitations

Small sample size and retrospective nature of the cases.

Participant Demographics

Three Caucasian children (two boys aged 20 months and 3 years, one girl aged 2 years).

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1752-1947-5-305

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