Blaž Šetina
Splošna bolnišnica Jesenice, Oddelek ortopedske kirurgije, Jesenice, Slovenija

Karin Schara
Oddelek otroške ortopedske kirurgije Ortopedska klinika Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana Zaloška cesta 9, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija

Abstract

A limping child is a frequent clinical presentation in both paediatric and orthopaedic surgery practice, with wide pos­sible aetiology. Sometimes it is only a phase in the normal course of a child‘s gait development. In early childhood clin­ical evaluation of limping may present a diagnostic chal­lenge, particularly when the child begins to gain walking abilities and has not yet mastered all the movement pat­terns. Bone tumours, both benign and malignant, are rare in early childhood. In order to detect these cases, a precise medical history and clinical examination with imaging and laboratory diagnostics is crucial. Majority of bone chang­es can be detected by a simple X-ray image alone, but in order to confirm the diagnosis and decide upon the treat­ment, additional radiological examinations as well as bone biopsies may be needed. Treatment is planned individually.

Key words: gait, bone neoplasms, fracture, spontaneous