Epidemiology

Transient synovitis is the most common cause of acute hip pain and limp in children aged 2 to 12 years. In a 2024 retrospective review, transient synovitis was the most common diagnosis in limping children.[1]​ The mean age is 5 to 6 years, and up to 3% of children have an episode at some time during their childhood.[2][3][4]​​ One large Dutch survey of children aged 0 to 14 years found that the incidence rate for all acute non-traumatic hip pathology was 148.1 per 100,000 person-years, and for transient synovitis this was 76.2 per 100,000 person-years.[2] Transient synovitis is extremely uncommon in adults.[5] It tends to occur more in the autumn and winter months. It is about twice as common in boys compared with girls and uncommon among black children.[6] It is rarely bilateral. Recurrent episodes occur in 4% to 17% of children. Those who do have a recurrent episode usually have a benign course, although in about 10% it may be the presenting feature of a chronic inflammatory condition.[7]

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