Classification of Limping Causes in Children Referred to the Emergency Department; a Literature Review

Unusual walking and non-weight bearing on one side of the body is called limping. The incidence of this complication, as an acute complaint in children, is among the causes of emergency department visits and considered as one of the medical challenges in this unit. It is safe to claim that in emergency department, finding the exact cause is not a priority; conversely, it is more important to know that it is not caused by a serious condition. In other words, in the emergency department, ensuring that the cause does not threaten the patient’s life or limb is prioritized over reaching the final diagnosis. Emergency medicine specialists play an important role in detection, diagnosis, and proper referral of these patients. The current manuscript was written in order to facilitate clinical decisionmaking regarding treatment of children with acute limping visiting emergency department.