# Comparison of Locations and Frequencies of Referred Pain in Pediatric Hip Disorders: A Retrospective Study

## TL;DR

This study compares where and how often children with hip disorders feel pain, finding similar patterns across different conditions.

## Contribution

The study provides a comparative analysis of referred pain locations and frequencies in three pediatric hip disorders.

## Key findings

- Hip pain was the most common, reported in 30-40% of cases across all three disorders.
- Thigh pain occurred in 20-30% of cases, and knee pain in 10-20%.
- Pain localization showed no significant differences between the three diseases.

## Abstract

Introduction: Children with hip joint disorders such as slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD), and transient synovitis of the hip (TSH) often experience pain in the hip, thigh, and knee. However, few studies have compared the specific locations and frequencies of pain associated with these disorders. Understanding these patterns can aid in diagnosis and management. This study aimed to fill this gap by comparing pain localization and frequency in pediatric hip disorders.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 77 patients diagnosed with SCFE, LCPD, or TSH between 2011 and 2023. Pain location data were collected at the initial examination, and pain location in each disorder was compared.

Results: Age and sex distribution varied among diseases, but the referred pain location in each of the typical hip diseases in children, SCFE, LCPD, and TSH, and hip pain accounted for approximately 30-40%, knee pain was approximately 10-20%, and thigh pain was approximately 20-30% in each disease. The mean age of patients reporting hip and knee pain was similar, while those experiencing thigh pain tended to be slightly older. No significant differences in age were observed across different pain locations. Additionally, no significant sex differences were found in pain localization, with similar distributions in male and female patients. The distribution of pain locations among the three diseases showed no statistically significant differences, with hip pain being the most commonly reported site, followed by thigh pain and knee pain.

Conclusions: Despite the expected differences, pain localization in SCFE, LCPD, and TSH showed similar patterns, resembling adult hip disorders. This study highlights the consistent referred pain patterns across pediatric hip disorders, emphasizing their clinical significance in improving diagnostic accuracy.