should the child with transient synovitis of the hip be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs?
STUDY OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of transient synovitis of the hip (“irritable hip”) is made frequently in the pediatric emergency department. We hypothesized that an anti-inflammatory agent (ibuprofen syrup) would shorten the duration of symptoms. METHODS: Patients who were clinically diagnosed with transient synovitis of the hip in the ED between July 1997 and July 1998 were randomized in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to receive either ibuprofen syrup (10 mg/kg 3 times a day for 5 days) or placebo. There were stringent exclusion criteria, and patients were only included if there was a low index of suspicion of more serious pathology. All patients had a hip ultrasonography performed at enrollment and at day 7. Symptoms were monitored by the use of a parental diary and clinical review. RESULTS: Forty patients were initially enrolled, but 4 patients were subsequently excluded, leaving 17 patients in the ibuprofen group and 19 in the placebo group. Although symptoms resolved in
