A Step by Step to Guide to Pediatric Limp
November 6, 2025 from 3:00pm MDT to 3:50pm MDT
Limp and gait abnormalities can be common yet puzzling presentations in primary care and emergency settings. These visits can be challenging due to unwitnessed injuries, young children’s inability to articulate pain, and poor patient cooperation during examination. This session reviews the differential diagnosis of pediatric limp through a case-based framework. Prevalent etiologies such as toddler’s fractures, transient synovitis, and viral myositis will be emphasized. High-risk conditions requiring urgent recognition will also be explored, including leukemia, slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), and osteoarticular infections. Participants will learn targeted history-taking approaches and how to recognize key physical exam findings in children. Evidence-based guidance will be used to discuss appropriate diagnostic evaluation and management pathways, while identifying red flags and indications for specialist referral. This session aims to enhance clinician confidence and clinical decision-making in assessing limping children.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to:
- Identify targeted history-taking approaches to aid and inform the development of a differential diagnosis for pediatric limp
- Develop strategies for effectively examining non-cooperative children and identifying key clinical signs
- Select and interpret appropriate diagnostic tests in the context of pediatric gait abnormalities
- Identify common and serious causes of pediatric limp, including toddler’s fractures, transient synovitis, viral myositis, osteoarticular infections, slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), and leukemia
- Implement evidence-based management strategies tailored to specific etiologies of pediatric limp and recognize when specialist referral is warranted
Speakers / Panelists
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A Step by Step to Guide to Pediatric Limp
November 6, 2025 from 3:00pm MDT to 3:50pm MDT
Elise Gabriele
CCPA
Elise Gabriele
Elise Gabriele is a certified Physician Assistant with a passion for working with children. She completed her Bachelor of Medical Sciences at Western University in 2016 while also working part-time on blood transfusion research at McMaster University. She went on to complete her Physician Assistant degree at McMaster in 2018. Since graduating, Elise has been working full-time in the Emergency Department at SickKids. She also works part-time with developmental pediatricians at a primary care pediatric practice in Toronto.