Pain in the hollow of the knee in children

Children, especially those of kindergarten or primary school age, can complain about pain in their legs.The pain is then usually localized in the back of the knee, calves or hip. There are two important causes: Firstly, it can be a so-called growth pain, the cause of which is unclear. It occurs primarily in children between the ages of two and eight years, mostly at night and only for a short time.

Secondly, in children, especially in the growth phase, epiphyseolysis is a possible cause of pain in the hollow of the knee. This is a detachment of the growth plate so that, depending on the extent of the disease, the epiphysis slips partially or completely from the bone – in the area of the knee from the shin bone. This not only causes pain, but there is also a risk of growth disorders, since normal bone growth is interrupted at the growth plate.

This disease can occur after an injury or for no apparent reason. Especially in the latter case, there is a risk of not taking the child’s complaints seriously. In stages I and II after Aitken, immobilization of the affected leg is necessary.

In stages III and IV, wires to fix the epiphysis to the bone are absolutely necessary in order to ensure that the child’s normal longitudinal growth is maintained. But how do you differentiate between growth pain and a serious disease? A clear distinction is of course not possible without a doctor.

However, there are some symptoms that clearly indicate a cause other than growth. If the child has very strong, long-lasting pain (longer than 15 minutes) in combination with fever without a cold, this is more likely to indicate an infection or other illness than growth pain. In addition, redness and swelling in the joints speak against growth pain.

What can be done about this pain? You can put a hot water bottle on the affected areas. Specific massages or the administration of a light painkiller such as ibuprofen can also help.

However, it is simply recommended to discuss the procedure with a doctor. Growth pains are usually something quite normal and physiological and do not require any therapy. However, it should always be clarified whether there is something else behind the pain. Other conceivable causes of pain in the hollow of the knee are joint malpositions in children’s legs, which can be congenital or acquired. The pain can also be located elsewhere on the leg (e.g. in the ankle joint), depending on the malposition.