Crutches Everywhere: Sweden’s Hip Mystery

In 1982, the small Swedish town of Bua experienced a bizarre outbreak now known as Buasjukan or Värö Hip, a mysterious condition that left dozens of preteen girls suffering from unexplained hip pain, difficulty walking, and a sudden reliance on crutches. Over just five months, the phenomenon swept through schools in Bua and neighboring towns, even requiring hospital treatments like traction for some children-though no physical cause could be determined. The students recovered fully months later, but the wave of symptoms left parents, doctors, and school staff baffled.

Despite efforts to identify the source-including viral testing in the U.S.-no conclusive cause emerged. Although inflammation was observed in some cases, it was unclear whether this was a symptom or a reaction to overzealous treatments. Theories ranged from environmental hazards (like emissions from a local pulp mill and radiation from a nearby nuclear plant) to illnesses imported from abroad. None held up under scrutiny. Eventually, medical professionals suggested the outbreak may have been psychosomatic, spurred by a combination of social contagion, stress, and possibly a few genuine cases at the outset.

As quickly as it started, Buasjukan vanished-never to reappear. It remains one of Sweden's strangest medical mysteries, with no clear explanation but plenty of lingering questions.

Previous Fact Next Fact