CEREBRAL PALSY

Children with cerebral palsy (CP), a brain injury that affects motor function, can develop a number of musculoskeletal problems relating to altered growth – deformities of the bone, joint dislocations, and tight tendons and muscles – as well as increased muscle tone caused by “misfiring” circuits in the brain. Manifestations of cerebral palsy can vary considerably, and orthopedists who treat these patients can face a complex array of conditions.

The major goals in caring for children with cerebral palsy are to optimize their function and prevent deformities. For children who are able to walk, maintaining and optimizing that ability, and the independence it affords, is a primary goal. Treatment goals for children with cerebral palsy who are not able to walk focus on helping the child maintain comfortable, balanced, and level seating in a wheelchair. This helps the child remain upright in order to observe their surroundings, communicate with the world around them, and remain mobile.

COMPREHENSIVE FRACTURE CARE

Children love to run, hop, skip, jump, and tumble.  With all this activity, there is a good possibility they may take a spill at home, the playground, or the playing field.  While many of these may be harmless, in some cases, children may fracture – or “break” – their bones.  If you suspect a fracture, you should obtain prompt medical attention for the child so that the bones can be set for proper healing.

SCOLIOSIS / SPINE DISORDERS

Scoliosis and other spine disorders in children such as Scoliosis, kyphosis, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, torticollis can be idiopathic (of unknown origin), congenital (present at birth) or neuromuscular (related to nerves and muscles).

Scoliosis
A condition of the spine in which the spine curves to varying degrees in an “S” shape, either to the right or left s.

Kyphosis
Kyphosis is a forward curvature of the spine in which the spine curves forward creating a round back appearance, or “C” shape.

Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis
A common cause of lower back pain in adolescent athletes is a stress fracture in one of the bones (vertebrae) that make up the spinal column, a condition known as spondylolysis. In some cases, the stress fracture can weaken the bone, causing the vertebra to shift out of place, a condition known as spondylolisthesis.

Torticollis
Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is a musculoskeletal condition observed at birth or in infancy characterized by shortening of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle on the side of the neck.

Neurofibromatosis
Neurofibromatosis (NF1 and NF2)  is a genetic disorder characterized by tumors or neurofibromas that grow in the nervous system and under the skin. Children with NF1 frequently develop orthopaedic problems like scoliosis and tibial dysplasia.

EXPERT SPORTS MEDICINE CARE IN SUPPORT OF YOUNG ATHLETES

At Spine-Peds Ortho Group, our Pediatric Sports Medicine experts are focused on caring exclusively for young athletes. Here, you’ll find the only program that offers a full spectrum of care to meet your child’s needs — whether it’s care after an injury or helping to improve your child’s performance.

More young people are participating in sports today than ever before. Not only are children and adolescents playing in more competitive sports, but they are also suffering increasing numbers of sports-related injuries.

Our team specialize in sports injuries in children. Those injuries can range from common sprains and strains to growth plate injuries, osteochondritis dissecans, patella subluxation/dislocation, discoid meniscus, and injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

FOOT AND ANKLE DISORDERS

Pediatric foot deformity is a term that includes a range of conditions that may affect the bones, tendons, and muscles of the foot. Among those most frequently treated by our team are tarsal coalition, cavus foot, accessory navicular, and juvenile bunion.

For parents seeking treatment for their children with foot deformities, it’s important to consult with a pediatric orthopedic surgeon with extensive experience in his or her field. Not only will they be aware of all the relevant non-operative techniques, but should surgery be necessary, surgeons experienced in performing such procedures on children have a better success rate.

Club Foot
The Ponseti technique has gained widespread acceptance as the treatment of choice for infants with clubfeet. If a child’s physician meticulously follows the details of this technique and applies all of the elements without modification, parents can expect optimal results in the short and long term for children with clubfeet.

LIMB DEFORMITY / LENGTH DISCREPANCY

In growing children, limb deformities of the legs, including bow legs (genu varum) and knock knees (genu valgum) are among the most frequent causes for a visit to the pediatric orthopedist. In many cases the alignment of the legs corrects naturally. However, in those cases where the condition persists or the abnormality becomes more pronounced, medical attention is required.

Children who are born with or who develop differences in the length of their limbs can benefit from a range of treatments that may be as simple as the use of adaptive footwear or as sophisticated as limb lengthening surgical intervention that helps generate new bone in the affected limb. When limb lengthening surgery is indicated, orthopedic surgeons can safely and gradually lengthen the affected bone by up to 15 to 20 centimeters.

PEDIATRIC AND ADOLESCENT HIP SERVICE

Easing Your Child’s Way

If your child has a hip deformity, you’ve come to the right place. The orthopaedic specialists of our Hip Deformity Service have the experience, skill and technology to accurately diagnose your child’s hip problem, and to correct it to the greatest extent possible.

We care for kids from birth through adolescence who have congenital or developmental dysplasia or deformity of the hip.

We use the latest diagnostic techniques, including ultrasound, conventional X-ray, arthrography, bone scan, CT scan and MRI.

LEGG-CALVE-PERTHES SERVICE

The Legg-Calve-Perthes Service is comprised of experts in treating children with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. We offer multidisciplinary care for a multidimensional disease.

Legg-Calve-Perthes is a disease of the hip in which the head of the femur (thighbone) that sits in the hip joint breaks down. We provide nonsurgical and surgical treatments with the primary goals of preventing deformity and maintaining range of motion of the hip joint.

PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPY

– Scoliosis program to treat curvature of the spine

– Outpatient prosthetic rehabilitation, to help individuals adjust to an artificial limb or other external appliance

– Rehabilitation after a back or neck injury

– Rehabilitation after a sports injury

– Comprehensive musculoskeletal evaluation to determine the cause of and best treatment for acute or chronic pain