Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that tries to prevent and correct problems that affect bones and muscles, including tendons and ligaments. Gillette Children’s is home to one of the nation's highest concentrations of pediatric orthopedic surgeons. This allows for a level of specialization not found at other facilities.  From routine to complex conditions, our specialists are leaders in orthopedic care.  

Systemic Conditions and Disabilities

Some complex conditions affect the entire body and can cause orthopedic issues. So what does a pediatric orthopedic specialist do? Orthopedics can be part of a comprehensive treatment plan for systemic conditions like:

• Arthrogryposis.
• Cerebral palsy.
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular conditions.
• Osteogenesis imperfecta. 
• Spina bifida.

Lower-Extremity Orthopedic Conditions

Lower-extremity conditions affect the legs and feet. Orthopedic treatments are used for conditions like:

• Bowlegs (also known as varus knee deformity) or Blount’s disease.
• Clubfoot.
• Flatfoot (also known as pes planus).
• Foot and toe deformities (congenital and acquired).
• Knock knees (also known as valgus knee deformity).
• Limb-length discrepancy and limb differences.
• Osteochondritis dissecans.
• Patellar instability and patellofemoral pain.
• Rotational and alignment issues, such as femoral anteversion or tibial torsion.
• Skeletal dysplasias.

Hip and Spine Orthopedic Conditions

The hip and spine conditions that often require orthopedic treatments include:

• Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).
• Hip impingement  (also known as femoral acetabular impingement).
• Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (also known as Perthes disease).
• Scheuermann’s disease.
• Scoliosis (idiopathic, neuromuscular and congenital).
• Slipped capital femoral epiphysis.
• Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis.

Upper-Extremity Orthopedic Conditions

Upper-extremity conditions affect the arms and hands. Orthopedic treatments are used for conditions like:

• Birth brachial plexus injuries.
• Conditions of the hand, such as trigger thumb, syndactyly, macrodactyly and congenital amputations.
• Fractures (traumatic and pathologic).
• Limb-length discrepancy and limb differences.

Sports Injuries, Trauma and Infections

Orthopedics can help when your child experiences an injury, trauma or infection, such as:

• Complex fractures or fractures.
• Joint infections and inflammation.
• Orthopedic complications resulting from traumatic injuries.
• Osteomyelitis (a bone infection).
• Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE).
• Sports-related injuries.

You’ll have access to the latest technology and techniques in orthopedics at Gillette Children’s.

Some of the available orthopedic tests and treatments for children, teens and adults include:

• Gait and motion analysis.
• Limb-length surgery.
• Ponseti method for clubfoot.
• Radiology and imaging tests.
• Single event multilevel surgery (SEMLS) and various individual orthopedic surgery procedures.
• Orthopedic spine surgery, such as spine fusion.
• Magnetically driven growing rods to treat spine conditions.
• Vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) surgery.

Prenatal Consultations

If your child has a condition that can be diagnosed prenatally, such as amniotic band syndrome, clubfoot and limb or spine deformities, you might meet with an orthopedist for a prenatal consultation. During a prenatal consultation, you learn about the condition and current treatment options, get help planning a course of treatment for your child, and receive counseling.

Acute Orthopedic Clinic

At the Gillette Acute Orthopedic Clinic, your child is evaluated and treated for complex injuries and infections of bones or muscle. You can take advantage of same-day appointments and 24-hour provider consultations—giving primary and urgent/emergency providers instant access to our specialists.

The Acute Orthopedic Clinic is not a “walk-in” clinic, staffed by general practitioners. Instead, most people are referred for a timely visit with a highly trained pediatric orthopedist.

Getting a second opinion is particularly helpful with a complex or unclear diagnosis or treatment that is no longer working.  Often having another expert’s opinion can help you feel more knowledgeable and confident when taking the next steps to care for your child.  

Second Opinion

We understand that leaving providers you’ve seen since infancy or childhood can be scary. As your child moves from pediatric to adult health care—we support your family in the transition. Our goal is to help you and your child find age-appropriate care with providers who understand the complexity of treating adults who have childhood-onset disabilities.

Our Transition Clinic is a part of the Complex Care Clinic and works with Gillette patients to support the development of a complete healthcare team into adulthood. Our staff works to provide life transition services that include:

• Creating a health care plan specific to your child’s needs.
• Helping your child manage their medical conditions to the best of their ability.
• Providing education and resources connected with legal, medical and independent living topics.

The first step to accessing adult services support is to make an appointment with the Complex Care Team by calling 651-310-1807 and asking for a transition focused visit. Appointments take about two hours and include a comprehensive survey of your current healthcare to date and initiation of a plan. We will continue to work alongside you and your family to:

• Create an easily accessible medical summary for future healthcare providers.
• An individual transition plan with specific goals based on their hopes and requirements.
• Referrals or access to specialty health care providers, psychologists and social workers at Gillette's adult clinic.
• Support in finding a primary care provider for adults.
• Identification of a complete adult healthcare team in the community.
• Emergency care and hospitilization plans as you age.
• Direction on where to gain specific skills, receive training and gather other important information.

At Gillette Children's, you'll have access to leading pediatric orthopedic specialists who treat complex conditions. Whether treatment begins in infancy or later on in childhood, our goal is to help your family find answers. Request an appointment with our experts today.