Orthopedics

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. 

The Gillette orthopedics team is composed of experts who’ve chosen to specialize in the unique needs of children, teens, and adults who have routine or highly complex conditions. At Gillette, you’ll benefit from specialized expertise in a coordinated team approach, resulting in a swifter, more comprehensive diagnosis or treatment plan. 

Orthopedists often collaborate with providers in:

• Orthotics, Prosthetics and Seating
• Gait and motion analysis
• Minnesota’s first Level I Pediatric Trauma Center
• Pediatric intensive care
• Radiology and imaging
• Rehabilitation medicine
• Rehabilitation therapies
• 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 Children's Acute Orthopedic Clinic, your child is evaluated and treated for complex injuries and infections of bones or muscles. You can take advantage of same-day appointments and 24-hour provider consultations, which give 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.

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

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