Pediatric Orthopaedics

The Pediatric Orthopaedic Service serves three hospitals throughout Mt. Sinai - NYU Health: the Hospital for Joint Diseases (HJD), NYU Hospitals Center (Tisch Hospital and the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine) and Bellevue Hospital. Care is provided in a number of outpatient centers and clinics as well as in the hospital after surgery. Some procedures result in a period of rehabilitation that cannot occur at home but needs to be done in a rehabilitation facility such as the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine.

A major part of The Center for Children, a comprehensive outpatient facility for children, adolescents and young adults with orthopaedic and neurological problems, is the contribution of pediatric orthopaedic surgery. This service is staffed by some of the most experienced pediatric orthopaedic surgeons in New York City and offers newborns, children and adolescents surgical and non-surgical intervention for many orthopaedic conditions.

The 20th century and now the 21st century has brought about great changes in the treatment of physical ailments in children. Some examples of this are:

Clubfeet - Clubfoot is a congenital (born with) deformity of the foot that, until recently, required extensive surgery at approximately 6 months of age and, at times, multiple, additional surgeries throughout childhood. Today, with the advent of the Ponsetti technique, utilized at the Institute for the Treatment of Foot Disorders in Children close to 90% of children can avoid extensive surgery and have excellent functional results.

Scoliosis - Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine. This can be progressive in childhood and require bracing or surgery. The bracing has improved vastly over the last decade and has become much more cosmetically acceptable. Surgery, which once required bed rest of 6 months to a year, now sees the child up and around with no cast or bracing within the first week after surgery. These new techniques as well as minimally invasive spine surgery has improved the outcome for scores of patients. The skilled spine surgeons at the Wallace B. Lehman Center for Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery not only treat scoliosis but also a wide range of other childhood spinal deformity.

Limb Deformity - There are many causes of a short or bent leg. In the past, most people born or developing these deformities had to live a life of partial or complete disability. Today, at the New York Institute for Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction, surgeons use computer assisted deformity correction resulting in a longer, straighter limb leading to functional restoration for the child or adult.

Cerebral Palsy/Neuromuscular Disorders - A comprehensive team approach is required to treat these disorders in which the pediatric orthopaedic surgeon's role is to prevent permanent deformity and allow the child to achieve his or her best possible function. This team approach is practiced in the Elly Hammerman Center for Spasticity where a neurologist, orthopaedic surgeon, neurosurgeon, physiatrist and physical/occupational therapist evaluates each patient and collectively determines the best course of treatment.

Childhood fractures - While childhood fractures once caused life-long disability, today with newer treatments, the child is restored to his/her pre-injury function quickly and with a minimal loss of schooling. If you or your child is suspected of having a broken bone, NYU/HJD offers an Immediate Care Department that specializes in urgent or emergent orthopaedic problems, thereby limiting the waiting time customary in many emergency departments.

Childhood sports injuries - Training a child to be an athlete has unique principles and requires a sports medicine staff that understands their needs. At the Center for Child and Adolescent Sports Medicine, a team of professionals has been assembled that includes an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, a physiatrist (physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation) and a sports medicine physical therapist. Not only will sports injuries be treated but recommendations for childhood training and rehabilitation programs aimed at injury prevention will be developed.

Early arthritis - Many adolescents and young adults present with early arthritis of their hip caused by "hip dysplasia." In the past, people lived with this disability until the condition required a hip replacement at a young age. Today, many patients can have a restoration of the normal structure of the hip via an osteotomy (cutting of bone). The Ganz osteotomy is a new and unique approach to avoiding hip replacement and relieving pain in these young patients.

For more information about these and other conditions, please visit http://www.jointdiseases.com/html/childrens_center.html.

Don't forget to hit our Frequently Asked Questions about Pediatric Orthopaedics!

For more information about Pediatric Orthopaedics or to make an appointment, please call (212) 598-2330, email The Children's Center at HJD.ChildrensCenter@Med.Nyu.Edu, or contact one of the physicians listed under Orthopaedics in our NYU Kids Health Physician Directory.