Recurrent dislocation of the patella is when the kneecap moves out of its proper position frequently. The dislocation may happen when the ligaments that lie on either side of the child’s kneecap become stretched and are not tight enough to hold the kneecap in place. The ligaments become more stretched each time the kneecap slides in and out of place. Read more...

Dislocated Hips in Babies

You may have heard your Pediatrician say he or she felt "hip clicks" during the examination. This may or may not be a normal finding and that is what an orthopedic physician is asked to determine. Soft tissue clicks around the hip are a common finding and do not require treatment. However, unstable or dislocated hips require treatment.

As part of the exam, the orthopedic physician will move your baby's legs around to feel if the hips are stable in the sockets. He may also ask for tests that can show how shallow the socket of the hip is and how loose the ball of the hip is. Read more...

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE)

SCFE is the name given to a condition where the ball of the hip socket (proximal epiphysis) of the femur (thigh bone) slips out of its normal place in the hip socket. The cause of the slipping is unknown in most patients, although overweight or tall or lean children who have recently had a growth spurt are most frequently affected. Read more...

Leg Length Discrepancy

A Leg Length Discrepancy is a frequently seen orthopedic problem. The cause of this condition can include trauma, skeletal anomalies, neuromuscular diseases, or other disorders.

Minor discrepancies in the lengths of your child's legs may be successfully treated with a lift (called an “adjust-a-lift”) placed inside the shoe of the short leg. Read more...

Clubfoot

A Clubfoot is one of the most common congenital deformities of the foot. The exact cause of a Clubfoot is unknown. There are several different ideas as to the cause: a halt of the development of the foot in the first trimester of pregnancy, intrauterine compression, or neurological problems such as Spina Bifida.

Early conservative treatment appears to produce the best results. Treatment options can include manual stretching of the foot and serial casting. Despite a conservative approach to treatment, usually surgical intervention is indicated. Surgery is recommended after serial casting has been performed but has not been successful. Read more...

Pronated Foot

Flatfootedness can be caused by loose ligaments or weak muscles in the foot. This type is usually flexible and asymptomatic. When a flatfoot is caused by a bony deformity (stiff flat foot), it often times will cause pain and may require surgery. Read more...

Turned in Toes (Pigeon Toes)

If your child has turning in of his feet, this "toeing in" can come from several places on his body. The turning in can come from his feet, legs, or hips. The majority of causes of "in-toeing" are normal developmental stages in your child's growth. It is extremely common for children to "in-toe" and most improve with growth. Occasionally, mild residual "in-toeing" will remain after school age but this has never been shown to interfere with the child's performance. Only in exceptional cases is treatment recommended. Read more...

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a "side-to-side" curve of the spine. Normally, the spine is straight if you look at a person's back from behind. In scoliosis, the side-to-side curve may cause a child to lean to one side and often produces other noticeable physical deformities. Scoliosis will often worsen as the child grows, especially during puberty. Scoliosis can be diagnosed through a physical exam of the spine.

Depending on the severity of the curve, different treatments are available. The severity is measured in degrees through use of x-ray and by physical exam. For instance, in spinal curves less than 40 degrees, in a growing child, a scoliosis brace is recommended.

Braces have been shown to slow progression in some but not all cases. There are two types of braces:

1. TLSO - A brace that is worn 23 out of 24 hours per day.
2. Nighttime Bending Brace - A brace that is worn at nighttime only.

For larger curves, surgery may be recommended to prevent the curve from getting worse. Read more...