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  • Adolescent Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Elbow     PDF Booklet
  • Back Pain in Children     PDF Booklet
  • Blount's Disease in Children and Adolescents     PDF Booklet
  • Clubfoot     PDF Booklet
  • Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Children     PDF Booklet
  • Jumper's Knee in Children and Adolescents     PDF Booklet
  • Osgood-Schlatter Lesion of the Knee     PDF Booklet
  • Panner's Disease of the Elbow     PDF Booklet
  • Perthes Disease     PDF Booklet
  • Scoliosis     PDF Booklet
  • Septic Arthritis of the Hip in Children     PDF Booklet
  • Sever's Syndrome     PDF Booklet
  • Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis     PDF Booklet
  • Tarsal Coalition     PDF Booklet

    • Related News Articles

  • First Report on Inflatable Bouncer-Related Injuries
  • Guidelines For On-Field Management of Neck Injury in Children
  • Antibiotic Resistant Staph Infection in Children
  • New Treatment for Clubfoot in Infants with Arthrogryposis
  • Surgeons Devise New Treatment for Osteochondral Fractures in Adolescents
  • Long-Term Results of Untreated Apophysis Fracture in Children
  • Simple Way to Classify Septic Hip Arthritis in Children
  • Measuring Strength of Bone in Children
  • Orthometer Used to Measure Bone Healing After Limb Lengthening
  • Children Under Pressure From Backpack Load
  • New Way To Predict Need For Surgery For Hip Dysplasia
  • Injuries Related to Heelys in Children
  • New Report On Cellular Changes in Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease
  • New Risk Factors Discovered for Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
  • Early Diagnosis of Septic Sacroiliitis in Children With MRI
  • Prognosis for Radial Nerve Palsy Present At Birth
  • Hip Socket Deformity in Adults with Perthes Disease
  • Three-Point Index Can Predict Redisplacement of Radial Fractures in Children
  • Recreational and Sports Injuries in Children
  • Factors Predicting Spontaneous Lumbar Curve Correction in Scoliosis
  • Nighttime Bending Brace for Scoliosis
  • Correction of Scoliosis With and Without Rib Removal
  • Surprising Amount of Bone Loss in Children After Orthopedic Surgery
  • Measuring Physical Function of Children with Spinal Impairments
  • Update on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Elbow Fractures
  • X-rays Taken With External Fixator on Leg May Be Unreliable
  • Check for Additional Metatarsal Fractures if Second, Third, or Fourth Are Fractured
  • Curve Ball or Fast Ball: Which One Loads the Arm More?
  • Risk of Non-Adherence of Bracewear in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Should Be Assessed Prior to Treatment
  • Delayed Healing Not Common Following Intramedullary Nailing for Forearm Shaft Fractures in Children
  • Idiopathic Toe Walking Can Be Differentiated from Cerebral Palsy Through Gait Analysis
  • Pediatric Back Pain Does not Always Have Definitive Diagnosis
  • Contralateral Hip Dysplasia More Common Than Thought, Often not Recognized
  • Smoking Linked with Low Back Pain in Teens
  • Surgeons Advise Pinning Both Hips With Unilateral SCFE
  • Is There a Link Between Parent and Child Back Pain?
  • Plaster Casting Appears to be Superior in Treatment of Clubfoot Using the Ponsetti Method
  • Valgus Femoral Osteotomy is Treatment Option for Late Hinge Abduction in Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
  • Review of Differences in Anatomy of Femoral Intercondylar Notch in Children
  • Updated Review of Surgery for Pes Cavus Foot Deformity
  • Radiation Exposure During Surgery for Leg Fractures
  • Results of Three-Prong Treatment Program for Spondylolysis
  • Pediatric Femur Fractures May Be Managed with Locked Plate Fixation if Other Options Not Viable
  • Ultrasound Appears Effective Method of Monitoring Progress During Ponseti Treatment for Clubfoot
  • Surgical Procedure, Tenodermodesis, Appears Safe and Effective Treatment for Severe Soft-Tissue Mallet Finger Deformities in Children
  • Lateral Patellar Retinacular Release Results in Satisfactory Knee Health and Function in Adolescents
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging May Be Helpful Prior to Surgery in Patients with Atypical Curve Patterns in Scoliosis
  • Treatment of Adolescent Spondylosis
  • Unique Ankle Fracture in Young Adolescents
  • The Dangers of ATVs Among Children Reviewed
  • Case Series of Ingrown Toenails in Infants
  • Results After Surgery for Tendon Repair in Children
  • MRIs Useful in Diagnosing Pelvic Osteomyelitis
  • 3-D Spine Models Useful When Planning and Performing Surgery
  • Case Study: 14-year-old with Tuberculosis of the Patella
  • Discussion of Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis
  • Epidemiology of Adolescent Spinal Pain
  • Adolescents with Chronic Pain Experience Sleep Difficulties
  • School Back Packs and Furniture: Does They Cause or Prevent Back Pain in Children?
  • Update on Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease in Children
  • Investigating Rate of Non-neurologic Complications Resulting from Surgery for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
  • Diagnosis and Treatment of Orthopedic Injury from Child Abuse
  • Screening and Treatment of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Children
  • Problems Following Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery
  • Identifying Spiral Fractures from Nonaccidental Injury in Children
  • Researchers Compare Scoliosis Correction Objectives Among Surgeons
  • Osgood-Schlatter Disease Unresponsive to Nonsurgical Treatment May Require Surgery to Remove Ossicle
  • Causes of Osteoporosis in Children
  • Comparing Forearm Refractures in Children
  • More Trampoline Injuries Arriving in Emergency Rooms
  • Complete Distal Femur Metaphyseal Fracture in Young Children Could Indicate Abuse
  • Determining Healing of Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Talus
  • Is Routine Screening of Infants for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Still Needed?
  • Treating Congenital Spine Deformities with Freeze-Dried Bone Graft
  • Effect of Ponseti Bracing for Clubfoot on Leg Rotation
  • Bisphosphonates Preserve Hip in Children with Osteonecrosis
  • Problems Using Pedicle Screws to Treat Thoracic Scoliosis
  • Predicting Results of Treatment for Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease
  • Spinal Fusion Effective for Treatment of Scoliosis: Article Reprint from 1958
  • Talocalcaneal Interosseous Ligament Release May Benefit Patients with Severe Clubfoot
  • Surgery May Be Best Treatment for Leg Fracture Caused by Horseback Riding Accident
  • Update on the Treatment of Adolescent Elbow Injuries
  • New Clubfoot Bracing System May Be Easier for Parents and Child
  • Fixation For Femur Fractures in Children
  • Problems with Titanium Nails Used in Pediatric Tibial Fractures
  • New Guidelines for Scoliosis Research
  • Comparing Daytime and Nighttime Scoliosis Braces
  • Results of New Scoliosis Brace Based on SRS Criteria
  • Degenerative Disc Disease and Spinal Stenosis Found in Young Patients
  • Comparing Daytime and Nighttime Scoliosis Braces
  • Effect of Sacral Sagittal Position on Scoliosis
  • Do We Need School Screening for Scoliosis?
  • ACL Injuries in Children
  • Specialty Update in Pediatric Orthopedics
  • Measuring All Angles of Early Versus Late Blount Disease
  • Opinions Vary About Bracing for Scoliosis
  • Diagnosis and Management of Spondylolysis in Teen-age Athletes
  • Comparison of Surgical Techniques in the Treatment of Early-Onset Scoliosis
  • Results of Treatment for SCFE: Good But Not Perfect
  • Fewer Wounds with Cincinnati Incision for Clubfoot
  • Using PET Scans to Diagnose Back Pain in Children
  • Avoiding Screwhead Impingement in Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
  • Safe Use of Arthroscopy in Children with Hip Dysplasia
  • Exercise Can Help Scoliosis After All
  • New Drain for Septic Arthritis in Children
  • What To Do for Pelvic Fractures in Children
  • Case Report of Cobb Syndrome in a Child
  • New Gait Assessment Tool for Children with Cerebral Palsy
  • Avoiding Avascular Necrosis in Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
  • Treatment Options for Rare Hip Dislocation in Children
  • Ultrasound Screening for Hip Dysplasia
  • Bone Age Delay Predicts Severity of Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease
  • Surgery to Improve Walking in Children with Cerebral Palsy
  • Ultrasound Helpful in Assessing Clubfoot
  • Foot Pressure Measurements in Children with Clubfoot
  • Answering Important Questions About SCFE
  • Repeat Hip Exam Needed in Young Children
  • Guide for Diagnosing Hip Pain in Young Adults
  • Ortolani Test for Hip Dysplasia Reexamined
  • Government Insurance Delays Treatment for Children
  • Treat the Symptoms and the Cause of Hip Pain in Young Adults
  • Review and Update on Slipped Capital Epiphysis
  • Arthroscopy Identifies Wrist Ligament Tears in Young Athletes
  • Screening Infants for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
  • Ultrasound Screening for Hip Dislocations in Children
  • Treatment Strategy for Double Ligament Injury in Adolescent Athletes
  • Gradual Correction for Blount's Disease Advised
  • Is Obesity Linked with Blount Disease?
  • Signs of Sacroiliac Joint Infection in Children
  • Assessing Results of Treatment for Clubfoot
  • Report of Surgical Results for Osteoarthritis Caused by Hip Dysplasia
  • Treatment for Jumper's Knee
  • Does Exercise Improve Grades in Middle School Children?
  • New Treatment for Baseball Pitchers with Osteochondritis Dissecans
  • Common Cause of Low Back Pain in Children
  • Adolescent Disc Herniation
  • Surgery for Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis
  • Treating Forearm Fractures in Children
  • Tests That Predict Septic Hip Arthritis in Children
  • Overuse and Fatigue: Risk Factors for Pitching Injuries
  • Update On Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE)
  • Best Results with Surgery in Perthes Disease
  • Diagnosing Back Pain in Children
  • Trigger Thumb in Children: Acquired or Congenital?
  • Six Cases of Angled Thumb in Children
  • Screening Children with Low Back Pain
  • New Standard of Care for Pediatric Fractures
  • Effect of Age and Gender on Muscle Strength and Control in Young Athletes
  • Cheilectomy Doesn't Prevent Osteoarthritis in Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
  • Does Protein C Deficiency Lead to Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease?
  • Height and Weight Linked to Bilateral Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
  • Comparing Costs of Spinal Surgery for Two Types of Scoliosis
  • Managing Scoliosis in Young Children
  • The Future for Teenagers with Scoliosis
  • Result of Bracing or Surgery for Scoliosis
  • New Findings About OCD in the Japanese
  • A shallow hip socket in infants and young children is called developmental dysplasia of the hip or DDH. DDH is a risk factor for dislocation. It is treatable with a special harness during the first year of life. The device is called a Pavlik harness named after Dr. A. Pavlik.
  • What Patients Should Know About Surgery for Sternoclavicular Instability
  • Pavlik Harness Treatment. Early Ultrasound Predictors.
  • No Link Found Between SCFE and Endocrine Disorders
  • What to Do About Trigger Thumb in Children
  • Treatment Guidelines for Young Patients with Hip Problems
  • Risk Factors for Soccer Injuries
  • Obesity Linked with Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE)
  • Post-Pavlik Harness Results for Hip Dysplasia
  • Measuring Limb Length
  • Surgery a Success for Ischemia After Hip Dysplasia
  • Young Soccer Players with Back Pain
  • Formula to Predict Outcome of Perthes' Disease in Children
  • Little League Shoulder
  • Loss of Arm Motion After Birth Brachial Plexus Injury
  • School Attendance After Orthopedic Injury in Children
  • When It's Not Little Leaguer's Shoulder
  • Treating a Tear of the Quadriceps Tendon
  • Swimmer's Nerve in a Pinch
  • Getting an Arm around Guidelines for Youth Baseball Pitchers

    • FAQs

  • What is "Little League elbow?" I hear this term used by the coaches at ball practice.
  • I've been volunteering as an athletic trainer for Little League teams for the past 10 years. I notice the younger kids have problems with pain and soreness on the inside of the elbow. The older kids complain more of pain along the outside of the elbow. Why the difference?
  • I've been coaching Little League for almost 30 years. It seems like more and more kids are coming up with various injuries, especially "pitcher's elbow" or "Little League elbow." Are there any studies to say why this is happening?
  • My 13-year-old son tore his left ACL. The doctor wants to delay surgery until my son's bones stop growing. Is this really necessary? He'll miss an entire season of baseball this way.
  • My 14-year old daughter injured herself in a dismount from the balance beam in gymnastics. They think she'll need surgery to repair a torn ACL, but they say she isn't "skeletally mature" yet. How can they tell this?
  • Which is more important for students carrying a backpack: wearing it over both shoulders or decreasing the amount of weight inside?
  • I see from the news that there's concern about young students carrying heavy backpacks. I went to school 30 years ago and we never used backpacks or even a book bag. What do they carry in them that's so heavy?
  • I don't want my child exposed to any more X-rays than absolutely necessary. The doctor wants to do X-rays to look for curvature of the spine in my 13-year old daughter. Isn't there some other way around this?
  • I notice my 9-year old son's shoulder blades stick out. No one else in our family has this problem. Should we do anything about it?
  • My 13-year-old son was just diagnosed with spondylolisthesis. The doctor warned us that damage to the disc is also possible with this condition. Is there any way to know for sure if this is happening?
  • Have you ever heard of a growth plate coming apart? My 12-year old daughter had an MRI for a back injury. The results showed separation of the growth plate where she hurt herself. What could be causing this?
  • My 14-year-old daughter competes in gymnastics on the balance beam. After injuring her ankle, she's gone back to practice. Now it seems like she can't keep her balance and her hip on the same side is starting to bother her. What's the connection?
  • I'm planning on homeschooling my three children starting with the oldest this fall. Over the summer, I'm going to check garage sales for school desks. How can I tell if the desk fits each child?
  • My two boys ages 10 and 12 are in elementary and middle school. The 10-year-old is much smaller than his older brother, yet they both use desks that are exactly the same size. Is there any danger in using a desk that is too big or too small for the student?
  • I am an elementary school nurse. It's come to my attention that our students aren't getting enough physical activity during recess. Are there any programs to help us with this?
  • What causes Little Leaguer's Shoulder?
  • What is "Little Leaguer's shoulder?"
  • What causes Little Leaguer's Shoulder?
  • What is "Little Leaguer's shoulder?"
  • My 14-year-old son has Little Leaguer's shoulder. Right now he's being treated with rest. It's been four weeks of rest without playing baseball and his symptoms are still the same. Will he have to have surgery?
  • My 14-year old son was in a BMX race and broke his leg. He's in a cast, but is it safe to still run a few practice courses?
  • My 14-year old son was just diagnosed with "spondylolysis." Will this heal on its own?
  • My 13-year old daughter wants to ride horses. Her father is in a wheelchair from a spinal cord injury after a car accident. He's afraid she'll injure herself riding and is against the idea. What are the chances of this happening?
  • My 15-year-old son has come up with one problem after another. First it was low back pain and headaches. Now it's asthma. Are these common problems during the teen years?
  • My 15-year-old daughter is going to have a second surgery on her knee. The first operation wasn't successful because she had too much pain to do her exercises afterwards. When my mother had shoulder surgery last year, they sent her home with a pump to control her pain. Could my daughter get something like this?
  • I'm 14 years old and have been playing the position of pitcher ever since I was 8. I notice that my pitching arm opens up much more than my nonpitching arm. I know it's because I move my arm in that position so often. But what's really happening inside the shoulder to do that?
  • My 15-year old daughter seems to sprain her ankles easily. Would a brace or taping help or do these just weaken the ankle more?
  • I noticed my 13-year-old daughter has a large swayback posture. Is she likely to have back problems when she's older?
  • Our eight-year old son shows a natural ability for wrestling. Is this too young to start? What about injuries at this age?
  • My 17-year old son tore his ACL playing soccer. The doctor told us it was torn before the MRI confirmed it. Why did we need the expensive MRI test if the doctor already knew what was wrong?
  • My son has Legg-Perthes disease. His grandfather had this problem too. He ended up with hip joint replacements on both sides. Is that typical with this condition?
  • I notice my young children have large sway back posture and big bellies. Is this a sign of weak abdominal muscles? Should they be doing an exercise program for this?
  • My 12-year old daughter is a very good soccer player. She manages to hit the ball with her head frequently during practices and games. I'm worried about head injury and concussions. How likely is this?
  • My 17-year old son is on a high school water polo team. Several of the players have developed osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). How can we prevent this in our child?
  • My 13-year old daughter has a severe scoliosis. Bracing won't be enough. She's going to have a spinal fusion. I understand they use metal rods to hold the spine together until the bone graft fuses. The rods are left in and aren't removed later. Will there be any problems years from now from the metal in these rods?
  • My 3-year old daughter sits with her legs twisted out to the side in a position called ‘W’ sitting. The pediatrician has told us to discourage this. What difference does it make?
  • My 11-year old daughter was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis of the L5 vertebra. Will this heal if she stops gymnastics?
  • My 13-year old daughter has spondylolysis. They say it's usually caused by trauma or overuse in athletics. She hasn't done anything like this. Could it be hereditary? Several other family members have this problem, too.
  • My son had a spine X-ray looking for scoliosis. They found something called spondylolisthesis instead. Now they want to do a CT scan. What more can that show us?
  • My 9-year old son has wing bones that stick out quite a bit. I don’t notice this in my 7-year old daughter. What causes it?
  • My nephew lives in the New York City area. He broke his arm while out skate boarding. Now the school won't let him back in. This seems like discrimination because he's a "skate head." What can we do about it?
  • My sister had twin boys about a year ago. One of the boys had a nerve injury that keeps him from using his right arm and hand fully. I noticed I can lift his hand over his head but he can't do it himself. Why not?
  • My 10-year old son broke his leg playing football. He had to have surgery and is now in a cast with crutches. What's the best way to make sure he doesn't miss too much school?
  • My three-year old daughter had a brachial plexus injury at birth. She's had physical therapy and is slowly getting better but she still can't lift her arm over her head. Will this ever improve?
  • My niece was just born last month. There was a difficult delivery and they say she has Erb's palsy. What is this and what should we expect?
  • My 14-year old son has been diagnosed with proximal humeral epiphysiolysis. Can you explain what this is?
  • Our little league team has gone through a dozen pitchers in a year. They keep getting injured. I don't see this happening on other teams. What could be causing this?
  • The coach of my daughter's soccer team says she's on the bench for a week with a noncontact injury. What does that mean?
  • Our five-year old son was just diagnosed with Legg-Perthes' disease. So far he's only had X-rays taken. Would an MRI offer any better information at this point?
  • My sister and her husband have just found out their son has Perthes' disease. We don't want to ask too many questions. Can you tell us what the prognosis is for this disease?
  • What's the most likely course of treatment for Perthes' disease?
  • My 2 1/2 year old child can finally stop wearing her Pavlik harness. This was to keep her hip from dislocating because of a shallow hip socket. My question is: shouldn't she wear a splint or something at night? Can we really go from wearing the harness to not wearing the harness after two full years with the harness on?
  • My six-month old grandson has just been diagnosed with developmental hip dysplasia. What can be done about this problem?
  • We've been told our child will need surgery for a chronic hip problem called dysplasia. When's the best time to do this surgery? He starts school next year. Should we do it before school starts and risk delaying entry? Or wait until the summer after his first year?
  • Our four-year old has been treated conservatively for the last three years for a hip problem called developmental dysplasia. It didn't work. Now he has a squashed hip joint and loss of blood supply to the top of the thighbone. Doctors are doing more testing. What's likely to happen?
  • My son is going in for an X-ray to see if he has one leg longer than the other. The doctor isn't sure if the leg difference is in the bone or the soft tissues. Would there be any advantage to ask for a CT scan or an MRI?
  • My 2-year old daughter has one leg shorter than the other. They say she'll probably outgrow it. They will watch it carefully using X-ray studies every six months. I'm concerned about exposure to radiation. Is there some other way to measure this without X-rays?
  • Our 14-year old son is having a lot of back pain that's keeping him from playing on his soccer team. X-rays were considered "normal" for his age. What other tests can be done? I hate to send him back on the field if there's something more serious wrong.
  • Our daughter injured her spine while playing soccer. She thought it happened when she kicked the ball especially hard one time. It seems like that would cause a leg injury, not a back problem. Can you explain this?
  • My son plays soccer for a regional middle-school team. His doctor has advised him to stop playing and rest for a back injury. How long will he need to follow this plan?
  • I've been trying to figure out if my children are overweight. I used the BMI formula for myself. Can I use the same guidelines for my kids?
  • My 13-year old son was just diagnosed with slipped capital femoral disease. He is nearly 100 pounds overweight, which is a problem but it seems like anything that happens to him is blamed on his weight. What's the connection here?
  • I have this snapping, clicking problem with my hip. I can't figure out if it's coming from inside or outside the joint. How can a doctor tell what's going on?
  • My fourteen-year old son has had a painful hip for as long as I can remember. He has finally been diagnosed with a condition called coxa profunda. What is this?
  • Our daughter has been diagnosed with a navicular stress injury of both feet. We've never heard of such a thing. Is this a rare condition? What can be done to prevent this problem from happening again?
  • Do left-footed soccer players have a playing advantage? Are they more or less likely to get injured? Does it even matter?
  • Now that more girls are playing soccer can we expect to see more injuries? Do girls get injured more often than boys in these games?
  • My 15-year old daughter had a bad fall while horseback riding. The orthopedic surgeon says she not only broke her elbow, she has what's called a terrible triad. What does this mean?
  • Our five-year old daughter just had surgery last week to release a trigger thumb. The doctor says everything went very well and she's doing fine. What should we look for in the future to suggest there might be a problem developing?
  • My wife is freaking out because one of our twin boys has a trigger thumb. The pediatrician says she want to treat it with "careful neglect". My wife is beside herself worrying. Is there anything else that can be done?
  • Our three-year-old son just had surgery to release a trigger thumb. As parents we're supposed to pull the thumb back and keep it moving. I just can't bear to do it. Does it really matter?
  • My 12-year old daughter was just diagnosed with a problem called slipped capital femoral epiphysis. I thought this is a problem for boys, not girls. How could my daughter get it?
  • I try to get my teenage girls to drink more milk or eat low-fat dairy products. I know it's good for their bones. They tell me they're "all done growing up and don't want to grow out". I'm thinking of their future when they're my age facing osteoporosis. What can I say to convince them otherwise?
  • My 16-year-old son is taking shop class in high school and I'm very worried. The shop teacher insists on safety measures but he is one adult to the 20 kids in there. How can he possibly keep them all safe?
  • I'm on the school board for our community. I've just been assigned to a committee to look into school safety. At first I thought this meant stranger danger, bomb threats, and gun control. But now I realize accidents and injuries are part of the whole package. What sorts of things should I be thinking about along these lines?
  • Our son had an accident in shop class that cost him a fingertip and some skin, nerve, and tendon damage. We live in a medium-sized town (100,000 population) with only one hand surgeon. There's no specialty hand clinic. Is it worth the time and expense to go to a larger place with more specialized services?
  • Our 7-year old child has been diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans. Isn't this pretty young for a problem like OCD?
  • My 8-year old daughter has developed a snapping knee joint. We can see and hear it. What in the world is this?
  • I fell going down the stairs at church and dislocated my collarbone. It's not healing and I'm in constant pain. Should I have surgery to reconstruct the bone and joint? The doctor doesn't seem convinced it will help.
  • After dislocating my collar bone I have a big bump to show for it. Should I leave it or have surgery to remove it?
  • Our 14-year old daughter got thrown from a horse and dislocated her collar bone. The doctor says just let it heal on its own. Is this really the best advice? Isn't it better to fix it now while she's young?
  • What's a Pavlik harness? Our first granddaughter has a hip problem and must wear this for up to six months (or more). I don't recall ever hearing about anything like this with our kids.
  • Our newborn baby has a hip problem called DDH. She's already wearing a special splint and she's only two weeks old. Couldn't this really wait until she's at least a month old? It seems so awful to keep her all trussed up like this.
  • I'm finding out our son with his developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a rare bird. Everything I've seen says girls outnumber boys with this problem. Is there any proof that boys have a better or worse result with treatment?
  • When I watch my son wind up and throw the ball when he's pitching, I can't help but wonder how that extreme motion is going to affect his shoulder joint years from now. Are there any studies to show what happens inside the joint?
  • Our eight-year-old daughter fell while skiing and broke the bottom of her humerus where it attaches into the elbow. The doctor says there may be some nerve damage but it should get better with time. What are the odds here? How likely is it that she has nerve damage and how many kids with this problem DO get better?
  • Do children ever have lumbar disc problems?
  • Our 16-year old daughter had spinal fusion for a severe scoliosis. She had to wear a brace for four years before the operation. She was very surprised and dismayed to find out she still has to wear a brace. Why is this necessary if her spine is fused?
  • We can't get our daughter to wear her brace for scoliosis. What will happen if she doesn't wear it enough?
  • When our daughter was diagnosed with scoliosis they told us she would probably grow out of it. Now her curve is 40 degrees and she's in a brace. What if this doesn't work?
  • I'm 16-years old and have had scoliosis for the last 4 years. Is it true that once I stop growing the curve will stop getting worse?
  • We were just told that our 12-year old daughter has adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). What kind of problems can we expect to face in the future with this condition?
  • Our 15-year old daughter has scoliosis of unknown cause. Her main curve is about 30 degrees. The secondary curve is half that. Right now she's being treated with bracing and electrical stim. What happens if we don't have surgery to correct the curve?
  • Our three year old son has just been diagnosed with something called infantile idiopathic scoliosis. I know it means there's a curve in the spine but what else can you tell me?
  • Our six-year old child has severe scoliosis. She has already had four operations and is expected to have many more. Right now they are using special rods on either side of the spine that "grow" along with her. An operation is needed every time the rods must be lengthened. I've heard there's a way to lengthen the rods by remote control. What can you tell me about this?
  • Our nine-month old child has been diagnosed with scoliosis. We're worried about SIDS so we put him on his back to sleep. Could this be causing the spine problem?
  • My 15-year old son has been diagnosed with OCD of the knee. He's in a cast and on crutches. The nurse warned us about "cast disease," and suggested a short course of physical therapy to avoid this. What is it?
  • What is a cheilectomy? I'm looking for any treatment that might help our 10-year old son who has Perthes disease. I saw a report from Korea about using cheilectomy for Perthes disease. Could this help our boy?
  • Our eight year old son has Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. I've done a lot of reading but can't figure out why this problem only affects the hip. Can you explain?
  • Our 13-year old daughter has been diagnosed with slipped capital femoral epiphysis. So far it's only affecting her left hip. There's been some talk about pinning the right hip to prevent it from slipping. Should we go ahead with this?
  • My sister's child is having spinal surgery for scoliosis. The hospital has asked family member to donate blood ahead of time for the operation. Is this a common practice? Will she really need that much blood?
  • My nephew has just been diagnosed with neuromuscular scoliosis. We don't want to ask the family too many questions. Can you tell us what causes this problem?
  • My daughter is a high school gymnast. She has sprained her right ankle twice now putting her out of competition for a whole season. The physical therapist is helping her with hip strength and balance. What does the hip strength have to do with it?
  • For a while there was a big push to find out why female athletes have more knee ligament injuries than males. What was the final conclusion to all the studies done?
  • Our 10-year old son fell during a soccer game with half the opposing team on top of him. He broke his femur in three places. The surgeon used flexible rods down through the bone to hold it in place during healing. Will these rods have to come out later?
  • Help please...we need some quick answers. Our daughter has a fracture in the thighbone that needs surgical treatment. The doctor is talking about using a metal plate and screws to hold it in place while she heals. She'll be in a big cast, too. We live in a very isolated, rural area with few family and friends to help out. Isn't there an easier way to treat this problem? I don't know how we can manage.
  • Years ago our nine-year old daughter had an ankle fusion because of a foot and ankle deformity. Are they still using this operation?
  • My 15-year old son usually sleeps like the dead. But lately he's been getting up at night complaining of back pain. He's not involved in sports and probably spends too much time in front of the TV. Could this be the cause of the problem?
  • Our 11-year old daughter has been complaining of back pain off and on now for months. The doctor says it's just growing pain but she hasn't grown an inch and I'm getting worried. Is there some kind of test that could be or should be done at this point?
  • Our second child was born six months ago. It's obvious there's something wrong with the tips of his thumbs. In both thumbs, the end of the thumb is tilted toward the other hand. What should we do about this? Will he outgrow the condition?
  • Our two-year old daughter was born with a thumb deformity. The tip of her left thumb angles off to one side. The doctors are saying the cause is an abnormal triangle-shaped growth plate. We know surgery is probably needed. What will they do?
  • Our six-month old son seems to prefer to keep his right thumb tucked inside his palm. We can open his hand but he doesn't open it on his own. Will he outgrow this problem?
  • Our 12-month old daughter has been diagnosed with a trigger thumb. In fact she has this condition on both sides. What's keeping her from straightening her thumbs out?
  • My 13-year old daughter has what's called a snapping hip syndrome. She's on a soccer team and the pain is starting to affect her participation. What can be done about this? Will she outgrow it?
  • I'm really worried about my 16-year old son. Every night he wakes up with back pain around midnight. He can't get back to sleep no matter what we do. Is this a sign of stress or just growing pains?
  • My 13-year old daughter has started complaining of back pain. It seems to come and go. How can I tell if this is stress, hormonal changes, or something more serious?
  • When I was growing up I had a hip problem called Perthes. Now that I have children of my own, I'm wondering if there's a chance they could get this condition. Is it hereditary?
  • Our eight-year-old boy has Perthes disease. The plan is to do surgery to rebuild the hip socket. How is this going to help?
  • My 15-year old daughter has been diagnosed with a slipped hip condition. The information I've found on this problem says it's mostly black and Hispanic boys that are affected. Our daughter is not only female but also white. How could she get this problem?
  • My sister's 12-year old son has developed a condition called SCFE. What are the chances that my 11-year old son will get this too?
  • Our 14-year old son injured his shoulder and his elbow playing baseball. We think he's too young to be playing as hard or as long as the coaches put him in for. Are there any guidelines for this age group?
  • My son is very involved in sports, especially baseball. As a pitcher he's out there every day practicing and never misses a game. He wants to participate in a showcase game but the coach is discouraging it because he's only 14 years old. What's the big concern here? With all the competition out there isn't this his chance to be discovered?
  • Our four-year old started limping and complaining of hip pain. Blood tests were done and a diagnosis of septic hip arthritis was made. I understand the final diagnosis was made on the basis of a test called C-reactive protein. This is the same test I had done to diagnose heart disease. How does it work to test for both these things?
  • Our daughter may have an infected hip. The doctor is running tests to see if it’s a septic hip or synovitis. What's the difference between these two things and how can they tell which it is?
  • We need some advice quickly. Our 11-year old son broke his forearm (both bones) in a soccer match when a large child fell on him. The arm can be put in a cast but the bones don't line up exactly. The other option is surgery to line them up. There's a good chance he'll heal fine without the surgery. Should we take the risk?
  • Our daughter broke her arm while doing back flips in gymnastics. She's in a cast now, and the doctor wants to take X-rays every week or every two weeks. She's 13-years old and I'm concerned about the exposure to the X-rays. Why do they need to keep taking X-rays?
  • Our 15-year old son is hoping to be an Olympic diver. He's currently training at the U.S. Olympic training center in Colorado. We just found out that he has a condition called spondylolysis. The team physician says it may be related to his diving and he has to wear a brace and stop training for a time. How long will this take? Can he go back to diving?
  • Our twelve-year old daughter has a back problem called spondylolisthesis. She's done everything the doctor has told her to do faithfully. She still has back pain that keeps her in bed somedays. Surgery may be the next step. How do we decide?
  • Our 12-year old son was just diagnosed with a slipped disc. I've never heard of this in children. Could the diagnosis be wrong?
  • Our 18-year old son has finally been diagnosed with Scheuermann's disease after a long process. His spinal curvature has gotten worse in the last few years with a recent growth spurt. Is this likely to level off now? Or will he get worse as he gets older?
  • Our 16-year old daughter has been having serious back and leg pain. At first we thought she had scoliosis but an MRI showed a herniated disc and slipped growth plate in the spine at the same level. Her father has had two operations for disc problems. Is this hereditary?
  • Our 12-year old daughter is having more and more back pain. She's been seen by the family doctor several times but it's not clear what is the problem. What kinds of tests can be done to figure this out?
  • Our 15-year old son had spinal fusion for a high-grade spondylolisthesis. Evidently the surgery was a failure. The fusion didn't take and the X-rays show movement where there shouldn't be motion. What do we do next?
  • Our 13-year old son developed a problem in his elbow called osteochondritis dissecans from pitching too many baseball games. The orthopedic surgeon is recommending an operation called autologous osteochondral grafting What can you tell us about this?
  • Our teenage old son developed a problem in his left elbow called osteochondritis dissecans. After months of treatment that didn't work, he finally had some bone plugs taken out of his knee and put into his elbow to help it heal. The elbow is fine but now the knee is a problem. How long is that going to take to heal?
  • I've heard that physical activity and exercise can improve children’s grades. It makes sense but how does it work?
  • Our school is talking about getting rid of PE classes for the sixth graders. They've already dropped PE for the seventh and eighth grades. Isn't there proof somewhere that PE helps improve academic performance?
  • For two years I suffered greatly with patellar tendinitis. Physical therapy helped a little but I gradually got worse and worse. This past summer I had surgery to clean out the inflammation and get healing back on the right track. It's been six weeks and I'm still having a lot of pain and discomfort around the tendon. Will this ever go away?
  • I'm starting my senior year in high school with a bad case of jumper's knee. I'm also the captain of our volleyball team. I really want to play this one last year. Therapy hasn't helped. Should I try steroid injections?
  • My 10-year-old daughter started complaining of hip pain and spiked a temp. We took her to the pediatrician who took an X-ray and did some lab studies. The X-ray didn't show anything so an MRI was ordered. The MRI didn't show anything either but the lab tests were positive for some type of infection. Should we have a second MRI done before putting her on antibiotics?
  • Our five-year-old son was recently diagnosed with an infection of his sacroiliac joint. The doctor told us this is a fairly uncommon condition. What causes it?
  • I have three children who are considered obese. We come from a good German background with large bones and large body frames. One of my children has Blount disease, which they tell me is from being overweight. Why don't the other two have this same problem?
  • I come from a large African American family. Several of my nephews have been told they have Blount disease. What are the chances my boys will have this problem, too?
  • Our child was born with a clubfoot deformity. We've seen several different doctors and each one gives us a different grade for the feet. One doctor has said it is 'poor.' Another doctor told us the results after surgery were 'good.' How can there be so much difference from one clinic to another?
  • My son has been diagnosed with clubfeet. His toes seem to point inward and his foot isn't exactly straight. I took him to a special clinic for this problem. There were other children there with "clubfoot" but their feet didn't look anything like my child's. Are there different kinds of clubfoot?
  • Have you ever heard of a Baker's cyst from Lyme disease? Our son was diagnosed with this earlier this year.
  • Our five-year old son has very bowed legs. The pediatrician is advising surgery to correct this problem. Does it really matter how the legs look for a boy? He can always wear pants to cover it up.
  • What can you tell me about the kinds of braces used after surgery to correct Blount's disease? Our pediatric orthopedic surgeon showed us two different types. Does one work better than the other?
  • Our one-year old daughter has a minor thumb problem. It seems to be stuck in a bent position. We can straighten it out but it goes right back. Should we do anything about it? Will she outgrow it?
  • We just came back from the three-month well-baby check up for our son. We're stunned because the pediatrician told us he has both a hip problem and a neck problem called torticollis. What could have caused these problems? Are we doing something wrong?
  • What is intrauterine packing? The doctor used this term when describing why our baby has a dislocated hip and odd shape to her head.
  • Our six-week old daughter has hip dysplasia. The doctor thought it might go away by now but it hasn't. What's the next step?
  • Our baby was born with what's called a clinically unstable hip. She's wearing a special harness now. What does clinically unstable mean? And how do we know if the splint is working?
  • Our 13-year old son is quite overweight and has developed a hip problem from obesity. It's called slipped capital femoral epiphysis. So far, it's only on the left. Can it develop on the right? What can we do to prevent this from happening?
  • My 11-year old son has been complaining of hip pain and limping for six months now. We thought it was just growing pains but it turns out to be a slipped hip. The doctor is advising surgery. Could he just outgrow this problem without surgery?
  • My 12-year old daughter hurt her wrist during a gymnastic floor exercise competition. At first she was put in a cast but she never did recover. The doctor did an arthroscopic exam. She said it showed a drive-through sign and that's why she had to open the wrist and repair the damage. Now that my daughter is fully recovered, I'm still wondering: what's a drive-through sign?
  • My 11-year old son fell and hurt his wrist while roller blading. We've been advised to have him see a hand therapist before considering surgery. Wouldn't it be easier to just repair the problem and be done with it?
  • I notice my nine year old seems to miss a lot of school for headaches and stomachaches. How common is this?
  • What is turf toe? Our son plays football for his college team and says he's out the next game because of turf toe.
  • Our 17-year old son is a javelin thrower on his high school track and field team. He injured himself last season and was diagnosed with a SLAP tear. What are his chances for full recovery for this year's track season?
  • Our five-month old daughter was just diagnosed with hip dysplasia. She's now wearing a Pavlik harness. Will this really take care of the problem?
  • Our baby may have a hip problem. The pediatrician is concerned about the possibility of a hip dislocation. We don't want to expose her to X-rays. Is there any other way to find out for sure what's going on?
  • The nurse practitioner who examined our new born kept moving the hip back and forth during our well-baby check-up. When I asked her what she was doing, she said that she was listening for a hip click. We didn't hear anything. What does a hip click tell you?
  • Our baby was examined by his pediatrician who told us he has a true-positive test for hip dislocation. What does true-positive mean? We assume it means there's no doubt about it, but could they be wrong?
  • My daughter has been in ballet since she was three years old. Last year around her 14th birthday, she started noticing that her left hip snaps during some of the ballet moves. Is there some kind of hormonal connection?
  • Our 12-year old son had his hip pinned to correct a problem called SCFE. It didn't work and now he has to have an osteotomy. What happens if this operation doesn't work?
  • We've been advised by our pediatrician and an orthopedic surgeon that our son needs surgery right away. He has a hip problem where the growth plate has slipped backwards in the hip. We'd really like to know what happens if we don't have the operation done?
  • Our 16-year old son has developed OCD of the left knee. He's spent six months trying to rehab it but needs surgery anyway. The surgeon says to expect six to eight months' time to heal AFTER the operation. What takes so long? I thought in a young person everything heals much faster.
  • Our daughter was born with a mild case of clubfeet. What's the best way to treat this problem? We've heard it's a wait-and-see kind of problem. But we don't want to wait-and-see we made a mistake later by doing nothing now.
  • Our son was born with clubfoot just on one side. The surgeon will operate to repair the deformity before he starts walking. Will he walk normally?
  • My daughter was born with severe bilateral clubfeet. She's three years old now and walking just fine, but her feet are still so curved. She looks funny. Can anything more be done about this?
  • Have you ever heard of the Ponseti Method for clubfoot? How does it work?
  • I am an American occupational therapist providing wheelchairs to children in undeveloped countries. We are in a village now with a child who dislocated his hip two years ago. He can no longer walk. I can fit him with a wheelchair but he may be a candidate for treatment. If we do get him to a hospital, what kind of treatment must be available for this problem?
  • My wife and I are planning to adopt a nine-year-old girl from a third world country. She has a dislocated hip from a fall that was never treated properly. What are the chances of treating something like this?
  • Our baby was born with hip dysplasia. She's been wearing a Pavlik harness for two months but there's been no change in her condition. We're concerned that it's not working. Should we go ahead and have the surgery to put the hip back in place? What happens if we wait? How long can we wait?
  • Our baby was born with hip dysplasia. She's been wearing a Pavlik harness for two months but there's been no change in her condition. We're concerned that it's not working. Should we go ahead and have the surgery to put the hip back in place? What happens if we wait? How long can we wait?
  • Our 3-month old son is supposed to wear a special harness to prevent hip dislocation. Both hips are affected, but one is worse than the other. And he's a regular Houdini. He can get out of that thing in just a few minutes. What can we do?
  • My nine-year old daughter has spastic diplegia, a type of cerebral palsy. Last year she had a hamstring lengthening operation to help her walk better. For awhile she looked better but now she's starting to bend at the knees and crouch again. Is this just a bad habit that she can overcome by trying harder?
  • What can be done to help children with cerebral palsy who walk crouched down? I have a fourth grade student in my class like this. I'd like to help but don't know what to suggest.
  • I had a home birth with my second child. It turns out she has hip dysplasia. Could this have been avoided with a hospital birth?
  • My wife and I are new parents as of a week ago. While we were in the hospital, we were advised to have an ultrasound study of our child's hips. The ultrasound shows if there is a problem with hip dysplasia. We decided to avoid the cost and possible trauma to the baby. Now I'm having second thoughts. Should we have this test done? Is it too late?
  • Our daughter was just diagnosed with a hip problem called Legg-Perthes disease. We've been told girls have a worse case than boys. Why is that?
  • Our seven-year old son has been diagnosed with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. X-rays show his bone growth is delayed. Will he eventually catch up again?
  • The pediatrician suspects our 10-year old daughter may have a tumor in her neck. We are scheduled for an MRI tomorrow. What are the chances of this being something serious?
  • I overheard our doctor say there are at least a dozen different ways kids with cerebral palsy walk. Whenever we are in the clinic with other parents and children, they all look pretty much the same to me. What are these differences?
  • We have a three-year old daughter with a type of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia. She is just starting to walk and we want to use our video camera to track her progress. What's the best way to use these videos to see change?
  • Our eight-year-old daughter fractured her pelvis in a skiing accident. The doctors who treated her said this is a very rare injury in children. Why is that?
  • Our 14-year old son has an avulsion fracture of the pelvis. The doctor says no surgery is needed. He can walk with crutches as much as his pain level will allow. Does this seem right?
  • My daughter's first baby has three large birthmarks on her back and legs. The pediatrician says it's nothing to worry about and they will go away as she gets older. Could this be something more serious?
  • My nephew was just diagnosed with a rare condition called Cobb's syndrome. Can you tell me what this is?
  • Our 16-year old son is very immature physically. He's been participating in sports to help build some muscle. At his annual exam with the doctor, she noticed a curve starting to develop in his spine. We don't know what to do. Should he change sports? Increase his exercise? Quit exercising?
  • I am very concerned about my three-year old niece. She was diagnosed with septic arthritis of the hip. My brother and his wife refuse to let her take antibiotics for this problem. What could happen if they don't treat this?
  • Our five-year old son had surgery to clean and drain an infection in his hip. I knew there would be an opening made in the front of the hip. But there's also a tiny spout poking out the back. What in the world is that for?
  • What is coxarthrosis? I've been reading on-line about SCFE (which our son has been diagnosed with). I saw several reports that he could get coxarthrosis later.
  • Ten years ago, our 14-year-old son was diagnosed with SCFE. I notice as a young adult he has an odd way of walking. It's almost a limp but not quite. Is that the result of his hip surgery for the SCFE?
  • Our little granddaughter is having surgery today to correct a clubfoot deformity. We were told that one of the more common complications after this operation is poor wound healing. What does this mean exactly?
  • What's the latest thinking about surgery to correct a clubfoot deformity? We had a child who had this surgery about 10 years ago. It turned out fine but there was a lot of question then about whether or not it was even necessary.
  • Have you ever heard of doing PET scans for children with back pain? I saw a report on the internet about this but our doctor says this isn't really necessary.
  • The university hospital in our town has nuclear imaging to diagnose problems. They have suggested doing a nuclear (PET) scan of our 11-year old son. He has back pain from an unknown cause. I'm concerned about the exposure to radiation. What can you tell me about this?
  • Our 14-year-old son is a promising gymnast. Last year we found out he has a hip problem called SCFE. He had surgery to pin the hip together. Now he's having trouble flexing and abducting his hip. It's affecting his ability to compete. Can anything be done about this?
  • My grandson has a mild case of slipped capital femoral epiphysis. His parents want to adopt a wait-and-see approach rather than have him go through surgery. We're concerned that waiting too long could make the problem even worse. What do you advise?
  • Both my grandparents have had hip replacements using the new minimally invasive methods with arthroscopy. Now my own two-year old daughter needs hip surgery for dysplasia. Can she have this same kind of surgery?
  • How common is scoliosis?
  • How is scoliosis diagnosed?
  • Without using an X-ray, what would make the doctor suspect my child has spondylolysis? And what will happen if the doctor doesn't see it on the X-ray?
  • Why is it that doctors can't agree on the right method of treatment for spondylolysis?
  • My neighbor's 12-year-old daughter suddenly developed bow legs. Have you ever heard of such a thing? What causes this to happen?
  • My three-year old nephew has Blount disease in both legs. My brother is refusing to have him treated. What will happen if it's not properly treated?
  • My 11-year old daughter has scoliosis severe enough to wear a brace. If she is faithful to wear it, can she avoid having surgery later on?
  • Our doctor tells us surgery for scoliosis can be avoided by wearing a brace full time for several years. How can we convince our 13-year old daughter to keep her brace on as much as recommended by her doctor?
  • Our granddaughter was born with an extra hemivertebrae. It's causing a curve in her spine so they are going to operate and take the bone out. This is all so new to us. What will happen to our little baby?
  • Our daughter is scheduled for hip surgery to correct a problem with dysplasia. After hearing all the possible complications that can occur, we're wondering if it wouldn't be better to just let her take her chances without surgery and see what happens. What do you think?