Pediatric & Adolescent Orthopaedic Surgery

Overview

At Cleveland Clinic, our pediatric orthopaedic specialists are dedicated to helping children and adolescents return to an active lifestyle. Our team works hand-in-hand with experts from Cleveland Clinic Children’s – including physical therapists, child life specialists, and pediatric anesthesiologists, rheumatolo­gists and neurologists – to accurately diagnose your child’s condition and develop the most appropriate treatment plan.

If your child is experiencing a joint, muscle or bone problem, it is important to bring it to the attention of your pediatrician or seek help from an orthopaedic specialist.

We understand that children are not just small adults. Our staff feels strongly that the care of children’s orthopae­dic problems differs immensely from adult orthopaedics – and we treat our patients according to their age, development and size. We pay special attention not only to their medical and/or surgical needs, but also the relationships among the caregiver, child and his or her family.

If you are already in an emergency room setting, request that your child be seen by a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon.

Fractures

Fractures are perhaps the leading reason for referral to pediatric orthopaedic surgeons. Fractures in children are extremely common and, fortunately, most are treated exceptionally well with standard techniques.

Despite the relatively straightforward nature of fracture treatment in children, the growing skeleton presents unique challenges to the treating physician.

Other fractures in children are treated well with brief cast im­mobilization. The length of time needed to heal fractures in children is often less than a comparable fracture in an adult.

Not only do children’s fractures heal more quickly than adults, they have the unique capacity to ‘remodel,’ or grow straighter with time. Consequently, perfect alignment is not always essen­tial, and in some cases is detrimental to the final outcome.

While most children’s fractures can be managed without surgery, operative treatment provides superior outcomes in select injuries. Fractures that typically do better with operative treatment include open or compound fractures, displaced growth plate fractures, and fractures that involve the surface of a joint.

What We Treat

Shoulder

• Dislocated shoulder (shoulder instability).
• Injuries for young baseball players, including:
  • Shoulder pain.
  • Rotator cuff problems.
  • Ulnar collateral ligament injury.
• SLAP (labral) tears.

Elbow

• Dislocated elbow.
• Injuries for young baseball players, including:
  • Growth-plate injuries.
• Ligament injuries.
• Osteochondritis dissecans.

Hip

• Hip dysplasia.
• Hip labral tears.
• Perthes disease.
• Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE).

Our Doctors

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Appointments & Locations

To make an appointment with any of our pediatric orthopaedic specialists, please call our Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at 216.444.2606 (local) or 800.223.2273 ext 42606 (toll-free).

Pediatric Fracture Care

• Schedule an appointment with a pediatric orthopaedic specialist quickly and easily online, for the time that works best for you. If your child is between the ages of 2-18 and you have an X-ray of a fracture or broken bone, use our web-based scheduling tool to receive the care needed or call 216.444.2606.
• Find an X-ray location or call 866.320.4573 to speak with a Cleveland Clinic representative who will order an X-ray and schedule an appointment with a pediatric orthopaedic specialist.

Locations

Virtual Visit Tips

Tips for Pediatric Orthopaedics Virtual Visits

Virtual care is a convenient modern way to get medical care from your healthcare provider. It is different than a traditional office visit and therefore requires a somewhat different approach. We hope this checklist will help you make the most of your virtual visit.

Please contact your insurance company if you have questions about how the virtual visit will be covered.

What you need:

• An internet connection, Wi-Fi preferred to LTE.
• A smart phone or tablet (iPhone, iPad, Android). It is critical to have a mobile device for a pediatric virtual visit.

Registration:

• Register with MyChart prior to your virtual visit. We can provide information about how to register with MyChart via email when you make your child’s appointment. MyChart is a patient portal that allows you to access your child’s medical records, communicate with providers and upload information related to your child’s condition.
• In advance, download any required apps. Instructions will be sent to you via your MyChart account prior to the visit. There are a variety of programs/platforms that your provider may use for the virtual visit. If you are having difficulties or have any questions about downloading the apps, call your provider’s office. In case there are technical difficulties installing Google Duo or FaceTime as a backup is highly recommended.

Preparing for Your Visit:

• Know your device including volume, flipping the view and location of the camera.
• Identify questions you would like to ask the healthcare provider.
• It is often helpful for the provider to review photos prior to the visit. For example, take a picture pointing to or marking the main area of concern may be helpful. You can upload the images using MyChart.
• Dress your child in comfortable clothing that can be easily removed if necessary.
• There should be adequate lighting to see your child well on camera.  Avoid sitting or standing with a window or light fixture behind you.
• Use a private location such at your home.
• Observing your child in his or her own space is very helpful for your provider. There should be adequate space for the provider to observe your child walking or playing in his or her own environment.
• If the child is under 18 years it is essential to have a parent or responsible adult present during the visit. If the patient is 18 years or older, having a second person to help with the camera is strongly recommended.
• Doing a “dress rehearsal” prior to the visit can be helpful to build familiarity and confidence with the process.

During the Virtual Visit:

• Check-into your virtual visit 5-10 minutes early.
• In case of technical difficulties provide your phone number to the medical assistant who starts the visit, so you can be contacted by phone. Let the provider know what type of device you will be using (iPhone, Android, tablet, etc.).
• While the parent may be doing most if not all of the talking, the child must be present so they can be examined.
• After the initial conversation propped up the phone as you may have to assist your child during the exam. If needed, have a family member of friend assist you during the exam.
• Some ideas to prop up your phone include:
• Use a tripod or a selfie stick.
• Place the phone in a cup to make a stand.
• Prop the phone up in a shoe or on a laptop screen.