We know how concerning it is when your growing child needs orthopaedic care. Our pediatric orthopaedic surgeons are ready with surgical and non-surgical treatments developed specifically for kids and teens.
Your child has access to a quality of care and a breadth of services unmatched in the region. From diagnosis to recovery, we’re by your child’s side through broken bones, joint infections, emergency surgery, elective procedures and more.
Why Choose Us
- Treatments unique to children: Your child’s care is our focus, with techniques and instruments specifically designed for the care of children. We also make sure your child’s treatment is appropriate for their age, whatever condition they may have.
- Family approach to care: When your child becomes our patient, you’re treated like family. This includes our commitment to whole person care, personalized treatments and follow-up care for as long as needed.
- Highly experienced: Day to day, our team cares for a large number of kids with a wide variety of conditions. You can rest assured your child is in the hands of experienced professionals.
- No condition too rare: As leading pediatric experts in the region, the rare and challenging cases are routine in our clinic.
Do I Need a Referral?
No, we welcome patients without referrals. We work with your insurance provider to get you the services you need.
If you’re not sure which specialist to see, we’ll help you find the right care with our team of experts.
Services We Offer
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation: Many conditions can be treated through careful monitoring and management, including physical therapy. Your child may also need physical therapy to rebuild strength and flexibility after a procedure.
- Limb and joint reconstruction: Certain conditions require reconstruction, correcting deformities that can affect your child’s development. Our team is experienced in both surgical and non-surgical treatment options.
- Surgery and minimally invasive procedures: If your child needs treatment beyond more conservative approaches like physical therapy, a number of surgical procedures are available. When possible, our surgeons use minimally invasive procedures (those that require fewer, smaller incisions) like arthroscopic surgery. Our surgeons perform procedures tailored to your child’s age (such as torn ACL reconstructive surgery where the bone growth plate is preserved). The end result is better outcomes in your child’s growth and development.
Conditions We Treat
- Adolescent sports injuries, including anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, patellar dislocation, meniscal injuries and discoid meniscus. If your child has a sports injury, minimally invasive surgery may be an effective treatment.
- Overuse injuries, caused by repeated motion over time. Overuse injuries include shin splints, little league elbow or shoulder, Osgood-Schlatter disease and Sever’s disease.
- Common fractures or broken bones. Because children’s bones are still growing, fractures can have harmful long-term effects. Your child should see a specialist with expertise in treating pediatric fractures. Over 90% of children’s fractures can be treated without surgery using splinting, casting or bracing.
- Spine conditions, like scoliosis and kyphosis. These conditions cause abnormal curvature of the spine and are generally not life-threatening. Treatment for back conditions varies widely, including careful observation, bracing and casting. In certain situations, your child may need surgical intervention with growth-friendly implants or surgical fusion (permanent connection of vertebrae).
- Limb and foot deformities, such as clubfoot and flat feet. We perform surgeries to correct length and angular deformities in your child’s limbs.
- Osteochondritis dissecans and osteochondral defects, conditions that cause pain or restrict movement in areas of both cartilage and bone (like the knee).
- Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), where the femur “slips” from the ball in the hip joint. This is a common hip disorder in teens and pre-teens who are still growing. Your child may begin limping or feeling pain in the hip or knee.
- Neuromuscular and traumatic hip conditions. Your child might be affected by these if they have conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida or deformity from SCFE.
- Orthopaedic manifestations of neuromuscular conditions, which are issues with bones or muscles caused by other conditions. These orthopaedic manifestations can include osteogenesis imperfecta, skeletal dysplasias or bone lesions (like cysts or osteochondromas).
What to Expect
We know it’s difficult for your child when treatment for any orthopaedic condition is needed. We approach treatment using the most conservative options available first (like casting or immobilization). The majority of kids we treat don’t need surgery.
We follow up with every patient for as long as care is needed. Nothing’s more important to us than making sure your child has the best long-term outcome, no matter the condition or treatment.
Surgery
When surgery is necessary, our team of orthopaedic surgeons are experts in a number of safe, effective procedures. Your child’s well-being is our primary concern, so we use personalized treatment plans and prioritize whole person care. After a procedure, our surgeons personally follow up to check on your child’s recovery.
Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation
Your child may require physical therapy to rehabilitate the area affected by their condition and treatment. Depending on your child’s condition, physical therapy may take several weeks to several months of regular sessions.
At each session, a pediatric physical therapist will guide your child through exercises to improve their range of motion, strength and flexibility. While physical therapy can be hard work for kids, our experts know how to keep exercises motivating and fun.
Take the Next Step
If your child is experiencing pain, limping, stiffness or any other unusual symptoms, don’t wait to seek medical help. Talk to your primary care physician or make an appointment with our orthopaedic specialists. If you have any questions about our services, please call 909-558-2808.
Pediatric Services
Children's Health
Learn more about Loma Linda University Children’s Health and our commitment to caring for your kids. From sports physicians to inpatient treatment, we provide the most comprehensive pediatric care in the region.
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