Orthopedics

Bone, joint and muscle problems in children are quite different than those of an adult. Some problems are caused by growth.  

That’s why we specialize in evaluating and treating musculoskeletal problems in children who are still growing − from newborns to teenagers. From fractures and sports-related injuries to scoliosis, spina bifida and cerebral palsy, we blend cutting-edge treatments and innovative surgical approaches with compassionate, family-centered care.

We are also studying whether a magnetic device can reduce surgeries in early-onset scoliosis. Treating children with early onset scoliosis is challenging because they’re still growing. Spinal fusion surgery prevents the growth of the spine and thorax during a critical period of lung development and impacts quality of life into adulthood.

We treat kids with many types of orthopedic conditions, including:

• Amputation
• Arthrogryposis
• Brachial plexus injuries    
• Brittle bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta)    
• Bone tumors    
• Cerebral palsy    
• Congenital hand and foot deformities    
• Hip dysplasias
• Limb deficiency
• Limb length discrepancies
• Scoliosis
• Spina bifida
• Sports injuries

When injuries occur, you want your athlete to receive expert and immediate care. Akron Children’s Sports Health an offers orthopedic and sports injury clinic and no appointment is needed.

Sports medicine and orthopedic providers at Boston Heights and Montrose/Medina treat sports injuries including:

• Fractures/broken bones
• Dislocations
• Sudden knee pain
• Sprains and strains
• Joint pain or swelling
• Simple lacerations

Visit the Walk-in Orthopedic and Sports Injury Clinic page for more information.

Akron Children’s uses care pathways -- standardized plans of care that follow best practices for specific conditions or medical procedures. These care pathways are clearly defined and fine-tuned to guide our medical professionals in delivering the best care to our patients.

SCOLIOSIS PATHWAY

Akron Children’s Spine Center has a multidisciplinary team of experts that follows a comprehensive, evidence-based pathway for patients undergoing surgical correction of spinal curvature. By incorporating best practices before, during and after scoliosis surgery, this pathway has improved patient comfort and mobility, shortened the number of days in the hospital by more than 50%, significantly decreased the cost of care and yielded excellent patient outcomes.

PAIN MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR SURGICAL PROCEDURES

Akron Children’s orthopedic surgeons were the first group of surgeons in the United States to develop guidelines for the appropriate management of pain once patients go home after surgery. These guidelines encourage the use of non-narcotic medications as much as possible, while reserving narcotics only for the treatment of severe pain. By following these guidelines, our orthopedic surgeons have decreased the use of narcotics and the associated risks, while still providing good pain control for our patients.

ACL PATHWAY

The sports medicine surgeons at Akron Children’s have reviewed all of the best methods of care for patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. They’ve incorporated these practices into a care pathway that starts before surgery and continues until the patient has returned to the activities they enjoyed before the injury. This care pathway enhances the hospital experience for our patients and their families and, ultimately, leads to better overall outcomes for our patients. 

NEUROMUSCULAR HIP PATHWAY

Our multidisciplinary team has developed a pathway for patients undergoing hip surgeries to maximize the health of their hips long term. Our surgical pain management techniques and collaboration between our medical and orthopedic teams ensure that our patients recover from their hip procedures in the most comfortable and safest environment possible.