Whether playing sports, exercising, or having fun on the playground, sometimes children get hurt. At Shriners Children’s, we know children's bones, joints and muscles. We understand why injuries to growing bones and growth plates (the area where bones grow) need special attention.
In a growing child, growth plates are open and are the weakest part of a child's skeleton. Injuries can occur at the growth plates because of overuse, when movements are repeated over and over in that part of the body while playing.
We work hard to reduce fear and answer questions while we care for children and their families. Our goal is to get children back to what they love quickly and safely.
All appointments start with a history and physical exam. Our sports medicine doctors need to learn how an injury happened before deciding on a care plan. During the first visit, your doctor will look at the injury and test range of motion to see how well the arms or legs can move.
A child with an injury may need splinting, casting, a bone fixed, or surgery.
Radiology and rehabilitation are important for care of broken bones or injuries. X-rays or other images may be needed to help the doctor decide how to best treat the injury. On-site physical and occupational therapists work with patients and families to create custom rehabilitation plans and goals.
Because Shriners Children’s provides all care and services regardless of a family’s ability to pay or insurance status, doctors and families are able to consider every treatment option available. Learn more below about the injury related conditions we treat, who will be your partner in care and our commitment to the overall wellbeing of your child.
Specific treatments and services may vary by location. Please contact a specific location for more information.
Our pediatric orthopedic physicians are among the most highly-skilled and specialized in North America. The types of sport and play-related injuries we treat vary by location, and the following is not a complete list.
Staff members at Shriners Children’s know the importance of the overall health and well-being of our patients, and develop individualized care plans for each child.
If your child has a sports or play-related injury, we’ll help schedule the services and specialties you need. As part of our wrap-around care, your family may work with pediatric specialists in:
It is important to see a provider who is familiar with a child's bone structure, including growth plates, when examining an injury. Many of the fractures we see are subtle, but we are able to offer the careful eye of an orthopedic surgeon, all within the comfort of a children's hospital.
