The Hand and Orthopaedic Upper Extremity Program at Shriners
Hospitals for Children – Northern California provides children
with hand, arm or shoulder deficiency expert care. Our Pediatric
Surgery team evaluates and treats hand or upper limb
abnormalities that are present at birth (congenital) or occur
after birth (acquired).
Our Brachial Plexus Injury Team treats babies and
children who suffered birth injuries to nerves in their arms and
hands. Most children don’t think twice about gripping a pen,
throwing a ball, or reaching up high. But for a child
born with a congenital hand difference, upper limb
deficiency or brachial
plexus birth palsy, such everyday tasks can pose big
challenges.
The expert pediatric orthopaedic team at Shriners Hospitals for
Children – Northern California provides the complex,
compassionate care every child deserves. The medical team works
to advance the lives of children through leading-edge surgical
care, therapy and research.
Make an appointment
If your child has a condition that can be treated by Shriners
Hospitals for Children – Northern California, please call our
Referral Center to schedule an appointment,
call (916) 453-2191 or via email
at referrals.ncal@shrinenet.org.
A Referral Coordinator will partner with you to gather the
necessary information to allow our physician leadership to
evaluate the best path for your child. All care is provided
regardless of the family’s ability to pay.
Congenital Hand Differences
Congenital Hand
Differences (CHD) refers to all physical differences of
one or both hands, arms or shoulders that are present at birth.
CHD may be caused by difficulties with hand formation or growth,
but the reason for these difficulties is often not known.
Acquired hand differences are hand differences that are caused by
injury or disease after birth. Children who acquire differences
may have challenges similar to children with CHD. We invite you
to explore the resources and supports in this
site developed for you when it comes to raising your
child with a CHD.
Shriners Success Stories
Our Medical Team and Orthopaedic Research
The Medical Team
Michelle James,
M.D.
Pediatric Hand Surgeon
Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery
Lisa L. Lattanza, M.D.
Consultant Pediatric Elbow Surgeon
H. Relton
McCarroll, M.D.
Consultant Pediatric Hand Surgeon
Claire Manske,
M.D.
Pediatric Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon
Janice Conroy, R.N.
Case Manager
Co-Director, Camp
Winning Hands
Orthopaedic Research
Led by Dr. Michelle James, the orthopaedic clinical research
program is comprised of a multi-disciplinary team of physicians,
therapists, bio-mechanical engineers and clinical research
professionals, focusing on research pertaining to children’s hand
and arm function. Current research projects include:
- Motion analysis studies of children’s thumbs, elbows and
shoulders.
- Development and evaluation of a smartphone application to
test hand function in preschoolers.
- Studies of hand function in several conditions including
Cerebral Palsy and Symbrachydactyly.
- Development of pediatric elbow function evaluation tool.
- Long term follow-up studies of children with Brachial Plexus
Birth Palsy.
Visit here to learn
more about the Pediatric Hand Study Group.
Conditions Treated
Hand and Arm Differences: Malformations, Deformities,
Deficiencies
- Adactyly
- Amniotic band syndrome / constriction bands
- Cleft hand / central deficiency / ectrodactyly
- Congenital amputation (transverse deficiency)
- Congenital radial head dislocation
- Polydactyly
- Proximal radio-ulnar synostosis
- Radius deficiency
- Symbrachydactyly
- Syndactyly
- Thumb deficiency (small or missing thumb)
- Ulnar deficiency
- Webbed fingers
Hand and Arm Injuries
- Fracture (broken bone) follow-up
- Nerve injuries
- Tendon injuries
- Post-traumatic deformities
Neuromuscular Conditions (Palsies)
