Orthopedics Archives - Nemours Blog | Expert Advice on Children’s Health & Wellness

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Orthopedics

In Good Hands: Lucy’s Story

When Michelle learned she was pregnant, she was referred to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida for high-risk prenatal care. From the very beginning, she felt supported by her care team. So, when her daughter, Lucy, was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at 6 weeks old, there was no hesitation about where to turn. Because Lucy was breech throughout the entire pregnancy, her pediatrician took extra precautions after birth to check for hip dysplasia. “Her pediatrician wanted to check if she could possibly have hip dysplasia, and thank god she did because we were able to treat her on time,” shares Michelle. “We were so grateful it was diagnosed so early where we as parents did not notice, and she did not feel affected by it as a newborn.” The family’s relationship with Nemours Children’s came full circle when they decided to bring Lucy in for treatment. “The treatment for myself was so […]

Jalen’s Journey with Hip Dysplasia (In His Mom’s Words)

Jalen has been a miracle since the beginning. We struggled with infertility and experienced four miscarriages over five years before he came into our lives. Each pregnancy took nearly a year to achieve, and each time, we lost the baby. During my pregnancy with Jalen, I was constantly terrified of miscarrying and prayed every day for his safe arrival. We had a C-Section scheduled for November 1, 2013, because Jalen was in a breech position. The moment I saw him and heard his cry, I felt an immense relief. He was finally here, safe and sound, and I could breathe again. That relief lasted for about a minute before I felt the fear creep back in again. I watched his newborn examination, I remember noticing they didn’t bring him over to me as quickly as I expected. The providers were focusing on his legs, and more and more of them […]

Excellent Care is Out There: Charlotte’s Story

Before she was even born, Charlotte was diagnosed with Congenital Femoral Deficiency and Fibular Hemimelia, a rare condition that would shape her life in ways her family could never have anticipated. Congenital leg length discrepancies are when patients have legs that are different lengths. Femoral deficiency is characterized by a short or missing thighbone and fibular hemimelia by a short or missing fibula. “It was an incredibly emotional and uncertain time for us,” her mother, Melissa, recalls. The news was both a shock and a call to action. As soon as they received the diagnosis, her family was determined to understand the condition and find the best possible care for Charlotte. “We knew this would be a lifelong series of surgeries, rehabilitation, and specialized care,” her father, Brian, recalls. “There was a lot of anxiety and fear about what her future would look like and whether she would be able […]

From Cast to Court: Rayne’s Story

Rayne, an active pre-teen, was participating in a fun day at school, playing a game of Capture the Flag. During the game, a sudden and unexpected fall resulted in Rayne’s leg hyperextending. The impact was severe, and her left tibia cracked at her knee. Her parents immediately rushed her to their local hospital in Lewes, DE. Upon arrival, the hospital staff performed an X-ray, which revealed the fracture. However, the fracture involved Rayne’s growth plate, a critical area that requires specialized care to ensure proper healing and prevent long-term complications. Recognizing the severity and the need for expert pediatric orthopedic care, the local doctors referred Rayne and her family to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. Without hesitation, Rayne’s parents packed up and made the two-hour drive to Nemours Children’s. Upon reaching Nemours, the family was greeted by a team of highly skilled and compassionate medical professionals. “We were terribly frightened,” Rayne’s […]

Specialized Care, Lasting Impact: Chloe’s Story

18-year-old Chloe is preparing for her next chapter while continuing to manage a rare skeletal dysplasia with the support of her care team at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. Her medical journey began early, and has been shaped by expert care, community, and a team that understands her unique needs. During her mother, Cynthia’s, pregnancy, an ultrasound revealed that Chloe would be born with a form of dwarfism. These early signs prompted close monitoring and additional testing after birth. It wasn’t until she was about 1.5 years old that Chloe underwent genetic testing, confirming a spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (SED) diagnosis. SEDs are disorders that involve both the spine and the ends of long bones. Patients with SED often experience musculoskeletal problems with the neck, spine, lower limbs, feet, and joints. As her family navigated the early stages of her diagnosis, they connected with Little People of America (LPA). While attending an LPA regional […]

Annistyn’s Journey with Nemours Children’s Health, Lakeland (In Mom’s Words)

In February, our daughter Annistyn broke her humerus when she fell off a snowmobile in New York. After a visit to a local urgent care and an X-ray, we were referred to Nemours Children’s Health, Lakeland—and from that moment on, everything was handled with such care and compassion. From the very first phone call, Nemours made us feel supported. They confirmed directions, sent all documents ahead of time, and ensured our arrival and appointment were seamless and right on schedule. We were met by smiles and kind staff from the very first interaction to the last. Every person we encountered treated Annistyn like she was their own—with warmth, patience, and expertise. Under the care of Kevin Osborne, PA-C, Annistyn was put in a sling for immobilization. One thing that truly stood out to me as a parent was how they spoke directly to Annistyn about her care. They didn’t just […]

Care You Can Trust: Emerson & Lilly’s Story

For Latisha, osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) has always been a part of life. Diagnosed around age 6 after multiple leg fractures, she knew the challenges that came with the condition. When she became a mother, she was determined to find the best possible care for her children. That search let her to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware – the same place she had come to trust for her own care. Her children, Emerson and Lilly, were both diagnosed with Type 1 OI at birth. “Without the care from Dr. Franzone and the entire OI team, I’m not sure where my kids would be,” Latisha shared. OI, commonly known as brittle bone disease, is a genetic disorder that prevents the body from building strong bones. For Emerson, those fractures started early – he broke his leg three times in just one year after learning to walk. Lilly also faced fractures within months of […]

Kady’s Scoliosis Journey (In Her Own Words)

When I was 6 years old, my mom noticed that my collar bone was higher on one side than the other. Since both my aunt and my grandfather have scoliosis, my mom was familiar with what it looked like. She had contacted a neighbor who was a doctor, and he came to our house to do a regular check to see if I had scoliosis. He said I didn’t have it, but my mom had a gut feeling that something was up, and she took me to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. My mom and dad found Nemours Children’s when we moved to Lake Nona in 2014. Nemours became our primary care provider, and my siblings and I would see our pediatrician at Nemours. When my mom thought that I might have had scoliosis, things became a bit more serious. My father is a personal injury and medical malpractice attorney. Because […]

Scoliosis Awareness Month: Sadie’s Story

During the first few weeks of her life, Sadie’s parents noticed that she wasn’t meeting growth milestones. After several visits with her pediatrician and other specialists, she was ultimately admitted to a local children’s hospital where she underwent multiple tests to determine the cause. “They found an ovarian torsion that had caused a large mass in her abdomen that was removed during emergency overnight surgery,” shares Sadie’s mother, Ashley. “We hoped that surgery would be the end of the road for her medical complexities, but it turned out to be only the beginning. While she was still in the hospital, she was also diagnosed with torticollis, and upon further orthopedics follow-ups, it was realized that she had both hip dysplasia and scoliosis. Due to the number of diagnoses she had already accumulated within her first six months of life, she was referred for further genetic testing. A whole exome sequencing […]

Scoliosis Awareness Month: Island’s Story

Born with esophageal atresia type A and a history of chronic pneumonia, Island’s health journey has been far from straightforward. At the age of 9, the diagnosis of thoracogenic scoliosis added another layer of complexity, impeding even the simplest of tasks. He struggled to tie his shoes and often experienced intense back pain while doing everyday things. Sitting in class, walking, and even trying to sleep at night proved difficult. At Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville, Island was surrounded by specialists who treated him with care, skill, and a dedication that went beyond the clinical. His journey began with a comprehensive evaluation by Dr. Kevin Neal, an expert orthopedic surgeon, who diagnosed the severity of his scoliosis and recommended spinal fusion surgery. This procedure, which involves fusing vertebrae together to straighten the spine, was a critical step in managing his condition and improving Island’s quality of life. The care Island received […]

Scoliosis Awareness Month: Carine’s Story

Carine’s story sheds light on the challenges of living with scoliosis and offers hope and inspiration to others facing this diagnosis. Through her advocacy and personal experiences, Carine aims to raise awareness and provide a voice for those navigating scoliosis treatment. During a routine check-up at 12 years old, her pediatrician, Dr. Odett Brown at Nemours Children’s Health, The Villages, Florida, noticed a slight curve in her spine, a subtle but significant detail that hadn’t been caught before. “I was doing the bend over test and she saw mild scoliosis in my back,” shares Carine. “I didn’t worry about it for a while until she saw it again a few months later and referred me over to Dr. John Lovejoy.” This referral was the first step in a journey that would impact Carine’s life. Dr. Lovejoy at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida conducted a thorough examination and confirmed the diagnosis of […]

From Patient to Purpose: Isabella’s Story

At just 2 years old, Isabella was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and life-threatening condition that began in her back and later spread to her right leg. The aggressive nature of the disease required intensive medical intervention. Physicians at multiple hospitals had to perform surgeries to remove infected muscle and tissue, a process that was both physically and emotionally taxing for Isabella and her family. Following the surgeries, Isabella was placed in a medically induced coma for two months to give her body the best chance to heal and fight off the infection. When she finally emerged from the coma, the next phase of her journey began. She was transferred to a third hospital, where she underwent physical rehabilitation and skin grafting to repair the extensive damage to her back and leg. Despite the challenges, Isabella’s resilience and determination shone through, and she made significant progress in her recovery. […]

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