Paediatric orthopaedics

Our paediatric orthopaedic service treats conditions of the bones, joints and muscles in children, from newborn babies through the teenage years. We provide both surgical and non-surgical care, from early hip checks to teenage sports injuries. Your child is cared for by a team of orthopaedic surgeons, therapists, orthotists and nurses.

What is paediatric orthopaedics?

Paediatric orthopaedics is the care of the bones, joints and muscles while they are still growing. A child's skeleton isn't a smaller version of an adult's: it has growth plates, it is still forming, and certain conditions are unique to it. Specialists diagnose and treat problems such as hip dysplasia, clubfoot and childhood fractures, and follow children over years as they grow. Some conditions are watched or braced; others need surgery. Care continues until growth is complete.

When should you see a paediatric orthopaedic specialist?

Book an appointment if you notice:

• A limp, or reluctance to put weight on a leg
• Legs or a back that look an unusual shape as your child grows
• Feet that turn inward, or flat feet that cause pain
• Hip, groin or knee pain in an older child or teenager
• Knee pain and swelling just below the kneecap after sport
• A broken bone or joint injury that is not healing as expected

If your child suddenly cannot put any weight on a leg, or has a hot, swollen and painful joint with a high temperature, seek emergency care straight away.

Some problems are picked up before any symptoms show. Newborn babies have their hips checked in the first physical examination, and babies at higher risk of hip dysplasia, such as those born breech or with a family history, may be offered an ultrasound scan. If you're unsure whether a concern needs a specialist, your child's doctor can examine your child and refer you if needed.

What to expect

At the first visit, the specialist asks about your child's health, watches how they move or walk, and examines the affected part. You'll often get answers from the examination alone. If imaging is needed, an X-ray is often the first test, and for a baby's hips an ultrasound scan is used because it shows soft, growing bone well. The specialist explains what they find.

Treatment depends on the problem and how your child is growing. Many conditions are watched: children straighten and heal as they grow, so there's no rush. Others are managed without surgery, using treatments such as casts, braces, a harness or physiotherapy. The Ponseti method, a series of casts, is the usual treatment for clubfoot. When surgery is needed, the specialist talks you through it and agrees the next step.

Paediatric orthopaedics at Mediclinic

We run paediatric orthopaedic services at Mediclinic City Hospital and Mediclinic Parkview Hospital in Dubai. Care spans both surgical and non-surgical treatment, from investigation through to an operation where your child needs one. Our teams look after conditions that are present from birth, that develop as your child grows, and injuries such as fractures. When recovery needs physiotherapy, we provide it in the gym and as a home programme, so much of your child's care can be arranged in one place.