As one of the oldest and most comprehensive Pediatric Orthopaedic Programs in the country, Orthopaedic Hospital was established in 1922 to treat children with orthopaedic problems. The Children's Clinic at Orthopaedic Hospital Outpatient Medical Center provides approximately 90 Children's Clinics each month, with over 55,000 patient visits a year.

The Clinics provides comprehensive treatment for the entire spectrum of children's orthopaedic disorders. Specialized Clinics treat neuromuscular disorders such as muscular dystrophy, spina bifida and cerebral palsy; lower extremity disorders, hand and wrist and foot and ankle problems. Other Clinics treat fractures (trauma) and congenital disorders such as scoliosis, hip dislocation and clubfoot.hemophilia, sickle cell, cleft lip and palate, bone and soft tissue tumors.

Pediatric Disorders

Early intervention and effective treatment of pediatric disorders can prevent crippling deformities and arthritis in children so they can look forward to active lives.
While Orthopaedic Hospital physicians treat the entire range of pediatric orthopaedic problems, the following lists some of the more specialized and unique disorders treated.

Scoliosis & Spine Deformities

Scoliosis: a curvature of the spine that can occur in adolescents and in young children. Early diagnosis and appropriate management of care may prevent the need for surgery.

Spina Bifida: when the vertebrae and/or the spinal cord of the fetus does not develop properly. It is one of the most common birth defects -- occurring in two out of every 1,000 babies born in the United States. While the condition is permanent, early treatment is urged to a void further spinal and neurological damage.

Congenital/Development Hip Disorders

Typical conditions treated include:
- Congenital Hip Dislocation
- Congenital Coxa Vara
- Legg Calve Perthes Disease
- Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
- Developmental Hip Abnormalities
- Fractures and Post-traumatic Hip Abnormalities
- Adolescent Hip Pain
- Tumors from simple cysts to fibrous dysplasia and Malignancies.

Neuromuscular Diseases

These include Cerebral Palsy and Muscular Dystrophy. These disorders are managed by a team of specialists, including: orthopaedic surgeons, pediatricians, therapists and orthotists. Goals are outlined, planning is developed, and braces or surgical procedures are then used to achieve these goals.

Hand & Wrist Disorders

The upper extremity orthopaedic subspecialist treats the entire spectrum of hand and wrist disorders from birth defects to trauma and sports injuries. Many congenital hand defects can be corrected in children as young as six and nine months. With early diagnosis and treatment, hand function can be restored, in addition to improving the hand's overall appearance.

Foot & Ankle Disorders

The lower extremity orthopaedic subspecialists treat all orthopaedic foot disorders, including:
- Clubfoot (where the hindfoot and forefoot are turned in)
- Flatfoot Neurological foot conditions

Trauma (Fracture)

Children with fractures can be evaluated and treated by an orthopaedic specialist and emergency medicine physician at the Orthopaedic Medical Center Urgent Care. The Urgent Care is adjacent to the Orthopaedic Hospital Outpatient Medical Center, on the downtown Los Angeles campus. The Urgent Care is open from 7 a.m. - 11 p.m., daily, although the orthopaedic surgeon is generally available from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on limited hours on the weekends.

After emergent (casts, closed reductions or surgery) fracture treatment, children (under 18 years of age) receive their follow-up care in the Children's Fracture Clinic in the Orthopaedic Hospital Outpatient Medical Center.

Examples of fractures treated include:
- Elbow Fractures (supracondylar fractures of the humerous and other elbow fractures)
- Joint Tendon Injuries
- Acetabular Fractures (hip joint)
- Foot and Ankle fractures
- Hand and Wrist fractures

Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital (LAOH) proudly partners with Kaiser Permanente to provide a weekly fracture clinic at our Outpatient Medical Center. Patients seeking care at LAOH are seen by Kaiser residents and fellows, who are supervised by Kaiser attending physicians. The Kaiser Fracture Clinic serves two vital purposes: first, it reduces the wait time for patients in need of timely fracture care and second, it provides vital medical education, both of which are key components of LAOH's mission.

This clinic is generously supported by the Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Grants Program.

Musculoskeletal Tumors

Founded in 1962, the Musculoskeletal Tumor Program was the first of its kind in the western United States. The tumor staff provides comprehensive care for children with benign and malignant musculoskeletal and metastatic tumors involving bone and soft tissue. The Program is one of the few centers in the nation dedicated specifically to musculoskeletal tumors with a team that includes oncologic surgeons, chemotherapists, pathologists, radiation therapists, electron microscopists, radiologists, social workers and nurse specialists.

Hemophilia Treatment Center

The Hemophilia Treatment Center is one of the its kind in the world. The Center provides comprehensive medical and surgical treatment of the complications from hemophilia and other blood disorders for adolescents and adults.

Craniofacial Cleft Lip and Palate Program

The Orthopaedic Hospital Cleft Palate Program is unique in its field. Every child that comes to our attention is assigned their own core team that is called into action. This coordinated Cleft Team works side-by-side with the patient's own pediatrician or primary care physician to ensure a depth of treatment that is unparalleled in its expertise and care.

Outpatient Children's Clinics

Cerebral Palsy Clinic
Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic
Clubfoot Clinic
Foot and Ankle Clinic
Fracture Clinic
Hand & Upper Extremity Clinic
Hip and General Orthopaedic Clinic
Lower Extremity Clinic
Scoliosis Clinic
Spina Bifida Clinic
Sports Medicine Clinic
Congenital Deformities Clinic
Hemophilia Clinic
Musculoskeletal Tumor Clinic
Muscular Dystrophy Clinic
Pediatric Arthritis Clinic
Pediatric Neurology Clinic
Triage (Evaluation) Orthopaedic Clinics

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