Why should a parent choose to come to a children’s hospital for something as simple as a broken bone?

Parents should choose to come to a pediatric specialist when their child is in need of medical care, said John Frino, M.D., a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Brenner Children's Hospital. "Pediatric specialists are trained to work with children and can treat their individual needs, while taking into account that a child’s body is still growing. As a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon, I am trained in both pediatrics and orthopaedics. I work to ensure that a broken bone is treated correctly so it can heal properly and continue to grow as a child matures."

Brenner Children’s Hospital also has sports medicine experts who are experienced in getting children back to the activities they enjoy doing quickly. Children enjoy being active and we like to help keep them that way. Our sports medicine specialists can also recommend ways to prevent injury (like wearing wrist braces or helmets.) And we have waterproof casts that other places might not have!

And if a child needs surgery, Brenner Children’s Hospital has pediatric anesthesiologists who are trained to help children be more comfortable during painful procedures or during surgery. Our pediatric-trained staff works with children 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We understand how children work.     

What types of injuries do you treat?

Our pediatric team sees everything from a broken wrist to more severe orthopaedic problems like injuries to the arms and legs. Pediatric experts see patients with hip dysplasia (pre-arthritic hip conditions) and hip arthroscopy requiring pelvic and femoral surgeries, congenital hand deformities, and brachial plexus (nerve) injuries. 

Special capabilities include limb-lengthening services such as self-lengthening nail devices, computer-driven external fixators to correct congenital deformities or traumatic injuries of extremities. Our pediatric experts use computer-assisted surgery for greater accuracy during surgical procedures.

What should a parent do when a child is injured during a sporting event?

Parents seeking emergency care for their child can visit the area’s only pediatric emergency department at Brenner Children’s Hospital. We offer the most comprehensive care found in this region and pediatric-trained doctors and nurses are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pediatric-trained surgeons, anesthesiologists, emergency room physicians and a pediatric intensive care unit complete the team that treats injured or sick children.

Why is it important to have a team approach when it comes to pediatric orthopaedics?
Our experts bring a wealth of knowledge to each child’s injury or condition and by sitting together and discussing each different case with the family, we can design the very best treatment approach so the child heals quickly and can return to his or her daily activities.

For more information about pediatric orthopaedics at Brenner Children’s Hospital, please call 336-716-8200.