Who are we?
Children’s Orthopaedics provide specialist paediatric orthopaedic services for across London. We provide surgical and nonsurgical treatment for children who are suffering from musculoskeletal problems. We are professionals at helping your child and can help to provide guidance, information and treatment to support your child to get better, or to help manage their condition.
London
Being the capital of England, London is a huge, busy and bustling city. It’s the financial heart of the UK and also generates huge numbers of tourists from all over the world. The local attractions hold global appeal; Big Ben, the Tower of London and The London Eye to name a few. It’s also highly entertaining for children, with famous toy shops like Hamleys, the Disney Store as well as the world’s largest LEGO store in Leicester square. Piccadilly Circus is a must-visit place for your kids, who will love the new three-storey M&M World. They’d also love the opportunity to explore the plethora of shops in sought-after areas such as Oxford Street, Covent Garden and Regent Street.
Our two surgeries are based in Marylebone, an historic area in the West End of London. We offer our medical services across two locations in London, within close proximity of each other in the Marylebone area; one in Great Portland Street and the other in South Kensington.
Located on Great Portland Street, this renowned and award-winning private hospital specialises in maternity and children’s care. With a collection of highly-experienced consultants with expertise across all aspects of medicine, The Portland Hospital is one of the UK’s leading hospitals for children’s care. We provide children’s orthopaedics services at The Portland Hospital because of its reputation and outstanding facilities.
Located on Cromwell Road, this clinic offers a comprehensive range of complex services for adults, children and babies in the following medical fields: oncology, cardiology and neurosciences. Working from this clinic, we offer many paediatric orthopaedic treatments, ranging from common conditions such as flat feet and fractures to more complex ones like scoliosis. Also available at The Cromwell is a rapid access Saturday service for children and adolescents who have experienced sports and orthopaedic injuries and need fast access to diagnostics and treatment.
What is a Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon?
A paediatric orthopaedic surgeon is a specialist doctor in injuries and diseases that affect the musculoskeletal system of children. This is from when they are babies up to the age of 18. When a child develops musculoskeletal problems the results can vary quite a lot because their bodies are still growing.
It’s often the case that children will grow out of would-be problems as their bodies naturally develop over time. A good example of this is knock knees, a condition where children’s feet and ankles stay apart whilst they stand up straight with their knees pressed together. Often diagnosed when a child is a toddler, knock knees usually corrects itself once a child reaches the age of 6 or 7.
What does a Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon do?
Paediatric orthopaedic surgeons are more than just surgeons. While they do perform operations on a regular basis, they also provide assessments of children to decide what other treatment they may need. Whether it is a fracture, congenital condition or something that has developed during childhood, a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon can provide a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Children are not as good as adults at describing how they are feeling or what’s wrong with them. Paediatric orthopaedic surgeons offer specialist care for children across the board and are experts at engaging with them and encouraging them to cooperate every step of the way.
The level of care and attention that is given to the child will not only help produce positive results but also helps to calm anxious parents. They will see their children being treated in a safe and comfortable environment with a trained surgeon who will transform the typical daunting hospital experience into a more relaxed process.
Because this practice is tailored specifically for children, the premises will be designed around them. Many waiting rooms and offices will contain children’s books, toys, and furniture, all with the aim of providing a comfortable and familiar environment for the patient.
What conditions do paediatric orthopaedic surgeons treat?
There is a wide range of conditions that paediatric orthopaedic surgeons treat or will be involved in with as there are so many conditions and injuries that can affect the bones, joints and muscles in the body. This is especially true when considering children as they are more susceptible to developing conditions while their bodies are still growing and changing.
Here are some common conditions that may see a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon involved in a child’s care.
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is the most commonly diagnosed motor disability in childhood. It’s an irreversible condition which affects muscle tone, coordination, movement and motor skills.
Patients are cared for by a team of healthcare professionals who work together to devise a care plan which is best suited for the patient’s needs.
Children’s orthopaedic surgeons will almost always be involved in the treatment of cerebral palsy as it directly affects the muscular system.
Although there is no cure for cerebral palsy, there are a number of ways to help with the symptoms experienced by the patient. Orthopaedic surgeons will spend time with the child and their families to ensure they fully understand the condition.
A paediatric orthopaedic surgeon can also help the child undertake some physiotherapy exercises with the aim of helping to:
- Encourage movement
- Increase muscle strength
- Prevent contracture (muscles shortening and losing their range of movement)
While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, those with the condition can live as actively and independently as possible provided they receive the right support and assistance.
Knee Pain
Knee pain is extremely common in children, and whilst it’s mostly put down to growing pains there are a number of other reasons that could be responsible for the pain.
Diagnosing what the exact cause of the knee pain is can be a challenge, especially with children because the pain they are feeling may be vague and therefore difficult to describe.
Children may also underestimate the seriousness of the pain they are feeling and downplay their symptoms in order to continue enjoying themselves in the moment. As a result, they could be making their conditions worse.
Growing pains are extremely common in children and usually occur at night and should roughly follow the same recurring pattern.
Knee pains that are as a result of extremely sporty children usually result in soft tissue being torn or fragmented and immediate swelling. This type of injury will usually heal itself over time however if conditions persist then professional help should be sought.
If a child is experiencing any symptoms which are not similar to those consistent with growing pains and soft tissue pains from intensive sporting activities, then they should be assessed by a doctor to help determine the cause.
It’s very likely that paediatric orthopaedic surgeons will help a child undergo their treatment once their condition has been diagnosed as they specialise in joint, bone and muscle pains.
Where are we?
We operate out of two locations in London: The Cromwell Hospital in South Kensington and The Great Portland Hospital on Great Portland street. Our aim is to provide the best possible orthopaedic service to all of our patients regardless of where they see us.
If your child is experiencing any pain consistent with the conditions listed above, contact us to book an appointment at one of our London clinics as soon as possible.
Portland Hospital is conveniently located closely to Regent’s Park Station (Bakerloo line), Great Portland Street (Metropolitan line) and Warren street (Northern and Victoria Lines). Our Cromwell base is accessible from Earl’s Court station (District and Piccadilly lines), Gloucester Road station (Circle and District Lines) and High Street Kensington station (Circle and District Lines).
