Specialized care designed with kids in mind.
Kids play hard and sometimes fall hard. It only takes one crash on a bicycle or a stumble on the soccer field to break a bone. Other children may be born with a limb deformity or neuromuscular condition that requires orthopedic intervention at an early age. One in 25 teen girls will develop a curvature in her spine, and many infants will experience bowed legs or feet turned inward during development. That’s why parents should have access to a nearby pediatric orthopedic specialty department. Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health provides inpatient and outpatient orthopedic services for children from birth to 17 years of age.
“Our department is one vital piece to serving our pediatric population,” says Ryan P. Farmer, MD, pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital. “Most children will experience an accident or fracture a bone. It’s a great honor to help kids recover and get back to playing and exploring their world.”
Take A Peek Inside
Choosing the right pediatric orthopedic program is the best decision you can make for a child with an injury or ongoing condition. We’ve created a place where children and their families can comfortably receive care.
The Dream Team:
Multidisciplinary—Getting proper care for an injury or condition takes a variety of healthcare providers. Your child may need orthopedic surgery, but care doesn’t stop after the operation. They could also need physical therapy to get back on their feet or a certified cast technician to stabilize a broken bone.
Expertise—Our team includes some of the most highly skilled, expert orthopedic surgeons in Louisiana. Their training focused on providing care to children with conditions such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy. Children are different than adults because they are in a constant state of growth. Our surgeons have the experience and knowledge to recommend proper treatment for a growing and developing child.
Kid-Friendly Environment—Going to a hospital is scary for most kids. Our hospitals are different because we’re the only local hospitals with Child Life Specialists. Kids stay busy in the waiting room watching their favorite shows on TV or marveling at the colorful fish in the aquariums. Our providers transform and decorate the department for every holiday.
Child Life Specialists help your child cope and provide emotional support for every patient and family. They will also be assigned to give your child a small tour and explain what to expect for surgery on a level your child can understand. Many Child Life Specialists also decorate the operating room specifically for your child. In our spinal deformity program, scoliosis patients can preview their post-operative room in the intensive care unit. We go the extra mile to ensure our patients feel safe and welcomed.
When to seek care
Some bumps and scrapes can be mended with a bandage or kiss, but always monitor your child for severe pain, swelling and bruising around the injured area, and limb deformity or difficulty moving the limb. These are signs of a fracture that requires immediate medical care.
Most emergency departments or primary care physicians can effectively handle patients with a fracture or minor injury. However, you should seek care from a pediatric orthopedist for complex issues, such as developmental delay, birth defects or curves in the spine, or if an injury doesn’t heal.
What we Treat:
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- Bone tumors
- Foot problems
- Fractures
- Genetic syndromes
- Hip conditions
- Limb deformities
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Spine disorders, such as scoliosis
- Sports injuries
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