About ACL Injuries Knee injuries can happen in active kids, especially athletes, and a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) — a ligament that helps give the knee its stability — is one of the most serious types of knee injuries. Kids who get ACL injuries tend to play contact sports …
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Blount Disease
Blount disease is a growth disorder that affects the bones of the lower leg, causing them to bow outward. In younger kids, just the tibia (shin bone) is affected. In teens, it’s usually both the tibia and the femur (thigh bone). Many babies are born with slightly bowed legs from …
Broken Collarbone (Clavicle Fracture)
Hard falls and collisions are a reality of sports, and they often lead to injuries. Taking a spill and falling on a shoulder or with arms outstretched puts tremendous stress on the shoulder and on a small bone called the clavicle, or collarbone. If the stress is too great, the …
Common Childhood Orthopedic Conditions
As time passes, you may notice that your child’s growth isn’t completely on the straight and narrow. Many young kids have flatfeet, toe walking, pigeon toes, bowlegs, and knock-knees. As kids grow, some of these conditions correct themselves without treatment. Others don’t or become more severe because of other medical …
Costochondritis
When a child complains of chest pain, it can be enough to send any parent into a panic: “Could it be a heart attack?” Fortunately, the answer usually is no. Heart attacks are extremely rare in children. More often than not, chest pain in a child or teen is due to …
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a problem with the way a baby’s hip joint forms before, during, or after birth — causing an unstable hip. In severe cases, the hip joint can dislocate or cause trouble walking. Mild cases of DDH usually get better on their own as a baby …
Dwarfism
There’s been a lot of discussion over the years about the proper way to refer to someone with dwarfism. Many people who have the condition prefer the term “little person” or “person of short stature.” For some, “dwarf” is acceptable. For most, “midget” definitely is not. But here’s an idea …
Fibromyalgia
There’s a lot of disagreement among doctors when it comes to fibromyalgia. Theories differ as to what causes it and how best to treat it. There’s even disagreement about what to call it — some call it a syndrome, others a disorder, still others a chronic condition. Whatever you label …
Frequently Asked Questions About Casts
Kids who need a cast often have plenty of questions. Here are answers to some frequent inquiries about casts. What are the different kinds of casts? A cast, which keeps a bone from moving so it can heal, is essentially a big bandage that has two layers — a soft …
Growth Plate Injuries
Growth plates are the areas of growing tissue near the ends of the long bones in the legs and arms in kids and adolescents. Also called a physis or epiphyseal plate, a growth plate produces new bone tissue. An injured growth plate might not do its job properly, which can lead to crooked or misshapen bones, …