Comprehensive Orthopaedic Programs at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California

With treatment specialties in orthopaedics, burns, spinal cord injury and specialized plastic surgery, the hospital in Sacramento, Calif., is a place where patients benefit from a collaborative environment. It is a place where a child who loses a limb from burns sustained in a house fire receives care from a team of burn specialists and limb deficiency experts, all in one place. It is a place where a child who becomes paralyzed because of an automobile accident receives expert orthopaedic spine care and spinal cord injury rehabilitation, all in one place.

While providing burn care and plastic surgery account for the needs of approximately 35 percent of the overall patient population, more than half of the children served by Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California seek the highly specialized orthopaedic care that falls into seven main categories:

• General Pediatric Orthopaedics, including clubfoot, developmental hip disorders, and lower-limb malformations and deformities

• Upper Limb Program, including hand, wrist and elbow malformations and deformities, brachial plexus birth palsy and other neuromuscular disorders

• Complex Spine Program, including scoliosis, kyphosis and spondylolysis/spondylolistheses

• Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, including comprehensive rehabilitation services, spine fracture care and restoration of upper-limb function

• Limb Deficiency Program, providing orthotics and prosthetics

• Neuromuscular Programs for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy

• Sports Programs for children with sports-related injuries and those wishing to participate in adaptive sports programs.

“We want to help children follow their dreams – whether they dream of playing sports, making music or becoming a doctor – by removing or helping them overcome barriers caused by their orthopaedic and neuromuscular conditions,” said Michelle James, M.D., chief of orthopaedics at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Northern California. “We also are devoted to teaching young doctors so that the specialized care practiced at Shriners Hospitals for Children will continue for generations to come.”

This year, three orthopaedic fellows are working with Dr. James and her team focusing on pediatric orthopaedic and hand surgery, and musculoskeletal pediatrics. “For the most part, the children we serve come here because of our expertise in complex pediatric orthopaedic conditions, and our reputation for making the needs of the child our highest priority,” said Dr. James.