Pediatric Orthopedics

And when your child has an injury or condition that affects their musculoskeletal system—the network of bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves that gives the body its shape and allows us to move—it is especially vital to see a pediatric orthopedic specialist. Pediatric orthopedists train to diagnose and treat young patients, emphasizing options for the best results now and as they grow. 

At South Island Orthopedics, we are committed to providing children of all ages from Long Island, New York and the surrounding boroughs, including Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, with the highest quality pediatric orthopedic care. Our team of board-certified orthopedists, including pediatric orthopedic surgeons, is committed to providing excellent care, with compassion and technical expertise in a comfortable, family-like office atmosphere. 

Common Issues in Pediatric Orthopedics

Many orthopedic conditions that specifically impact children and teens, including:

• Congenital abnormalities
• Childhood diseases
• Broken bones
• Playground accidents
• Sports injuries
• Aches and pains associated with the growth spurts of puberty

Orthopedists who specialize in pediatric medicine are also trained to diagnose and treat additional bone and joint injuries or conditions and degenerative diseases in children and adolescents, including:

• Adolescent Anterior Knee Pain
• Back Pain
• Cerebral Palsy
• Club Foot
• Congenital Muscular Torticollis (Twisted Neck)
• Developmental Hip Dislocation/Dysplasia (DDH)
• Erb’s Palsy (Brachial Plexus Injury)
• Flat Feet
• Fractures & Growth Plate Fractures
• Intoeing
• Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Neurofibromatosis
• Osgood-Schlatter Disease (Knee Pain)
• Scoliosis
• Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE)
• Spondylolysis/Spondylolisthesis

Because many of these conditions occur in conjunction with additional health issues in other areas of the body, our pediatric orthopedic care team works closely with other specialists to support other treatments and therapies. 

Why Choose a Pediatric Orthopedic Specialist 

When your child is injured on the sports field, has an accident on the playground, or was born with a congenital condition that affects their musculoskeletal system, it is vital to see an expert provider. South Island Orthopedics understands that parents in Nassau County and throughout Long Island, including Roslyn, Woodbury, and Cedarhurst, want the best for their kids and are committed to providing the highest levels of care from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.  

Choosing a provider who specializes in children and adolescent care offers several advantages, including:

A Focus on Kids and Teens 

Pediatric orthopedists understand kids’ bodies inside and out and have experience treating both common and rare conditions. By exclusively caring for children, from infants through teens, they have developed an in-depth knowledge of the orthopedic conditions they face at every stage, and how to best treat them. 

Sometimes, children outgrow orthopedic conditions. Sometimes, they require medical intervention. In either case, parents can rest assured that the pediatric specialists at South Island Orthopedics are prepared to provide the best care when it is needed the most. 

An Understanding of Growing Bones 

Bones that are still growing require a different approach to care than fully-formed adult bones. Even teenagers are not finished growing, which plays a significant role in diagnosis and treatment plans. For example, children have growth plates, areas of cartilage at the end of their bones. Many childhood bone fractures are actually growth plate fractures, which require different treatment than adult fractures. 

Pediatric orthopedists look at the current state of an injury or condition and predict how it will affect your child’s body as it grows and how treatment will influence that outcome. Depending on your child’s age and the location and severity of the injury, different treatments may be necessary to support healthy development as they get older. The specialists at South Island Orthopedics are experienced in anticipating potential issues and preventing them with expert care. 

Kid-Friendly Care 

For a child, an orthopedic injury or illness can be scary, especially when diagnoses and treatment might involve X-rays, MRIs, casts, braces, and even surgery. These can be frightening to parents as well, especially when their child is in pain. It can also be difficult for very young children to explain what’s wrong or articulate what they are experiencing during tests. 

The entire team at South Island Orthopedics understands this. We are committed to providing kid-friendly care that makes the whole family feel comfortable. We also perform the necessary evaluations and tests to determine what is wrong even when your child can tell you themselves. 

Everything is explained in terms that kids can understand, and parents can take heart knowing that our doctors are committed to therapies that reduce the need for surgery and pain medication. And if pediatric orthopedic surgery is needed, you can be confident that your child is in the capable hands of our experienced surgeons.  

When to Make a Specialist Appointment

Children’s bones heal much faster than adults’. While this is good news for an injured child, it also means that making an appointment with a pediatric orthopedics specialist as soon as possible is necessary. The longer an orthopedic injury is left untreated, the greater the likelihood it will need surgery or other more aggressive treatment. 

Injuries aren’t the only reason children need orthopedic care, though. Other times to make an appointment with a specialist include:

• You notice issues with your child’s legs, feet, or how they walk; for example, they appear bowlegged or walk with their feet turned inward (in-toeing.)
• Your child complains of persistent pain (longer than 24-48 hours) in their bones or joints, even if they have not sustained an injury.
• Your child experiences joint stiffness that interferes with daily activities. 
• Your child’s joints are warm to the touch and/or swollen. 
• Your child has a bruise accompanied by swelling, tenderness, or difficulty moving the affected area. 

Your child’s pediatrician or primary care provider may also recommend seeing an orthopedic specialist if they suspect a congenital issue like club foot, scoliosis, gait issues, or when your child has developmental delays.   

South Island Orthopedics Pediatric Specialists Are Here to Help 

Getting the care your child needs on Long Island is easy with South Island Orthopedics. We have two locations (Cedarhurst, NY and Woodbury, NY) making it easy for parents on the north and south shore to access care, and offer convenient office hours to fit your busy schedule. We even offer same-day appointments for emergency or urgent care needs. 

If you have concerns about your child’s joints and bones, or they have been injured, don’t wait. Request an appointment with one of our pediatric orthopedic specialists and get the best possible care for your child.