Foot and ankle care

When you choose our hospital, your child has access to our entire network's services and facilities, including:

• State-of-the-art diagnostic imaging
• Physical therapy and a sports performance facility
• Sports nutrition consultation
• Outpatient surgery tailored to the needs of young patients
• Emergency care 24/7
• Comprehensive access to other pediatric specialists

We offer surgical and nonsurgical treatment for musculoskeletal injuries and sports injuries. Our full-spectrum of treatments includes:

• Complex fracture care
• Ligament and cartilage trauma/injury treatment
• Limb abnormality care
• Limb preservation

Ankle growth plate fracture care

Injuries that occur as a result of one particularly traumatic episode are referred to as acute injuries. In skeletally mature children, acute injuries can occur in the area of growth in the bone, otherwise known as a growth plate injury. For example, ankle growth plate fractures in children can occur with a type of injury that would typically cause an ankle sprain in an older individual.

Ankle sprains occur when the ligaments that connect the bones together are stretched, resulting in ankle pain and swelling. In children, the growth plate is more commonly injured because the growing cartilage/bone often is the weakest structure compared to the surrounding ankle ligaments. Most growth plate fractures tend to heal without complications, but these injuries often require special attention to avoid future problems with growth.

Athletic injury care

Chronic injury may present more gradually, with more vague complaints of pain that is made worse by activity. An athlete may also notice a decline in their performance.

Our sports medicine specialists are able to make specific recommendations about rehabilitating the injury and safely returning to activity and sports. We offer fellowship-trained physicians that specialize in the treatment of a wide range of injuries that affect school-age athletes. Our dedicated team will develop a detailed treatment plan that includes a rehabilitation program focused on safely returning your child to play. When surgery is necessary, our pediatric orthopedic surgeons will discuss specialized, age-appropriate and minimally invasive surgical options.

Overuse injury care

Injuries that occur over time because of repetitive activity are known as overuse injuries. Overuse injuries in the foot and ankle may involve the growth plate. For example, chronic heel pain that occurs in active children between nine and 13 years old is most likely related to overuse and inflammation around the growth plate located in the heel bone (calcaneus). This type of growth plate is called an apophysis. Activity-related pain that is localized to this growth plate is a condition referred to as calcaneal apophysitis or Sever’s disease.

Overuse injuries that do not involve the growth plate include tendinitis and stress fractures. These injuries are more common in older adolescents who participate in running and jumping sports, such as soccer, basketball and gymnastics.

We treat these injuries by evaluating your child's condition and developing a care plan that fits their unique needs. We will generally use noninvasive and minimally invasive methods first, and only recommend surgery when it is absolutely necessary.