Orthopedics

Nemours is the one of the largest and most widely respected clinical orthopedic practice in the United States. We provide comprehensive care for children who are born with bone, joint, muscular, and nerve conditions, or who develop these conditions because of disease or injury.

But our distinguished reputation didn’t happen overnight. We’ve been setting the standard for orthopedic care since 1940, when Alfred I. duPont’s philanthropic vision was first realized through the creation of the duPont Institute in Delaware — a place which, for 40 years, was devoted entirely to children’s orthopedics and led by renowned physicians in the developing field.

Since then, the hospital has grown and so has our program. Yet its pioneering spirit remains. The Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children was recently named one of the country’s “Best Children’s Hospitals,” and it is currently listed in the History, Genealogy and Evolution of Children’s Orthopaedics in North America as one of the ten “Leading Children’s Orthopedic Fellowship Training Centers.” Annually, our department accounts for more than 40,000 visits, attracting patients from across the country and around the world.

The department has further fulfilled the vision of Alfred I. duPont by expanding its geographic reach through the Nemours Children’s Clinic locations in Jacksonville, Orange Park, and Pensacola, Florida. Together, we share a commitment to procedural and technological excellence, dedicated and compassionate care, and the latest in clinical research and training. Simply put, when you choose Nemours for your child’s orthopedic care, you are choosing the most advanced, highest quality care available.

The Nemours Difference

As pediatric orthopedists, we are dedicated to the treatment of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions – and a large part of our mission is to recognize and treat these problems as early in your child’s life as possible. Our goal always is to restore function and improve your child’s quality of life.

But there are other qualities that make us an international leader in the field, and this is the Nemours Difference.

• We use a coordinated team approach, working closely with Subspecialty Pediatric Pysicians, Medical Imaging, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation, and your child’s primary care doctor to integrate your child’s care and give the best possible course of treatment.
• We are able to schedule most appointments quickly, without long wait times.
• We want the family to be an active participant in the decision-making process. We recognize the importance of the parents’ role in the care and healing process and work to create a strong doctor-parent partnership. You’ll have direct access to your child’s attending physician, giving you one source for information and care.
• We make it easier for you to see everyone on your child’s care team at the same time. Families can usually meet with orthopedic and other specialists on a single day, all at one location. And because we use an electronic medical record, your child’s entire health care team has instant access to information about your child’s progress and treatment.
• We are able to support all treatment with a state-of-the-art Cast Room, as well as on-site Brace, Orthotic, and Prosthetic shops.
• We are constantly innovating new ways to diagnose and treat orthopedic conditions. For example, the duPont Hospital was among the first in the nation to offer a Gait and Motion Analysis Lab, where we use technologically advanced techniques to analyze the way a child walks, including such details as the timing of muscles, the forces produced by the motion, and the movement of various joints.

Our Areas of Expertise

• arthrogryposis (joint contractures that develop before birth)
• bone tumors
• cerebral palsy
• congenital (present from birth) clubfoot and other complex foot problems
• gait and motion analysis
• hand/upper extremities surgery
• limb-length discrepancies and limb deformity
• lymphedema (a collection of excess fluid, called lymph, in the arms or legs)
• management of complex fractures, including growth plate fractures
• muscular dystrophy (genetic disease characterized by increasing weakness of the muscles)
• orthotics (braces and other supports for bone, muscle, and joint conditions)
• osteogenesis imperfecta (also known as brittle bone disease)
• prosthetics (artificial extension that replaces a part of the body)
• residual effects of injuries or infections
• scoliosis and other spinal deformities
• skeletal dysplasia (abnormal formation of the skeleton)
• spina bifida
• sports medicine

In addition, all Nemours locations benefit from the enhanced expertise provided by the following specialty support services:

• Center for Orthopedics Research & Development (CORD)
• Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory
• Pediatric Engineering Research Lab (PERL)
• Wilmington Robotic EXoskeleton (WREX)

What to Expect on Your First Visit

Your first trip to any of our orthopedic centers is usually a comprehensive diagnostic visit. Allow 1 to 2 hours for this visit, which may include:

• a thorough review of your child’s medical and family history
• a review of previous medical records and X-rays
• a detailed physical examination, including many measurements
• an assessment of range of joint motions and the relative length of the limb segments. Depending upon this evaluation, further radiological, biochemical, or molecular testing may be needed.

Often doctors can give you a specific diagnosis in this initial evaluation. But some conditions can take time to diagnose, and further evaluation may be required before the doctors can pinpoint the problem.

After Your Visit

Once a specific diagnosis is made, we’ll tailor the treatment and management strategies to meet the needs of your child and your family.

In addition to medical care and specialist referrals, we provide emotional and psychological support to help families cope with and manage their child’s condition. We also offer genetic counseling services.