Visitor restrictions are in place across all Children’s Wisconsin locations. Masks are required for all visitors and for patients ages 2+.
Checking in with a few of our frontline staff who have received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
When a patient comes to the Genetics Clinic, the first person they’ll meet with is a genetic counselor. But what do they do?
Hopefully your child has made it through an active summer without too many bumps and bruises. The past few months have been a busy time for us as pediatric orthopedic specialists, treating kids who have rolled an ankle, sprained a ligament or (in most cases) broken a bone. And now, going into the fall sports season, more young athletes are probably going to be in need of our services.
When seeking treatment for your child, it’s important to remember that kids aren’t just little adults. Their bodies are still growing and changing, so they should be seen by a specialist with the advanced training and expertise necessary to help them heal the right way.
For instance, many people aren’t aware that up until age 16, kids and teens have what are known as growth plates that sit at the ends of their bones throughout the body. What might be a pulled muscle or sprained ligament in an adult could actually result in a fracture or other serious injury in a child whose bones are still growing.
It’s possible that a medical provider who doesn’t often work with kids might not be looking for growth plate injuries, which could mean they won’t heal properly. If this happens, then what should be a temporary condition could turn into a long-term problem. The bone can either begin to grow too fast or have its growth stopped too soon. Unfortunately, I have seen instances where a child has a deformed joint that was caused by improper treatment.
Fractures that involve growth plates can be the result of a single event, such as a fall, or from repetitive stress on the bone. These types of overuse injuries are happening more and more often with young athletes as they become more specialized and play longer seasons.
Here are some facts about growth-plate injuries from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons:
Sometimes a fracture is detectable visibly through a misshapen or crooked appearance of a limb, but here are some other symptoms to watch for:
Whenever there is an injury, and it’s not an emergency situation, help treat it through the RICE method.
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation
Do this for at least the first day or two, and if you notice swelling, discoloration, or a limp, have the injury evaluated. Most injuries will heal just fine, but sometimes extra attention is needed. And with growth plates, getting the right care can make sure your young athlete can stay in the game.
When a patient comes to the Genetics Clinic, the first person they’ll meet with is a genetic counselor. But what do they do?
What parents should look for when choosing a pediatrician.
The rites of parenthood include watching your children grow, delighting in their every accomplishment and…overruling their protests when it comes to taking a bath.
As the holidays fast approach, now is the time to talk to your kids about how celebrations will be different this year.
With so many schools going virtual, the amount of time kids spend in front of a screen hooked up to headphones is increasing.
No matter the holiday, celebrations will look different this year, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still be joyful and filled with love.
New studies point to higher COVID-19 risks for women who are pregnant.