Pediatric Orthopedics & Spinal Surgery

Compassionate care from the region’s most experienced pediatric orthopedic team

Children’s orthopedic care needs are different from those of adults. Read more here to learn how our services are tailored to address the unique needs of children and teens.

a teenage girl and a boy holding a skateboard

Children have different orthopedic needs than adults. They often require specialized care and recover best in facilities designed specially for them. That’s why Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is comprised of surgeons, radiologists, and anesthesiologists who specialize exclusively in the care of children. Our Department of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery focuses on the treatment and management of musculoskeletal conditions in children. No matter what service your child needs, we strive to create an environment that is comfortable and safe for them.

Pediatric orthopedic programs and services

Orthopedics for kids: treatments and procedures

Conditions We Treat

A leader in children’s orthopedics

Our program is nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best children’s hospital orthopedic programs available. Our pediatric orthopedics department was one of six initial sectors established during our founding in 1950. In fact, it was an orthopedic surgeon who was responsible for the hospital’s creation. Today, our team consists of highly trained orthopedic technicians, physician assistants, nurse coordinators, support personnel, residents, and fellows (many of which are bilingual). Our physicians perform over 1,400 surgical procedures each year while the pediatric orthopedic surgery department facilitates an additional 34,000 outpatient visits annually.

Emergency treatment when you need it most

The Miguel "Mike" B. Fernandez Family Pediatric Trauma Center at Nicklaus Children's Hospital Emergency Department is one of only two freestanding pediatric trauma centers in the state of Florida and the only freestanding pediatric trauma center in South Florida.

Our unique transportation service, LifeFlight® Critical Care Transport Program, provides tertiary transport care for physicians and hospitals across South Florida, the Caribbean, and Latin America. We understand the importance of getting your child immediate assistance, so Nicklaus Children’s Hospital gives patients definitive care for their injury on the spot. Children with fractures leave the hospital with a cast already in place, not a splint or a referral to a Florida orthopedics specialist, which you’d find at most hospitals. At our pediatric orthopedics center, families can leave with the peace of mind that their child has received full, comprehensive treatment.

40,000

Program outpatient consults hosted annually

1,478

Pediatric orthopedic surgeries performed annually

Number of orthopedic surgeons in the program

Success Stories

Zachary, better known by his nickname, Lucky, was born five weeks early. He spent five weeks in the ICU and faced some developmental delays early on. He began physical therapy sessions when he was 2 years old, and after some time, his therapist noticed a knot on his back that didn’t appear to be muscular in nature. The spine specialists at Nicklaus Children's Hospital found that Lucky had a severe deformity of the thoracic spine, known as congenital kyphoscoliosis.