Subspecialty Focus

The Pediatric Orthopaedic Division of the University of Pittsburgh has several areas of significant subspecialty expertise.  The fellow is encouraged to allocate their time and interest to gain experience in any or all of these subspecialty areas.

Spine Deformity Program

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh has a large volume of patients with spinal deformities; consistently, more than 100 per month have surgery in the hospital.  The spectrum of pathology extends fromearly onset and syndromic scoliosis through adolescent idiopathic and neuromuscular scoliosis and into complex congenital and neglected spinal deformities. Drs. Dede, Mendelson, and Ward care for patients with spinal conditions. UPMC Children’s Hospital has state-of-the-art facilities and equipment for treating patients with complex spinal deformity.

Sports Medicine Program

Dr. Jan Grudziak has developed a superb sports program with a wide assortment of pathologies, including:

  • ACL reconstructions
  • Surgical treatment of OCD lesions
  • Patellar and shoulder dislocation stabilizations

Hip Preservation Program

Dr. Michael McClincy dedicates special interest to hip preservation surgery. The hip preservation program at UPMC Children’s Hospital performs surgical hip dislocations for multiple conditions include SCFE, tumor, FAI, and OCD.

Benedum Pediatric Trauma Program

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh houses the region’s only Level 1 Regional Resource Pediatric Trauma Center and has a significant number of patients who sustained traumatic injuries. State-of-the-art equipment and operating room availability allows the entire UPMC Children’s Hospital faculty to provide superb trauma care to these children.

Cerebral Palsy Program

Drs. Dede and Mendelson treat a number of children with neuromuscular conditions. The addition of the Motion Analysis Laboratory at the Erie Shrine Outpatient Clinic permits careful pre- and postoperative assessments for these children.  Fellow participation in this program will include reviewing and interpreting the motion analysis laboratory findings.