Pediatric Orthopaedic Trauma Program

Orthopaedic injuries in growing children and teens differ from those in grown adults. When a child or teen breaks a bone or suffers a severe joint or tissue injury, they need a pediatric orthopaedic expert.

Children and teens need treatment that accounts for their size, amount of growth remaining, body type, and other needs.

The orthopaedic trauma surgeons at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh:

• Have the highest level of training and experience in treating and operating on traumatic injuries in newborns to young adults.
• Treat everything from injured joints and sprains to broken bones.
• Provide casts (hard casts, soft casts, splints, and sometimes waterproof), custom braces, and other removable devices.

If your child needs surgery, you're in the best hands with UPMC Children's Hospital’s Orthopaedic Trauma specialists.

What Is Orthopaedic Trauma?

Orthopaedic trauma is an injury from an external force to the:

• Bones or joints.
• Muscles.
• Soft tissue.

The external force can be from:

• A fall.
• An accident.
• Getting hit by something or someone.
• Playing sports.

Some traumas are severe, but less severe traumas also need urgent medical care. Broken bones that do not heal properly can cause long-term problems.

The Pediatric Orthopaedic Trauma Program at UPMC Children's Hospital treats a full range of injuries. We see children, preteens, teens, and young adults up to age 26.

Conditions and Injuries We Treat

• Sprains, broken bones, and joint dislocations in the limbs.
• Broken bones or trauma to the hip or pelvis.
• Fractures treated with surgery or casts elsewhere that have not healed correctly.
• Fractures in children with bone disorders.

Many Options for Treating Your Child's Orthopaedic Trauma

Accidents and injuries often send children and teens to UPMC Children's Emergency Department (ED). A member of our orthopaedic trauma team is always there to provide care in the ED.

Not all orthopaedic trauma needs the level of care that the ED provides.

You can also take your child to UPMC Children's Orthopaedic Urgent Care or UPMC Children's Express Care.

Services we provide include:

• Emergency and urgent care.
• Imaging and diagnosis.

After diagnosis, we can perform casting and bracing. If your child needs surgery we’ll schedule it at that time.

We also see patients at our orthopaedic clinic for non-urgent and follow-up visits.

Why Choose UPMC Children's for Your Child's Orthopaedic Trauma?

US News & World Report ranked UPMC Children's Hospital one of the Top 10 Best Children's Hospitals in the nation in 2023-2024.

When you seek orthopaedic trauma care here, you can count on:

• A surgical care team with the highest level of training. All doctors in our program have extensive training in pediatric orthopaedic surgery. We're one of a few programs in the U.S. led by a surgeon fellowship-trained in specialized trauma, fractures, and pediatric orthopaedic surgery.
• The latest options in casting and braces. We offer both classic and waterproof casts and custom braces.
• Expert pain management. Our pediatric anesthesiologists and acute pain team make sure your child is comfortable. We do our best to avoid narcotics to manage pain.
• System-wide teamwork. The UPMC Children's ED is the region's only Level I (highest level) Regional Resource Pediatric Trauma Center. We also work with Level I trauma centers at UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Mercy.
• Long-term care. We do not just fix your child's broken bone. We make sure they continue to heal and grow well after the injury. We also work with the physical therapy team to get your child where they need to be in the long run.

Make An Appointment With a UPMC Children's Orthopaedic Trauma Expert

To make an appointment, call 412-692-5530. Or, schedule your child's orthopaedic trauma appointment online.

We care for kids at:

• UPMC Children's Main Campus in Lawrenceville.
• Children's South in Bridgeville.
• Children's East in Monroeville.
• Children's North in Wexford.
• Shriners Children’s Erie.