Children’s orthopaedic services

A large proportion of orthopaedic problems originate during the early stages of growth, and as a result some children suffer musculo-skeletal conditions from birth. Other conditions are acquired as a child grows and develops.

Our three dedicated consultants care for and treat babies and children aged under 16, and understand that being in hospital can be daunting, whether the required treatment is routine or specialist.

With the support of our specialist children’s nursing team and physiotherapists, we treat all developmental, congenital and post traumatic problems affecting the bones and joints (except bone tumours). We offer a surgical and non-surgical service to children of east London, Essex and further afield.

We are specialists in treating patients with complex neuromuscular disorders (such as cerebral palsy).

We have dedicated clinics for gait analysis, which helps us to measure a child’s walking patterns and identify the causes of their walking problems.

We have specialist clinics for treating babies and children with talipes (a physical impairment affecting the foot), for which we use the Ponseti method. This method is primarily non-surgical and uses regular manipulations and casts to stretch the soft tissue of the foot to correct the deformity.

To ensure our young patients receive the best possible care, we have dedicated fracture clinics, plaster room, x-ray and operating theatre facilities including paediatric anaesthetists for children. Our specialist children’s physiotherapists also ensure that children are fully supported in their ongoing care.

We have a specialist scoliosis (spinal curvature) clinic for children and adolescents. Patients seen in this clinic have all been assessed in our paediatric orthopaedic clinics.

For more details about children's services at Barts and The London, please click here.