The Pediatric Orthopaedic Trauma Program at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh treats children, teens, and adults up to age 26.
We aim to provide the best care in the least invasive way.
Some children will see us once and go home with a simple prescription of rest and ice. Others will need more complex care.
We're ready for anything you and your family need.
Imaging and Orthopaedic Trauma Diagnosis
Our team works with the UPMC Children's Hospital's radiology team to get imaging results as fast as we can.
We offer:
Orthopaedic Surgery
Our surgeons have special training in repairing fractures and other trauma.
We offer surgery for:
- Complex breaks in the limbs.
- Hip acetabular and pelvic fractures with or without traumatic hip dislocations.
- Broken bones in children with special conditions (osteogenesis imperfecta, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, etc.).
- Breaks in bones with special conditions such as cysts (pathologic fractures).
- Prior breaks that didn't heal correctly or at all.
We help children and young adults heal and get stronger after orthopaedic surgery. We also refer to our UPMC Children's expert physical therapy team if needed.
Casting and Bracing Treatments
With the largest volume of pediatric casting in western Pennsylvania, our experts have specialized training in both regular and waterproof casting.
We also have removable casts, braces, and other devices. We make some custom braces on-site.
Not all options will be available for all patients. We will help you find a cast or brace that will give your child or teen the best fit, comfort, and function.
Emergent and Urgent Orthopaedic Care
We see children at a few locations based on how severe their trauma is.
The team works across facilities to diagnose and treat:
- Sprains.
- Fractures.
- Other orthopaedic trauma.
UPMC Children's Hospital Emergency Department (ED)
The ED at UPMC Children's is western Pennsylvania's only Level I (highest level) Regional Resource Pediatric Trauma Center with 24/7 orthopaedic coverage. This means that an orthopaedic surgeon is in the hospital at all times.
Here, we can offer:
- Sedation.
- Pain control.
- Casting, except for waterproof casting.
- Bracing (in select instances).
- Hospital admission and emergency orthopaedic surgery for children who need it.
We may send you to our Orthopaedic Urgent Care if we think it would be a better way to treat the injury.
After-hours care at UPMC Children's Orthopaedic Urgent Care
UPMC Children's Orthopaedic Urgent Care is open weekdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
You'll find us in the Lion Clinic on the second floor of Children's main hospital campus in Lawrenceville.
We see both new patients and existing ones with new injuries.
This unique clinic provides fast diagnosis and treatment for children with injuries to the bones, muscles, and joints of the limbs.
You never need an appointment (walk-ins only), and you get immediate access to children's orthopaedic experts for minor injuries. These treatments include on-the-spot splinting, casting, and braces.
We do not have pain relief or sedation capabilities in the Orthopaedic Urgent Care.
For more severe injuries, we may send you to the UPMC Children's ED on the first floor of the main hospital.
After-hours care for minor orthopaedic traumas at UPMC Children's Express Care
UPMC Children's Express Care after-hours clinics can treat minor traumas, like sprains and small bone breaks such as buckle fractures.
They offer on-site x-rays, splinting, and bracing.
For more severe injuries, we may refer your child may to UPMC Children's Hospital for further assessment and treatment.
Daytime office visits at UPMC Children's Orthopaedics
We see children in our office at UPMC Children's for exams, casting, and follow-up care during the day. We require appointments.
To make a clinic appointment, call 412-692-5530 or book your child's orthopaedic trauma appointment online.
We can take x-rays and sometimes other scans to help diagnose and treat your child's injury. We can also look at x-rays from other UPMC facilities and health networks that you bring on a disk. Paper reports are not sufficient.
We're not able to offer pain relief or sedation in the clinic.
See a UPMC Children's Orthopaedic Trauma Specialist
Not sure whether to head to the UPMC Children's Emergency Department, Orthopaedic Urgent Care, or Express Care?
For help deciding which is the best option for your child or to make an appointment, call 412-692-5530. You can also book your child's orthopaedic trauma appointment online.
