Shriners Hospitals for Children - Spokane

Fracture Clinic helps area kids take injuries in-stride. By Jocelyn Stott and Kristin Monasmith, Shriners Hospitals for Children - Spokane

With the start of a new school year, kids are returning to study, group activity and sports. With the increase in physical activity that comes with sports, comes the inherent risk of injury.

Fractures are common in children. However, because a child's bones are subject to a unique injury called a growth plate fracture, it is important that broken bones in kids are treated properly. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, approximately 15% to 30% of all childhood fractures are growth plate fractures.

Growth plates help determine the eventual length and shape of the adult bone and are the last portion of bones to harden, making them vulnerable to fracture. In fact, because muscles and bones develop at different speeds, a child's bones may actually be weaker than the ligament tissues that connect the bones to other bones.

“Remember, children are not just small adults. Children's bones heal faster than adult's bones. This means that a child with an injury should see an experienced pediatric orthopaedic specialist as quickly as possible. The child needs proper treatment before the bone begins to heal, because the long-term consequences may include limbs that are crooked or of unequal length,” says Bryan Tompkins, M.D., one of four pediatric orthopaedic surgeons at the Shriners Hospitals for Children - Spokane.

Shriners Hospitals for Children - Spokane has been providing Inland Northwest families for almost a century. The health care center is well known for its specialization in pediatric orthopaedic care, recently launching its Urgent Pediatric Fracture Clinic.

The clinic treats stable fractures and sports injuries requiring surgery for kids, with priority scheduling Monday through Friday from 7:30 - 9 a.m.

Luckily, access to care at Shriners has never been easier: the clinic is open to all families regardless of insurance or ability to pay for children aged 0 to 18. (Most insurance plans are also accepted.)

Kristin Monasmith, hospital spokesperson, offers the story of a young local athlete named Sampson as an example of a situation where Shriners stepped in to help:

Sampson has been an athlete all his life; he is an expert wrestler and a great football player. Sampson was participating in a regular football practice for the Lewis and Clark Tigers in Spokane. He was a starter on the freshman team and was asked to step into a position on the line for the Junior Varsity. The play was called and as Sampson blocked his opponent, he felt a sharp pain in his hip and immediately went down.

After the hit, he found he was in such pain it was difficult to get up. The pain was not subsiding; his parents took him to see his doctor who referred him to the pediatric orthopaedic surgeons at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Spokane. A surprise to his parents, Sampson was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Even more of a surprise, Sampson was informed he actually had the condition in BOTH hips. Sampson was not sure he would be able to return to the mat or the field, “Sports are my life, the doctors told us if I didn’t take care of it, at age 30 I could be in a wheelchair, “ Sampson told us.

Sampson has had surgery on both hips and is stronger than ever. “Shriners Hospital has helped me get back into sports and up on my feet again – I can still do what I love.”

In 2013, the hospital saw nearly 9000 kids in the Outpatient Clinic and performed over 800 surgeries. Some examples of orthopaedic conditions in children can include: spinal deformities like Scoliosis; foot and hand injuries/deformities; knee and hip disorders/injuries; hand and toe disorders; Prosthetics/orthotics and osteogenesis imperfect (brittle bone disease).

Sports-related signs that require a visit to the doctor

(From the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

• Inability to continue play or to use limb because of pain

• Decreased ability to play due to persistent pain from an injury

• Visible malformation of limbs

Consider:

• Prompt treatment can often prevent a minor injury from becoming worse or causing permanent damage.

• An injury that persists or affects athletic performance should be examined by an orthopaedic specialist.

Remember:

• Calcium and Vitamin D are critical in creating strong bones The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends children receive 400 IU of Vitamin D daily which can be obtained through diet, supplements or both.

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