Scoliosis (curvature of the spine) is managed based on the type and severity of curve. A smaller curve (mild scoliosis) can be treated conservatively without surgery. A larger curve (moderate to severe scoliosis) often requires fusion to straighten it as much as possible and keep it from getting worse. X-rays are used to determine the degree of the main curve. An angle called the Cobb angle is measured and used as a guide to conservative versus surgical treatment.

More children have strokes than people realize; it's not an uncommon thing. In fact, childhood (or pediatric) strokes are among the top 10 reasons for death in children in the United States. Unfortunately though, little research has been done when compared to the research for strokes in adults.

It's likely that your grandson has a condition called developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). DDH represents a group of hip disorders involving partial or complete dislocation of the femoral head.

The femoral head is a round ball of bone at the top of the femur or thigh bone. Normally, it fits inside the acetabulum (hip socket). But with DDH, the femoral head slips partially or completely out of the socket.

Ultrasound can be used right at birth too look at the hips of infants at risk or with suspicious clinical findings. It is safe, does not expose the child to radiation, and seems to be well-tolerated (by the child who is being tested and by the parent who is watching). Such an early diagnosis makes it possible to achieve better results with less treatment.

Overweight and obese children are becoming more common in Western society. The daily exercise that we used to get as kids is a lot less for the kids of today for a variety of reasons. Obesity is also a major health risk for children. Lifestyle-related illnesses, like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, are now being diagnosed in teens or even younger children.

Through your description, it sounds like your niece may have had unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis. That's the long way of saying, it sounds like the upper part of her femur (thigh bone) slipped out of place and was causing a lot of pain.

Some adolescents, teens, develop a hip disorder called slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). It's one of the most common hip disorders in this age group affecting between two and 10 out of every 100,000 people in the United States.

Infants can (and should) be tested early and treated for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). DDH represents a group of hip disorders involving partial or complete dislocation of the femoral head. The femoral head is a round ball of bone at the top of the femur or thigh bone. Normally, it fits inside the acetabulum (hip socket). But with DDH, the femoral head slips partially or completely out of the socket.

Your knee is a complicated joint in that it has the knee cap protecting where the femur (thigh bone) and shin bone (tibia) meet. The knee needs tendons to help move the muscles, and it also needs cartilage - the menisci - to protect the knee. You have two menisci. One is the lateral meniscus (on the outside of your knee) and the other is the medial meniscus (on the inside of the knee).

Without knowing that the problem is with your son's meniscus, it's hard to say why one type of surgery would be preferred over another. However, sometimes it is a better idea to open the knee with a traditional incision than do an arthroscopic surgery, with the slender, long reaching instruments.