About our service
Our children's orthopaedic service provides intervention to children and young people with both musculoskeletal and orthopaedic problems. The service offers assessment and diagnosis, and provides evidence-based treatment intervention. The service also offers support for children, young people, and their families when appropriate.
We see children and young people, from birth up to 16 years of age, for a range of musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions:
- Hip problems
- Perthes disease
- Congenital limb abnormalities requiring lengthening
- Foot and ankle conditions, including toe walking
- Gait problems, pes cavus (flat foot) in-toeing gait pattern
- Congenital Talipes Equinovarus (CTEV) in collaboration with the children’s physiotherapy service
- Limb lengthening and reconstruction
- Paediatric fracture
- Orthopaedic conditions requiring intervention for neurological conditions, (cerebral palsy), Spina Bifida
- Botulinum Toxin injections for spasticity
- SUFE (Slipped upper femoral epiphysis)
- SCUFE (Slipped Capital femoral epiphysis)
- Leg length discrepancies
There a some conditions our Children's Orthopaedic team are unable to see, including:
- All spinal conditions
- Chest wall abnormalities
- Chest/cardiothoracic conditions
- Skull abnormalities
- Bilateral lower limb pain – unless they have had investigations by physiotherapy and have specific orthopaedic problems requiring further investigations
- Hypermobility - unless they have had investigations by either Rheumatology, Paediatricians or Physiotherapy in the first instance who have specific orthopaedic problems which need intervention.
After the age of 16 years old, a referral to adult services would be appropriate.
Developmental dysplasia of the hip
We also provide a screening service for babies who are identified using the NIPE guidelines at risk of Developmental Dysplasia of the hip. Find out more. We provides fortnightly clinics at Darlington Memorial Hospital and Sedgefield Community Hospital. Assessment may be carried out by either an orthopaedic consultant or an extended scope physiotherapy practitioner and a sonographer.
- Screen for hip dysplasia
- Results are generally given on the day
- Provide treatment and management of hip dysplasia
Hip scanning is also offered for babies with the following:
- Clicking hips
- Pelvic asymmetry
- Unequal bottom creases
- Talipes
- Multiple births
- Forefoot adductus
- Torticollis
- Oligohydramnios in pregnancy
About our team
We have two orthopaedic consultants - Mr Jonathan Page and Mr Mubashshar Ahmad, as well as an extended scope physiotherapy practitioner (ESP) who carries out triage and assists to help reduce consultant waiting lists by holding weekly assessment and review clinics. The ESP also takes the lead on research projects and complex cases. The service is supported by two medical secretaries who work within the orthopaedic administrative team.
Working collaboratively with other teams and services
We work across hospital sites and with neighbouring trusts for peer support and clinical effectiveness. We also work closely with our professional colleagues in the children’s physiotherapy service - they are a highly specialist team of physiotherapists who are based at Chester-Le-Street Hospital.
How to access our services
We hold assessment and review clinics across our hospital sites, including University Hospital of North Durham, Darlington Memorial Hospital, Bishop Auckland Hospital, Sedgefield Community Hospital and Chester-Le-Street Community Hospital.
The team is available Monday to Friday, except bank holidays. Please note not all clinicians work across all sites.
How to refer into our service
General Practitioners (GP’s), Paediatricians and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) can refer patients into our service. Unfortunately we do not accept self-referrals, or referrals from parents/carers.
