About our service
The children and young people’s orthopaedic service provides intervention for a range of orthopaedic, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. We offer assessment, diagnosis and appropriate treatment interventions. 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
- 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.
Young people over the age over 16 years of age should be referred to the adult orthopaedic team.
About our team
We have two orthopaedic consultants - Mr Jonathan Page and Mr Mubashshar Ahmad, as well as an extended scope physiotherapy practitioner (ESP). They all hold clinical caseloads. The service is supported by two medical secretaries who work with the orthopaedic team.
Working collaboratively with other teams and services
We work across hospital sites and with neighbouring trusts for peer support and clinical effectiveness. We work closely with our professional colleagues in the children’s physiotherapy service who are a highly specialist team of children’s physiotherapists based at Chester-Le-Street Hospital.
Developmental dysplasia of the hip
Orthopaedics provide a hip screening service for babies who are identified at risk of hip dysplasia based on current NIPE guidelines. Find out more. Orthopaedics also accept babies for screening under the age of 6 months, identified by the GP or heath visitor who have concerns about hip development.
The screening clinics are held at Darlington Memorial Hospital and Sedgefield Community Hospital. Screening will be carried out in clinic by either an orthopaedic consultant, an extended scope 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
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.
