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Scottish Rite for Children No. 2 in the Nation & No. 1 in Texas for Pediatric Orthopedic Care by U.S. News & World Report

Scottish Rite for Children No. 2 in the Nation & No. 1 in Texas for Pediatric Orthopedic Care by U.S. News & World Report

by | Oct 8, 2024 | General News

Scottish Rite for Children ranks No. 2 in the nation for pediatric orthopedic care according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-2025 “Best Hospitals for Pediatric Orthopedics” rankings. This places Scottish Rite, yet again, at No. 1 for pediatric orthopedics in Texas and the Southwest region, which includes Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Since specialty rankings began in 2007, Scottish Rite has repeatedly led the nation as a top 10 pediatric orthopedic hospital.

“We believe that the patient experience should be extraordinary from start to finish,” said President and CEO Robert Walker. “As a national leader and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in Texas, hundreds of thousands of children have benefited from our exemplary patient care, innovative research and the unrivaled education of our fellows, residents and other medical professionals who go on to provide transformative care around the world.”

U.S. News determines their rankings with the help of a research and consulting firm that analyzes data from 108 children’s hospitals across 11 specialties and surveys thousands of pediatric specialists. Children’s hospitals awarded a “Best” designation excelled at factors including clinical outcomes, level and quality of hospital resources directly related to patient care, and expert opinion among pediatric specialists. The rankings assist parents and caregivers, along with their physicians, in navigating the challenges of choosing the best possible care for children with serious conditions or complex medical needs.

“Consistently receiving recognition from esteemed peers across the country reinforces our position as the expert in pediatric orthopedic care,” said Chief of Staff Daniel J. Sucato, M.D., M.S. “At the same time, we are child-focused, ensuring that the patient is at the center of everything we do. The feeling of being seen and heard, of knowing that you matter, is crucial to the healing process.”

Scottish Rite is also nationally ranked in patient satisfaction. Earlier this year, for the eighth time, the hospital received the NRC Health 2024 Excellence in Patient Experience Award in the children’s hospital category.

“Our multidisciplinary team of surgeons, nurses, therapists, researchers and in-house specialists collaborate to offer our patients and their families a continuum of care that is unmatched,” said Sucato. “We treat the whole child, which may include addressing mental, emotional and behavioral needs as well as their physical condition.”

With 23 pediatric orthopedic surgeons on staff, Scottish Rite employs more than any other provider in the Southwest. Scottish Rite orthopedists write and edit the textbook considered the gold standard orthopedic reference guide by practitioners worldwide. Producing graduates who now hold leadership positions at children’s hospitals across the country, the Dorothy & Bryant Edwards Fellowship in Orthopedics and Scoliosis program is one of the oldest and the largest pediatric orthopedic fellowships in the world. The organization’s robust research program has not only discovered and mapped genes associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, clubfoot and lupus, but it has also invented and advanced revolutionary medical devices resulting in more than 50 patents.

In collaboration with UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center, Scottish Rite for Children has repeatedly garnered recognition from U.S. News for its commitment to excellence, consistently ranking the organization among the best pediatric orthopedic facilities in the United States. The rankings and ratings are available online here.

​About U.S. News Rankings
Introduced in 2007 to help families of children with rare or life-threatening illnesses find the best medical care available, U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals rankings are the most comprehensive source of quality-related information on U.S. pediatric hospitals.

U.S. News, alongside a research and consulting firm, collected and analyzed data from 119 children’s hospitals and surveyed thousands of pediatric specialists. Children’s hospitals awarded a “Best” designation excelled at factors such as clinical outcomes, level and quality of hospital resources directly related to patient care and expert opinion among pediatric specialists.

Summer Safety with William Morris, M.D.

Summer Safety with William Morris, M.D.

by | Jun 12, 2024 | General News

William Z. Morris, M.D., knows pediatric trauma and knows what it’s like to be a parent. As a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, his experience in the operating room has led him to raise awareness about some of the risks associated with lawn mowers and ATVs.
 
“I wouldn’t let my young kids use or be around a lawn mower,” says Morris. “It’s estimated that there are over 9,000 pediatric lawn mower injuries a year. One large study showed that about half of these injuries occur in kids 5 yrs of age or under. Lawn mowers can cause pretty terrible injuries that can result in amputations, most frequently in the lower extremities. In fact, around a quarter of all traumatic amputations in children are attributed to lawnmowers.

The second thing I wouldn’t let my young kids do is ride an ATV or all terrain vehicle. Injuries from ATV accidents are serious with one study showing almost 90% of kids have to get admitted to the hospital, half have some broken bone, and a quarter end up in the intensive care unit. Our general surgeon colleagues at Children’s Medical Center also recently showed that ATV injuries at our trauma center went up 77% during the COVID era, so we have unfortunately been seeing more of these injuries over the past few years.”

At any age, safety is key when using ATVs and lawn mowers. Please be careful as we head into warmer weather and outdoor activities.

Knock Knees and Bowlegs: Should You Be Concerned?

Knock Knees and Bowlegs: Should You Be Concerned?

by | Apr 9, 2024 | General News

If you notice your child’s legs curve outward at the knees or that the knees touch but the ankles are apart, your first reaction might be to worry. The good news is that knock knees and bowlegs are rarely a cause for concern, and most children with these conditions require no treatment. However, in rare cases, knock knees and bowlegs can signal a more serious condition.  

What Are Knock Knees and Bowlegs? 

When a child’s knees touch while standing up straight with their legs together, it is called knock knees, or genu valgum. This condition is common as a child grows and typically begins between ages 2 and 4. Usually, knock knees resolve on their own by the time the child is 7 or 8 years old.  

When a child’s legs curve outward while the feet and ankles are touching, it is called bowlegs, or genu varum. This condition often shows up in younger children, especially infants and toddlers. In many cases, bowlegs go away by age 3 or 4.  

Why These Leg Conditions Occur 

If you notice that your child has knock knees or bowlegs, it’s important to let your doctor know and have your child evaluated to ensure there isn’t an underlying condition. The earlier a doctor sees your child, the less likely these or any other orthopedic conditions will impact your child’s development. 

When children develop knock knees at age 4 or older, the cause might be a different health problem, such as: 

  • A healed fracture in growth plates around the knee 

  • Being overweight 

  • Dysplasia, a condition in which abnormal cells can affect bone growth 

  • Tumor in a leg bone that causes the knee to turn inward 

In rare cases, bowlegs can occur due to bone diseases, such as Blount’s disease, a growth disorder that leads to leg problems. Other conditions, such as injury or infection, can also affect how bones grow around the knees. 

Knock knees and bowlegs can also be caused by rickets, a bone growth condition resulting from a lack of vitamin D or calcium in the diet.  

Caring for Your Child’s Legs 

If your child has knock knees, your child’s doctor will closely monitor their development and help them grow correctly.  

The doctor might recommend seeing an orthopedic surgeon if: 

  • Legs don’t straighten on their own 

  • The knee on one side turns in more than on the other side 

  • Your child has a limp, pain, weakness, or trouble running 

Surgical options are available for some older children after age 10 to address these symptoms. 

If your child has bowlegs, observation and time may be the only treatments required to correct the issue. Your child may need to see a specialist if the legs are bowed differently, don’t straighten as they should, or if your child experiences discomfort, immobility or weakness. In some cases, bracing or surgery may be recommended to correct leg alignment.  

When knock knees or bowlegs happen due to rickets, treatment includes adding vitamin D and calcium to the diet or seeing an endocrinologist if a genetic condition causes the disease.  

If you have concerns about your child’s development, schedule an appointment with a lower-limb specialist at Scottish Rite for Children. 

Growing Pains: 5 Common Questions Answered

Growing Pains: 5 Common Questions Answered

by | Mar 17, 2024 | General News

If your child complains of pain in his or her legs at the end of the day, growing pains may be the cause. In most cases, these common pains are nothing to worry about. Still, understanding the possible causes and symptoms of leg pain can help you recognize when to seek medical advice. Here are answers to five common questions about growing pains to help your child get the right care. 

1. Are Growing Pains Real? 

Growing pains are a group of symptoms that commonly affect children ages 3 to 12. These symptoms are real, uncomfortable and may affect sleep. However, growing pains are not usually a reason for concern and do not cause long-term damage or issues. In some cases, though, symptoms may indicate a serious medical condition. 

2. What Are the Symptoms of Growing Pains? 

The most common symptom of growing pains is pain behind the knees, in the lower legs or in the thighs. Children feel this pain at night typically in both legs. Some children also experience abdominal pain or headaches along with leg pain. Symptoms tend to come and go over weeks or months and do not significantly affect activity. The pain usually does not occur every day and may go away for several days or weeks before returning.  

3. What Causes Growing Pains? 

Although growing pains are real, they aren’t related to growth or growth spurts. No one knows the actual root cause. However, doctors and researchers have identified several possible causes and risk factors, including: 

  • Anxiety, irritability or stress: Children with higher levels of these feelings may be more likely to experience growing pains. Having a parent with high anxiety or stress levels may also increase the risk. 

  • Decreased bone strength: Weakened bones may develop if your child does not get enough vitamin D, leading to growing pains.  

  • Foot issues: Children with feet that turn inward and have a low arch, also called flat feet, are more likely to get growing pains. 

  • Genetics: Growing pains tend to run in families. 

  • Hypermobile joints: Children who have loose joints or joints that can move past the normal range of motion have a higher risk of experiencing growing pains.  

  • Increased sensitivity to pain or outside stimulus: Some evidence suggests children who have growing pains are more sensitive to pain than others their age. Similarly, sensory processing issues may be related to growing pains. 

  • Overuse: Symptoms of growing pains are often worse after excessive physical activities. 

  • Vitamin D deficiency: Sometimes, growing pains

  • are associated with low vitamin D levels. 

Growing pains may not have a single cause. They usually develop for a combination of reasons. 

Although restless legs syndrome does not cause growing pains, symptoms of the conditions often overlap. Children with restless legs syndrome may also have a higher risk of growing pains.  

4. How Can You Help Relieve Your Child’s Symptoms? 

If your child has growing pains, there are many things you can do to reduce their pain, including: 

  • Gently stretching painful leg muscles 

  • Giving your child an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen 

  • Massaging the painful area 

  • Offering emotional support and letting your child know you are there for him or her 

  • Placing a heating pad or warm compress on the painful area 

  • If another underlying health condition causes growing pains, children often benefit from additional treatments, such as: 

  • A vitamin D supplement to address a deficiency 

  • Increased calcium intake to improve bone strength 

  • Mental health support to learn how to manage anxiety or stress 

  • Physical therapy for hypermobile joints 

  • Shoe orthoses for flat feet  

 5. When Should My Child Need See a Health Care Provider for Leg Pain? 

No matter the underlying cause, it’s always a good idea to talk with your child’s health care provider if he or she is experiencing new or worsening leg pain.  

Although these are not signs of growing pains, make an appointment with your child’s health care provider if he or she has one or more of the following symptoms: 

  • Leg pain accompanied by a fever, significant decrease in appetite or weight loss for no known reason 

  • Joint pain in the legs 

  • Muscle pain in the legs during exercise or in the morning 

  • Rash on one or both legs 

  • Unexplained bruising or swelling in one or both legs 

The provider can help determine the cause of growing pains, rule out other medical conditions, and suggest treatments or techniques to ease your child’s symptoms. 

​Call 214-559-8670 to schedule an appointment with a pediatric orthopedic specialist. 

Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia

Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia

by | Oct 3, 2023 | Dyslexia & Learning Disorders, General News

What is Take Flight? Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia is a curriculum written by the staff of the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders at Scottish Rite for Children. Take Flight builds on the success of the three previous dyslexia intervention programs developed by the institution: Alphabetic Phonics, the Dyslexia Training Program and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children Literacy Program. The curriculum was designed for use by dyslexia therapists with children ages 7 years and older who have developmental dyslexia. The purpose was to enable students with dyslexia to achieve and maintain better word recognition, reading fluency, reading comprehension and aid in the transition from a therapy setting to ‘real world’ learning. How is Take Flight Implemented? Take Flight is designed for small group instruction (two to six students) for a minimum of 45 minutes per day, five days each week. Alternatively, the lessons can be taught for 60 minutes each day for four days a week. Take Flight includes 132 new learning days and 98 application days for a total of 230 days of direct instruction. What is included in the Take Flight Program for Students? Take Flight contains the five components of effective reading instruction supported by the National Reading Panel research meta-analysis and mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and reading comprehension. With Take Flight, students will learn all 44 sounds of the English language, 96 letter – sound correspondence rules and 87 affixes. The student will also learn spelling rules for base words and derivatives. Practice opportunities are also provided that are designed to improve oral reading fluency. Finally, Take Flight introduces comprehension and vocabulary building strategies for both narrative and expository text in the context of oral reading exercises to prepare students for successful, independent reading. Key research findings on Take Flight include:
  • Students who complete Take Flight instruction show significant growth in all areas of reading skill.
  • Follow-up research with children who completed treatment indicates that students maintain the benefits of instruction on word reading skills and continue to improve in reading comprehension.
  • Take Flight is effective when used in schools by therapists with advanced training in remediation of students with dyslexia.
  • Students with the lowest reading skills acquire the strongest gains from Take Flight instruction.
There are 109 instructors that teach Take Flight to other dyslexia therapists representing 24 training courses. Because of this work with instructors and therapists, Take Flight is servicing children in 46 states and nine countries. Our team is now reaching more than 20,000 new students with dyslexia each year. Scottish Rite for Children also offers other supplemental programs:
  • Rite Flight: A Classroom Reading Rate Program was designed for use by classroom teachers, reading specialists and special education teachers with first through eighth grade students to help students increase their reading rate and fluency. It can be used as supplemental or intervention instruction for individuals, small groups or the whole classroom.
  • Rite Flight: A Classroom Comprehension Program may be integrated into a core reading program as a supplement to address reading comprehension more completely. It is designed for use by classroom teachers, reading specialists or special education teachers with first through eighth grade students as a tool for intensified comprehension intervention for struggling readers.
  • Build: A K-1 Early Reading Intervention is a 100-lesson reading intervention.  Build is a small group intervention that addresses the five specific components of reading intervention. Each component is taught developmentally using a direct, systematic, cumulative, multisensory method of introduction and practice to meet the specific needs of kindergarten and first grade students struggling in reading.
  • Bridges: A Dyslexia Intervention Connecting Teacher, Avatar & Student is a two-year curriculum that can be taught by a certified teacher. The avatar, Ms. Hallie, co-teaches by delivering the more complex aspects of the structured dyslexia intervention. Those familiar with Take Flight know that it was designed for use by academic language therapists. Developing that expertise is a two-year process, and at times, that can become a discrepancy between the number of students identified with dyslexia and the number of trained therapists available to provide services. Bridges is the carefully considered response to the complication.
  • Jet: A Fast-Paced Reading Intervention is a one-year curriculum that builds on the success of the four previous dyslexia intervention programs developed by the staff of Scottish Rite for Children. It was developed for individuals with dyslexia fourteen years and older.
Learn more about the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders.