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Fueled by Hope: How Andrew Returned to the Game After Perthes

Fueled by Hope: How Andrew Returned to the Game After Perthes

by | Nov 4, 2025 | Hip Disorders

Previously published in Rite Up, 2025 – Issue 3

The hope of winning is what fuels 10-year-old Andrew, a passionate multisport athlete of Redmond, Oregon. He always plays with a heart full of ambition, unaware that this same spirit would be a guiding force throughout his treatment process.

In second grade, Andrew developed pain in his knee and began to limp. A local provider diagnosed him with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, or Perthes disease, a rare childhood hip disorder. The condition affected the ball of Andrew’s right hip joint. The blood supply to the ball of his hip joint was disrupted, which caused his bone to die in a process known as osteonecrosis.

“We were devastated,” says Megan, Andrew’s mother. “I watched Andrew’s heart break right in front of me, especially when we learned he couldn’t play sports for a while. I didn’t know how we would get through this.”

Initially, Andrew underwent surgery and wore a cast, but his condition did not improve. Megan searched for other treatment options and discovered Harry Kim M.D., M.S., a world-renowned expert in Perthes disease and director of the Center for Excellence in Hip at Scottish Rite for Children.

After a flight from Oregon to Dallas, Andrew’s family found solutions to their son’s condition at Scottish Rite. Andrew underwent a perfusion MRI that revealed he had only 30% to 40% of blood flow to the ball of his hip joint. Dr. Kim performed surgery on Andrew’s thigh bone and repositioned the ball of his femur into the hip socket. Then, he installed metal plates and screws to stabilize the hip and promote blood flow.

“In older patients like Andrew, surgery reduces the chance of needing additional surgeries later on,” Dr. Kim says. “Some people assume Perthes disease negatively affects children’s lives. However, families should always stay hopeful. With the right treatment, we can help children return to the activities they love.”

After a year of healing, Dr. Kim cleared Andrew to walk, run and play again. Andrew made a grand return to his Little League team and continues his path of becoming a sports legend, thanks to the hope his care team and family kept throughout his care.

“Dr. Kim is not just knowledgeable about Perthes disease, but he also understands the mental toll it takes on kids and their families,” Megan says. “You can feel Dr. Kim’s passion. It’s not just his job — it’s his calling. Thanks to Scottish Rite, I finally can relax because I know Andrew is in the best hands.”

Healing More Than a Hip: Pierre Spreads Compassion After Perthes Disease

Healing More Than a Hip: Pierre Spreads Compassion After Perthes Disease

by | Sep 2, 2025 | Hip Disorders

Riding a bike is a rite of passage in childhood — a symbol of freedom and fun. For 8-year-old Pierre, gliding through his neighborhood in Michigan was a favorite pastime. But one day, what started as an ordinary ride ended with a sudden, sharp pain in his hip.

“The pain was immobilizing,” Pierre says, now 18, reflecting on this memory. “I could barely walk.”

Concerned for his health, Pierre’s family brought him to a local emergency room and consulted several specialists, which led to a diagnosis of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. Better known as Perthes disease, this rare childhood hip disorder occurs when the blood supply to the ball of the hip joint is disrupted, which causes the bone to die.

After searching for ways to treat his rare condition at other facilities across the country and receiving surgical treatments that failed to improve his hip, Pierre’s family ultimately found their way to Scottish Rite for Children and began treatment with pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Director of the Center for Excellence in Hip Harry Kim, M.D., M.S.

“Scottish Rite was a place I actually looked forward to visiting,” Pierre says. “The hospital itself was huge and child friendly with interactive spaces. Those things made it feel less like a hospital and more like a place for kids to heal.”

Pierre required surgery to heal his hip. Dr. Kim performed an osteochondroplasty to reshape Pierre’s hip, which involves removing the excess bone on the hip socket to improve hip mobility. Additionally, Dr. Kim performed a soft tissue release, a procedure done to loosen the tight, contracted tissues around the joint to improve movement. Following surgery, Pierre continued to heal through various stretching exercises and physiotherapy, eventually regaining his ability to walk independently and play sports.

“Dr. Kim not only fixed my hip, but he protected my childhood,” Pierre says. “Dr. Kim brought humor, peace and consistency when everything else felt unpredictable. He made the whole experience easier for my family and I.”

After healing, Pierre reflects on nothing but positive memories of the community he built at Scottish Rite, including his care team and the other patients he met. “Scottish Rite was the first place where I felt seen, respected and uplifted through the hardest time of my life,” Pierre says. “Just being able to be around other kids reminded me that I wasn’t broken. I was just in progress.”

With his senior year of high school underway, Pierre is finding purpose in helping other children find their community and play the sport he loves — basketball. He hopes to provide the children he coaches with a similar level of compassion that he received from his care team at Scottish Rite years ago.

Do you have a story? We want to hear it! Share your story with us.

Central Oregon Daily: Andrew’s Journey Back to the Baseball Field

Central Oregon Daily: Andrew’s Journey Back to the Baseball Field

by | Jun 12, 2025 | Hip Disorders, Press Coverage

Andrew was only 8 when Perthes disease, a rare childhood hip disorder, changed everything. One day, he was playing baseball, and the next, he couldn’t walk.

“There were days he would come home from school, and he was in so much pain he would go lay down in his bed for the rest of the day,” says Megan, Andrew’s mother. “We knew something was wrong.”

With no clear answers, the Barrs consulted multiple specialists and advocated for a perfusion MRI. Unable to get one done in their hometown, they flew from Oregon to Dallas to Scottish Rite for Children where pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Director of the Center for Excellence in Hip Harry Kim, M.D., M.S., treated Andrew.

After a successful surgery and two years of physical therapy sessions, Andrew was cleared to walk.

“It’s so amazing to see him do something that he loves again,” Megan says.

Watch his full story on Central Oregon Daily News.

Micaela’s Road to Confidence Through Expert Care

Micaela’s Road to Confidence Through Expert Care

by | Feb 28, 2025 | Hip Disorders, Prosthetics & Orthotics, Scoliosis & Spine

Micaela, of Northlake, Texas, is described by her family as the “ultimate girly girl.” She can often be seen arriving to her appointments at Scottish Rite for Children wearing pink or purple with bows in her hair. At age 6, she is full of confidence and fearlessness — a feat gained from the support she receives daily from her family and care team at Scottish Rite.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Micaela was born with several conditions. She was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis, a spinal curve that is present at birth. She also has tibial hemimelia in her left leg, meaning part of the bone in her lower leg  was missing at birth. This ultimately led to the amputation of her lower leg. Additionally, Micaela has dysplasia of her left hip, a condition in which the hip joint did not form correctly. Because of these conditions, her family recognized early on that she would need specialized, expert care.

“On the island, access to specialists was limited due to long waiting lists,” says Emele, Micaela’s mother. “Since coming to Scottish Rite, Micaela has become more independent, thanks to her care team.”

After moving to Texas to be closer to family, Micaela was referred to Scottish Rite by a pediatrician to receive multidisciplinary care. Pediatric orthopedic surgeon Jaysson T. Brooks, M.D., led Micaela’s spinal care, which required her to wear a series of Mehta casts. These casts were used until she could be transitioned to custom spine braces created by Scottish Rite’s Orthotics and Prosthetics team.

“One of Micaela’s favorite parts about coming to Scottish Rite is playing with the projector games on the wall in the waiting room, right before going in for an X-ray,” Emele says. “At each appointment, Dr. Brooks makes sure we don’t leave with any questions about her care.”

Her team of orthotists creates prostheses that adjust to her physical needs and aesthetic preferences, incorporating rainbow and unicorn designs. Micaela also meets with occupational therapists to practice moving around in a walker and wheelchair. While her care journey is not over, Micaela’s family has joined Scottish Rite’s Peer Support Program to connect with other families whose children have similar medical conditions.

“Without a doubt, our Scottish Rite experience has made us feel like we are around family,” Emele says. “We are excited to meet with other families and potentially gain new friends. To us, Scottish Rite means hope for a better life for my girl.”

Leap of Faith: Dane’s Daring Journey of Overcoming Perthes Disease

Leap of Faith: Dane’s Daring Journey of Overcoming Perthes Disease

by | Sep 27, 2024 | Hip Disorders

It is always fulfilling to learn about the impact Scottish Rite for Children has on patients beyond treatment. Recently, former patient Dane Hammack felt nostalgic about the care he received at Scottish Rite for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, also known as Perthes. Dane says his family re-located from Paris, Texas to Dallas so he could receive care here in the 1980s.

“My favorite thing about my time at Scottish Rite was the friends and staff,” Dane says. “I remember sharing a room with a kid who had a spine disorder. We would shoot ice at each other through bendy straws while we were bed-ridden.” Dane even remembers when the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders visited!

Perthes disease is rare and is more commonly seen in boys. Approximately 10 children per 100,000 will be diagnosed each year. Our experts in the Center for Excellence in Hip are dedicated to uncovering the mysteries of Perthes disease, consistently advancing treatment methods through clinical studies. Even now, few doctors have experience in diagnosing and treating Perthes disease. Scottish Rite staff provide individualized and comprehensive care for the whole child’s physical and mental state – an aspect that Dane reflects positively on.

“The staff never felt sorry of my condition, which made me feel normal in a way,” Dane says. “Through the surgery and braces, I was able to get through it all.”

After completing treatment at Scottish Rite, Dane says he was able to enjoy his childhood to the fullest. He was very active and played on his high school’s football and wrestling teams.

“I moved to San Diego to be with my dad after treatment,” Dane says. “No one there knew me as the kid with the cast. I had the sense that I could do whatever I wanted to do.”

At age 20, Dane went to a Dallas military base to enlist in the U.S. Army. For each branch of military service, a series of examinations are conducted to see if the applicant meets the branch’s requirements. During Dane’s physical, his surgery scar from Perthes disease treatment was seen by the doctor.

“The doctor did an X-ray on my hip, and even I was in shock,” Dane says. “I was told I couldn’t enlist, because of the Perthes disease and its damage to my right hip. All I was asking for was to be given a fair shot.”

Dane decided to reach out to his local Senator, Sen. Phil Gramm at the time, and sent a letter that described his situation. “I handwrote that letter with pencil,” Dane says. “I just wanted to get going!” Dane’s letter to Gramm got his case moving, and his eligibility to enlist would be determined by one final task – run a timed 10K.

“My mother always said everything is only temporary and nothing lasts forever,” Dane says. “The worst times you will ever have won’t last forever.” After two years of challenges, Dane ran a successful time and finally enlisted into the U.S. Army.

For 12 years, Dane was in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (Airborne) as a psychological operations specialist and then a jumpmaster. He travelled to many countries, such as Malawi, Namibia, Colombia and Ecuador to name a few. As a jumpmaster, Dane oversaw the safety checks for parachutes and was the first one to jump out of the plane. However, he sustained a back injury after a parachute accident and decided to leave the Army for life closer to family.

Dane applied to the U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona at the age of 32 and is still serving as a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

“Thinking back to what helped me was the people who supported me,” Dane says. “Thank you does not come close to expressing what Scottish Rite has offered me.”

Our patients’ stories are a timeless gift, reminding us why we serve and what an honor it is to give children back their childhood. When you come to Scottish Rite, you truly become a member of our forever family!

Do you have a story? We want to hear it! Share your story with us.

Recognizing Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Your Baby

Recognizing Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Your Baby

by | Nov 27, 2023 | Hip Disorders

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) occurs when a baby’s hip joint doesn’t form properly. In most cases, the problem is present at birth, but DDH can also develop as a child grows. It’s essential for parents to know the signs of DDH. The earlier a specialist treats the condition, the better a child’s chances of appropriate development and living without hip problems later in life. DDH occurs in about one in 100 infants.

Defining DDH

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The ball, called the femoral head, sits at the upper end of the thighbone and fits snugly into a socket in the large pelvis bone. This ball moves around but always stays inside the hip socket, allowing the hip to move backward, forward and side-to-side while supporting body weight.

When a child has DDH, the ball is not fully covered in the socket or the socket is shallow, which can easily lead to a dislocated hip. Or the hip may already be dislocated or completely or partially out of the socket. Without treatment, the hip joint will not grow properly. As a child gets older, he or she might have pain when walking or develop arthritis at a young age.

Babies at Higher Risk of DDH

While any baby can have DDH, the risk is higher in babies who:

  • Are female
  • Are the first-born child
  • Have a family history of DDH
  • Were born in the breech position (buttocks first instead of head first)

In rare cases, babies can develop DDH after birth. For example, swaddling a baby with the legs straight and tight together can increase the risk of DDH. To help prevent this, talk to your provider about how to use sleep sacks and how to swaddle your infant correctly.

“There’s a lot of importance in how we take care of our babies’ hips after they’re born,” said hip specialist and pediatric orthopedic surgeon William Z. Morris, M.D. “Swaddling the legs in a forced extension can cause the hips to develop incorrectly. The ball and the socket are almost like moldable pieces of clay when you are young, so letting the hips and legs move into a flexed and separated position helps keep the ball tucked up in the socket and makes the socket deeper and the ball rounder.”

When swaddling your baby, focus on wrapping the arms and upper torso only, allowing the hips and legs to move without constriction.

Know the Signs

Babies with DDH do not have pain from the condition. However, parents may notice:

  • A clicking or popping in the hip that you can hear or feel
  • Differences in leg length (one leg being shorter than the other)
  • One leg or hip is not moving the same as the other
  • Skin folds under the buttocks do not line up
  • A limp when the child starts to walk

If you notice your baby has any of these symptoms, immediately make an appointment with your pediatrician.

Navigating a DDH Diagnosis

Doctors usually find signs of DDH during a child’s annual checkup. If symptoms are present or the child has risk factors, the doctor will likely order tests to confirm a diagnosis. These might include:

  • Ultrasound: This imaging test uses sound waves to create pictures of the hip joint. Ultrasound works best with babies younger than 6 months old because the hip joint is mostly cartilage at this age and doesn’t show up on an X-ray.
  • X-ray: In babies older than 6 months, bones have formed well enough to appear on X-ray images.

If your child has DDH, your pediatrician will refer you to a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. The surgeon will choose the best treatment to hold the hip in place and help the ball stay in the socket so the hip joint will grow normally and not cause problems as your child gets older. Early intervention with DDH is important.

“Parents should know that DDH caught early is treated very successfully,” Morris said. “And the vast majority of the time we can do so without surgery.”

Treatment options for developmental dysplasia of the hip include:

  • Bracing: This is the most common treatment for babies younger than 6 months old. The soft fabric brace, called a Pavlik harness, is a shoulder harness with attached foot stirrups. The brace puts the baby’s legs in a “frog-like” position that allows the ball of the hip joint to fit into the socket properly. This treatment usually lasts about six to 12 weeks. Many babies don’t need additional treatment. Even severe cases, where the hip is fully dislocated, are treatable with a harness or brace more than 80% of the time.
  • Closed reduction and spica casting: If bracing does not correct the problem or the child is older than 6 months at the time of diagnosis, the surgeon might do a closed reduction procedure. The surgeon will inject contrast dye into the hip joint to see the cartilage and gently move the thighbone, guiding the ball of the joint into the socket. The baby will then wear a special cast, called a hip spica cast, for two to four months. The cast will hold the hip joint in place.
  • Open reduction: This is a type of surgery done if a closed reduction is unsuccessful or when the child is older than 18 months at the start of treatment. During the surgery, the surgeon moves muscles to see the hip joint and puts the ball properly in place. An open reduction also requires a hip spica cast to hold the hip joint in place.

When doctors find DDH early, your child will likely benefit more from nonsurgical treatment and may not need surgery. If you have any concerns about your child’s hips, talk to your pediatrician about a referral to a pediatric orthopedic specialist.

Is your baby showing signs of developmental dysplasia of the hip? Schedule an appointment with a specialist at the Scottish Rite for Children.