Price Transparency
Shoes for Different Orthopedic Needs

Shoes for Different Orthopedic Needs

by | Sep 21, 2022 | Uncategorized

At Scottish Rite for Children, many of our patients are treated for conditions affecting the lower extremities, such as the legs or feet. Some of these treatments can make it challenging for parents to find the right shoes for their child, so we have some tips and tricks to help navigate shoe shopping and ensure a proper fit.

When Buying Shoes
Most braces are built to fit in athletic shoes. They may also fit in hiking boots or lace-up dress shoes. Sometimes it can still be difficult to find properly fitting shoes. When buying shoes, always fit the shoes to the child with the brace on. Each brand and style of shoe fits differently. With a brace, most children will need wide shoes. Also, shoes with tongues that extend closer to the toe will fit braces more easily.

Shoes from Orthotics
When fitting a new leg brace, Scottish Rite for Children may provide one pair of athletic shoes. This allows us to see how the brace works and will allow your child to start wearing the brace immediately. These will not be replaced when they wear out.

Shoe Lifts or Wedges
Most children like to have several different pairs of shoes to wear, therefore you may want to have multiple pairs adjusted. A shoe lift or wedge can be added to shoes that you provide. For these buildups, drop off or mail the shoes to the Orthotics department. It may take several days to complete the work. Some shoes with silicone or gum rubber soles cannot be modified.

Modifying Shoes to Fit Braces
Certain shoes can be modified to allow them to fit better with a brace. It is important to make sure that the shoe comes close to fitting, before deciding to modify it.

  • Remove the insole.
  • Cut the tongue longer.
  • If the shoe is made of leather, a shoe repair shop can stretch the shoe.

Differently Sized Feet
Most children who wear a single brace, or have different sized feet, can wear the same sized shoes on both feet. Buy shoes to fit the larger. If the shoe is too loose on the smaller foot, try modifying that shoe.

  • Add an additional insole.
  • Pack the toe section of the shoe with cotton balls.
  • Put a dancer’s toe pad in the toe of the shoe.
  • Have your child wear two socks on the small side.

These modifications may not always work. If your child’s feet differ by at least two full sizes, you may need mismatched shoes. The easiest way to do this is to buy two pairs of shoes and discard the unneeded shoes. See the other side for additional resources.

Shoe Stores
A full-service shoe store can help fit your child with shoes.

Mismatched Shoes
If your child’s feet differ by at least two sizes, he or she may need mismatched shoes. Companies that sell single or mismatched shoes:

Services to share shoes between individuals with the opposite shoe concerns:

  • National Odd Shoe Exchange
  • Shoewap
  • Odd Shoe Finder

Special Shoes
Most children are able to wear standard shoes with their braces. However, you may need to special order an extra-wide style. Some models include:

  • BILLY Footwear (toe zippers)
  • Saucony Kids
  • Stride Rite
  • Piedro
  • Plae
  • Apis Mt. Emey
  • Nike FLYEASE (heel zippers)

Download the PDF.

Blood Clots: What Parents Need To Know

Blood Clots: What Parents Need To Know

by | Jan 14, 2022 | Uncategorized

At Scottish Rite for Children, our Quality and Performance Improvement department is dedicated in making sure our team is providing the safest and most efficient care to all patients. Learn more about blood clots below – the signs and symptoms, and the most common risk factors.
Blood clots are extremely rare in young patients undergoing surgery. However, when they do occur, they are very serious. Blood clots in adolescents are increasing due to reduced physical activity (sitting more and moving less).

What is a blood clot?

A blood clot (thrombosis) arises when blood cells clump together within a vein. This can occur within the first few weeks after surgery. Clots mostly occur in a deep vein of the thigh or calf. This type of clot is called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Signs and Symptoms of DVT:

  • Pain/tenderness of the thigh or calf
  • Leg swelling (edema)
  • Skin that feels warm to the touch
  • Red streaks along the leg

If a DVT breaks free from the vein where it formed, it can travel to the lungs. This is known as a pulmonary embolism (PE). A PE is life-threatening.

Signs and Symptoms of PE:

  • Unexplained shortness of breath
  • Rapid breathing
  • Lightheadedness or passing out
  • Fast heart rate
  • Chest pain anywhere under the rib cage (may be worse with deep breathing)

What are the risk factors?

The majority of blood clots go undetected. It is very important to discuss any possible risks your child might have with a medical provider when screened before a surgical procedure.
Major risk factors:

  • Genetic condition that affects clotting
  • History of blood clots, DVT or PE
  • Family member who had blood clots, DVT or PE

Additional risk factors:

  • Medicines with estrogen (birth control)
  • Not moving
  • Infection
  • Obesity
  • Pregnancy
  • Cancer
  • Conditions or syndromes that cause systemic inflammatory response

What can we do to prevent a blood clot after surgery?

  • Sequential compression devices (SCD) may be applied to your child’s legs to help prevent blood clots during and/or after surgery while in the hospital.
  • Help your child get out of bed and move as directed.
  • Your child should not sit or lie down longer than three hours at a time while awake.
  • Travel is not recommended for three weeks after surgery. If your child must travel, it is recommended that he or she stop every hour and walk. Crutches should be used, if instructed by your team.
  • Help your child perform blood clot prevention exercises as directed. Your child should perform ankle pump exercises every 30 minutes, while sitting down.
  • Any other instructions to prevent blood clots will come from your medical team.
Letter from the President: A Legacy of Incredible Magnitude

Letter from the President: A Legacy of Incredible Magnitude

by | Aug 12, 2021 | Uncategorized

This update from President/CEO Robert L. Walker was previously published in Rite Up, 2021 – Issue 2. 

One hundred years ago, the Texas Masons and W. B. Carrell, M.D., created a place like no other. The Scottish Rite for Children’s mission has never wavered, and throughout the years, each staff member, volunteer, trustee, friend, and donor has focused on how we can improve the lives of the children we serve locally and around the world.

A milestone year, like our centennial, brings countless moments of celebration and joy, as well as a time for reflection and appreciation for where we have been. We can only imagine the obstacles facing a new hospital founded in the early 1920s in the midst of a polio epidemic. Orthopedics was in its infancy, and polio brought unprecedented challenges, experimental treatments, and feelings of fear and panic into the community. Just as COVID-19 has greatly impacted our lives, polio caused devastating and momentous changes a century earlier.

Thinking about our recent experiences and considering what our predecessors must have gone through, I’m filled with pride, realizing our triumphs. Led by the medical staff and clinical teams, patients continued to receive care in spite of the pandemic. Everyone did what was necessary to create a safe environment for all patients and staff.

Throughout the years, we have been reminded of all the tireless care given, adversities overcome, and accomplishments achieved — it is a legacy of incredible magnitude. More than 325,000 children have experienced the life-changing care of Scottish Rite for Children. Our experts continue to lead the way with exceptional treatments, world-class education, and groundbreaking research, impacting children around the world.

Although our centennial year is different from what we originally planned, it is clear that our one-of-a-kind institution has a commitment that has endured the test of time and will continue to do so. We are all proud of our achievements and grateful to contribute to that unshakable mission for another 100 years.

Find out more about the Boundless Centennial Campaign.

Telemedicine at Scottish Rite

Telemedicine at Scottish Rite

by | Jun 19, 2020 | Uncategorized

At Scottish Rite for Children, we are committed to providing world-renowned patient care. During this time, it has been our priority to continue that commitment of quality, safe and convenient treatment options for our patients and families.

Here is what you need to know about our telemedicine capabilities: 

How do you access a video visit? 

  • All video visits at Scottish Rite are accessed through MyChart – the organization’s patient portal.
  • mySRH is the entry way to access a telemedicine visit. In addition to receiving access for your video visit, we encourage families to sign up to be able to pre-register, self-schedule, communicate directly with your clinic team and look up results from X-rays or other tests.

Equipment needed for your telemedicine visit:

  • Internet access through a desktop, tablet or mobile device.
  • An Apple iPad or Android tablet typically deliver the easiest video and audio video visit experience. The integrated front and rear cameras come in handy if you need to show your provider a wound, elbow, cast, foot, etc.

Is the video visit private and secure? 
Yes – through your mySRH login, you are given a personalized link to access your video visit.

What are the benefits of a virtual visit versus an in-person visit?

  • Increased access to your clinic team.
  • Convenience in various forms for the family – no traffic, no waiting in waiting rooms, no risk of exposing yourself, no need to arrange childcare for siblings, etc.
  • Telemedicine helps our team have a better understanding of a child’s home setup – seeing how the patient conducts daily living, i.e. moving from one place to another, spacing issues. We are able to provide suggestions on how to make things easier/better for the child in the home setting with equipment, etc.
  • More relaxed environment being at home for the child.

Clinics conducting video visits:

  • Rheumatology
  • Orthopedics
  • Sports Medicine
  • Sports Therapy
  • Pediatric Developmental Disabilities
  • Physical and Occupational Therapy
  • Dyslexia
  • Orthotics and Prosthetics
  • Psychology
  • Neurology

How do I schedule my child for a video visit? 
If you are interested in having your child scheduled for a video visit, please contact your clinic team – Dallas: 214-559-7400 and Frisco: 469-515-7100.

Click here to access the mySRH patient portal.

Share Your Story: Hole in One

Share Your Story: Hole in One

by | Jun 2, 2020 | Scoliosis & Spine, Uncategorized

Meet Phoebe, a patient seen by our spine experts. Learn more about her journey below.

Blog written by Phoebe’s mom, Victoria of Rockwall, TX.

When Phoebe was in sixth grade, she had her annual pediatrician visit and that was when our doctor first recommended further evaluation of her back. Phoebe’s shoulders were uneven, and she appeared to have an abnormal spinal curve. Our pediatrician recommended that we go to Scottish Rite for Children.

Phoebe became Dr. McIntosh’s patient and due to the degree of curvature in Phoebe’s spine, a scoliosis back brace was highly recommended and necessary to stop the progression of the curve. As a mother of a beautiful, young and active daughter, the news was a hard pill to swallow. We were very nervous and afraid of how the brace was going to impact our daughter’s lifestyle. Dr. McIntosh was very understanding and thorough, answered all our questions and made us, especially Phoebe, feel comfortable.

Dr. McIntosh is an expert and we felt confident that our daughter was in great hands.

That same day, we met with Kelsey in the Prosthetics department. She took measurements and designed Phoebe’s back brace. Phoebe loved all the staff and doctors but felt a special connection with Kelsey. She was funny, young at heart and spent a lot of time with Phoebe during the brace adjustments.

At that time, Phoebe was 11 years old and about to transition from elementary to middle school. It was hard to see her wear a thick plastic brace during the hot 100+ degree weather. Phoebe has always been tough, and she rarely complained. She didn’t like the brace, but she knew that it was the only option to stop the curvature progression. Many times, she would even wear it for more than the 20 hours a day that was recommended. She started with a 19-degree curvature and at the end of the process, she was at a 17-degree curvature, which was great.

As a family, we did different activities together and allowed Phoebe to try many different sports. Phoebe was able to play soccer and basketball, run track, and even participated in cheerleading – all throughout her bracing process. Dana Dempsey, the Scottish Rite Director of Therapeutic Recreation, invited us to participate in a Learn to Golf clinic. It was at this clinic when Phoebe decided to try golf and she fell in love with the sport! Through the years, she has participated in several different Learn to Golf clinics and is now on the varsity golf team at her high school. She even made the varsity team as a freshman!

We are beyond grateful for all of the staff and volunteers at Scottish Rite. Phoebe’s scoliosis experience was much brighter due to the care and love she felt, and we strongly recommend Scottish Rite to anyone else that may be going down this path.

Learn more about Phoebe’s Story and see how Learn to Golf changed her life. Click here.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? WE WANT TO HEAR IT! SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US.

Over-scheduled to Under-scheduled: When Your Kids Can’t Go to School and Usual Activities

Over-scheduled to Under-scheduled: When Your Kids Can’t Go to School and Usual Activities

by | Mar 17, 2020 | Uncategorized

Transitioning suddenly from an over-scheduled routine to an under-scheduled, and hopefully temporary lifestyle, may not be such a bad thing for kids. We know they are happy while at school and active in their sports, but a little pause might be good too.

Our team has a few suggestions for making the most out of this time and helping your family cope and come out on the other side ready to go.

Physical Activity and Good Nutrition
It might seem obvious to some, but the consequences of dropping hours of physical activity may sneak up on kids. Missing daily playground, sports practices and games and even birthday parties at venues or parks, dramatically reduces energy expenditure. Taking action to keep physical activity up and nutrition balanced to meet those demands and not exceed them requires a little planning.

Look for ways to be physically active for 60 minutes each day.

  • Search online for ideas and resources like videos for kids’ yoga and active games.
  • Make play time a family event.
  • Get outside and take a walk.

Young athletes will benefit from a rest from intense training in their primary sports.

  • Consider “cross-training” activities that are unlike the primary sport.
  • Keep working on individual skills for sports.
  • Help your kids replicate activities from the practice that are independent or in very small groups.
  • Check out our warm-up programs for golfers and basketball players.

Each day, more websites and organizations are making their creative ideas accessible to the public.

Matters of Their Minds
Pediatric psychology postdoctoral fellow, Emily Stapleton, Psy.D., advises families to talk about COVID-19 in a calm, non-reactionary way and limit exposure to the news. Parents should select resources like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) blog for advice on helping children through this challenging time. A recent article specifically addresses keeping a consistent daily routine in spite of school closures and how to talk to your children in an age-appropriate and honest way about the situation.

Be a Good Role Model
Whether it’s good hand hygiene or creative exercise, consider the impact watching you has on your child’s health. Stay calm and connected and help your children do the same.

Other Related Resources