Our hand and upper extremity team can help your child regain function, gain independence and enjoy a full, active childhood.
Our Approach to Hand and Upper Extremity Care
When your child has a hand or upper extremity condition, they may struggle with dressing, schoolwork or activities they love. We’ll focus on treating their condition, while supporting their personal goals in daily life around schoolwork, self-care and play.
To do this, we gather a team of surgeons, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, among others. Often, you’ll meet with several specialists in one visit.
Care for the Common and Complex
Our team treats everything from fractures, like a broken arm, to congenital conditions, like polydactyly (extra fingers).
We also treat kids who have cerebral palsy, helping them use their hands and arms effectively.
Leading-edge Treatments
We strive to help your child move, play and grow with confidence. We’ll tailor their treatment plan to their needs, age and goals. This could include:
- Adaptive technologies: Custom splints, braces and tools that help your child write, eat and dress with greater independence.
- Prosthetics: Devices to help improve function and independence if they’re missing a hand, arm or other extremity.
- Surgery: Advanced techniques, including microsurgery, to repair injuries and congenital conditions, while protecting growth, sensation and long-term function.
- Casting: Prompt treatment for a broken bone, with hand and upper extremity experts available if your child needs more advanced care.
What to Expect for Hand and Upper Extremity Care
At your child’s first visit, your child’s pediatric hand surgeon will:
- Review health history, imaging, diagnosis and what to expect
- Perform a physical exam
- Talk through treatment options
- Recommend additional testing or evaluations if needed
We’ll answer your questions and explain each step, so you feel informed and confident in the plan. From there, we’ll make a shared decision about the next steps in your child’s care journey.
Partnering with Families
If your child has a congenital condition, it can be overwhelming. We’ll take the time to help you understand:
- Possible causes and risk factors
- Your child’s needs, abilities and strengths
- Activities your child can do, including music, writing and sports
We can follow your child over time, adjusting treatment as their hands and arms grow and change.
Why Choose Us?
Highly specialized expertise: Scottish Rite was the first pediatric orthopedic hospital in the U.S. to have full-time pediatric hand surgeons. Today, our surgeons are leaders in the field, providing your child with advanced care, while leading research to improve treatments. This experience helps your child receive precise care that supports function now and in the future.
Support and community: These conditions can affect your child’s confidence, social comfort and self-image. Your child will have access to psychologists and child life specialists who can support them through these challenges. They can also participate in our Hand in Hand Support Group and hand camps to connect with peers who have similiar conditions.
Microsurgery expertise: Our pediatric hand surgeons specialize in microsurgery techniques, which allows them to repair delicate nerves and blood vessels. This approach helps your child heal quickly, protects function and supports movement and sensation as they grow.
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You do not need a referral to make an appointment with our hand and upper extremity experts. You can schedule an appointment online.
You can also get a referral from your pediatrician or other specialists. After our team receives the referral from your provider, we will reach out to you to schedule your child’s appointment.
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We try to get your child in for an appointment as quickly as possible.
If your child has an urgent need or injury, we sometimes have same- or next-day appointments available.
If your child has a chronic or congenital condition, we can typically get them into one of our clinics within five to 10 days. You can also schedule a visit with one of our expert physician assistants who can often see them sooner.
