Altru Orthopedics & Sports Medicine offers pediatric orthopedic care
through a collaboration with Mayo Clinic. Physicians
Anthony Stans, MD, and
A. Noelle Larson, MD, visit Altru on a monthly basis to provide comprehensive pediatric orthopedic
care, including diagnosis, treatment and postsurgical care.
Emergency Pediatric Orthopedic Care
If your child or teen has a minor orthopedic injury, such as a sprain,
you may want to visit a
walk-in urgent care Altru Express Clinic. With facilities conveniently located throughout
the greater Grand Forks region, you can access prompt treatment of sprains
and strains. If you suspect or know the injury is a fracture,
the emergency room at Altru Hospital should be your first destination.
Even a minor broken bone will need follow-up X-rays to ensure proper healing.
A major fracture may require weeks or months of physical therapy, especially
if a growth plate is involved.
Pediatric Orthopedic Specialties
Altru Orthopedics & Sports Medicine provides specialized care for pediatric
patients dealing with a range of conditions, including:
Bone lesions and tumors, which can range from benign cysts to bone cancer
Bone infection, which occurs when staph or other bacteria infects the blood
in a bone or joint, often after a recent injury
Clubfoot, a common congenital birth defect in which an infant’s foot turns inward
Hip dysplasia, a condition where the top of the thigh bone does not properly fit into
the hip socket
Limb length discrepancy, when one arm or leg is shorter than the other
Care is also offered for orthopedic conditions associated with cerebral
palsy, spina bifida and other neuromuscular conditions.
Pediatric Spine Deformity
Dr. Larson and Dr. Stans also specialize in treating pediatric spinal conditions,
including:
Kyphosis, or rounding of the upper spine (and in extreme cases, “hunchback”)
Spondylolysis, a stress fracture in a vertebra in the lower back
Spondylolisthesis, which occurs when the spondylolysis is untreated and
the vertebra slips and may require spinal fusion
Pediatric Orthopedic Treatment
Many pediatric orthopedic conditions may only require monitoring or light
physical therapy. Some, if left untreated, can hamper growth or cause
severe pain as your child ages. Others, like bone tumors, must be treated
immediately.
The team of physicians, nurses, radiologists, therapists and physician
assistants at Altru Orthopedics & Sports Medicine will work with your
family to find the least invasive treatment options possible. Some conditions
may require braces or prosthetic devices. Others can only be treated with surgery.
When needed, surgery is performed at Mayo Clinic. All consultation and
follow-up appointments are offered at Altru, helping patients stay close
to home for care.
To schedule an appointment with a pediatric orthopedic specialist, call
701.732.7700.
