Patient and Family Education: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
We want you to have all the information you and your child need to understand your child’s condition and to participate in treatment. This page provides links to resources that we hope will be helpful.
Resources at Seattle Children’s
- What to expect at Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- How to prepare for your visit
- Transportation and places to stay
- Hospital services
- Paying for care
- Social Work
Condition-Specific Resources
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Achondroplasia
- Achondroplasia (A.D.A.M.)
Contact Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to learn more about dwarfism and skeletal dysplasia.
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Amniotic band syndrome
- Amniotic Band Syndrome (National Organization for Rare Disorders)
Contact Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to learn more about amniotic band syndrome.
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Arthritis
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (Video. 7:09) (Global HELP)
Dr. Vincent Mosca talks about oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It is linked with eye problems (iritis and blindness) that doctors can prevent by diagnosing and treating your child early.
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Arthrogryposis
Contact Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to learn more about arthrogryposis.
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Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (Muscular Dystrophy Association)
Learn more about Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease at Seattle Children’s.
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Concussion
Contact Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to learn more about how we diagnose and treat sport-related concussions at Seattle Children’s.
Contact Rehabilitation Medicine to learn more about how we diagnose and treat non-sport-related concussions.
Visit our Concussion Program webpage for links to concussion resources.
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Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)
- Developmental Dislocation (Dysplasia) of the Hip (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
Contact Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to learn more about DDH.
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Dwarfism
Contact Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to learn more about dwarfism and skeletal dysplasia.
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Femoral torsion
- Femoral Torsion (PDF)
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Fractures
- Breaking Arm Bones a Second Time (PDF) (Spanish)
- Elbow (Olecranon) Fractures (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
Contact Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to learn more about fractures.
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Foot problems
Cavus foot
- Cavus Foot (PDF) (Spanish)
- High Arch (A.D.A.M.)
Contact Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to learn more about cavus foot.
Clubfoot
- Bo’s Cherub Feet (PDF) (Kim DeLeon and Global HELP)
- Clubfoot (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
- Clubfoot Correction: Using Casting Followed by Shoes on a Bar (Ponseti Method) (PDF) (Spanish)
- Pie Zambo: El Método de Ponseti (PDF) (Global HELP)
- The Ponseti Method for Clubfoot Correction: Information for Parents (PDF) (Global HELP)
Contact Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to learn more about clubfoot.
Flatfoot
What Parents Should Know About Flatfeet, Intoeing, Bent Legs and Shoes for Children (Video. 6:38)
Dr. Lynn Staheli covers common differences in infants and children, like flatfeet, intoeing and bent legs. He gives tips for choosing the best shoes for children. You can also read this information (PDF) (Spanish).
Contact Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to learn more about flatfoot.
Intoeing
- Metatarsus Adductus (PDF)
- Tibial Torsion (PDF)
Toe walking
- Idiopathic Toe Walking (PDF) (Spanish)
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Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
- About Perthes Disease (International Perthes Study Group)
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease (PDF)
- Perthes Disease (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
Contact Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to learn more about Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.
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Limb differences
- Amputee Coalition
- Association of Children’s Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics
- Camp No Limits
- Hands to Love
- Helping Hands Foundation
- I-CAN (International Child Amputee Network)
- Lucky Fin Project
- Never Say Never Foundation
- Outdoors For All
- Seattle Adaptive Sports
- Shadow Seals Swim Team
Recommended Reading
- eParent
For parents and families about a range of special needs and children with disabilities. - Imagine… Amazing Me! by Libbi Chilia (available in Seattle Children’s Family Resource Center)
- inMotion
A magazine from Amputee Coalition for parents and families of people with amputations. - Tumble Turn by Natalie Du Toit
- Uncommon Champions by Marty Kaminsky
- You’re Not Alone by John Sabolich
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Metabolic bone disease/skeletal dysplasia
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Osteomyelitis
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Scoliosis
- Care After Scoliosis Surgery (PDF) (Spanish)
- Idiopathic Scoliosis in Children and Adolescents (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
- Mehta Casting (PDF) (Spanish)
- Preparing for Spine Surgery with Halo Gravity Traction (PDF) (Spanish)
- Schroth Method for Scoliosis Treatment (PDF)
- Scoliosis (PDF) (Spanish)
- Scoliosis Surgery (PDF) (Russian) (Spanish)
- Spinal Fusion for the Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis in Children (UW Medicine)
Contact Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to learn more about scoliosis, and visit our Orthotics and Prosthetics education page to learn more about braces for scoliosis.
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Sports injuries
- Achilles Tendinopathy (PDF) (Spanish)
- Ankle Sprain (PDF)
- Bike and Multi-Sport Helmets: Quick-Fit Check (PDF) (Spanish)
- Care After Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgery (PDF) (Russian) (Simplified Chinese) (Somali) (Spanish) (Vietnamese)
- Exercise and Children
- Graft Choices for ACL Surgery in Youth (PDF) (Spanish)
- Health and Wellness (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association)
- Helmets for Winter Sports (PDF) (Spanish)
- Injury Prevention Screenings (PDF)
- Little League Shoulder (PDF) (Spanish)
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease (PDF)
- Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome (PDF) (Spanish)
- Patellar Tendinopathy (PDF) (Spanish)
- Patellofemoral Syndrome (PDF) (Spanish)
- Prevent Sports Injuries in Children and Teens
- Preventing and Treating Basketball Injuries
- Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy (PDF) (Spanish)
- Safe Moves to Save Your Back (PDF) (Spanish)
- Safety Gear for Sports and Play
- Sever’s Syndrome (Heel Pain) (PDF) (Spanish)
- Sinding-Larsen-Johansson Syndrome (PDF) (Spanish)
- What Is Athletic Training? (National Athletic Trainers’ Association)
Keeping Young Athletes in the Game (Video. 51:57)
In this KOMO TV special, host Molly Shen shares stories of how the team at Seattle Children’s helps kids stay in the game amidst sports injuries and healthcare conditions. The program covers areas such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, asthma, nutrition, scoliosis and concussions and features several Seattle Children’s experts.
Sports Injuries (Video. 1:50)
In children and teens, common sports injuries tend to happen in the knee, shin, ankle, or shoulder. Dr. Monique Burton talks about sports injury prevention and how to recognize the first signs of injury.
Contact Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to learn more about sports injuries.
Treatment-Specific Resources
- Acute Pain (PDF) (Amharic) (Arabic) (Dari) (Japanese) (Oromo) (Russian) (Simplified Chinese) (Somali) (Spanish) (Vietnamese)
- Arthroscopic Surgery (PDF) (Spanish)
- Broken Arm: Care After Surgery (PDF) (Spanish) (Ukrainian) (Vietnamese)
- Care After Hand or Arm Surgery (PDF) (Russian) (Simplified Chinese) (Spanish)
- Care After Lower Extremity Orthopedic Surgery (PDF) (Russian) (Spanish) (Vietnamese)
- Cast Care: Care and Removal of a Fiberglass or Plaster Cast (PDF) (Arabic) (Russian) (Simplified Chinese) (Somali) (Spanish) (Ukrainian) (Vietnamese)
- Constipation After Surgery (PDF) (Spanish) (Ukrainian)
- How to Make a Splint: Instructions for Home (PDF) (Spanish)
- How to Move Your Child in a Hip Spica Cast with a Trapeze (PDF) (Spanish)
- How to Remove Your Child’s Bivalve Short Arm Cast (PDF) (Spanish)
- How to Remove Your Child’s Long Arm Bivalve Cast: Instructions for Home (PDF) (Spanish)
- Radiation Exposure in Medical Imaging (PDF) (Amharic) (Arabic) (Russian) (Simplified Chinese) (Spanish)
- Spica Cast Care for Lower Body Spica Casts (PDF) (Russian) (Spanish) (Vietnamese)
- Using Crutches (PDF) (Spanish)
- What to Wear for X-ray (PDF) (Spanish)
General Resources
- Global-HELP
The Global-HELP Organization is devoted to making healthcare information accessible worldwide. The publications section of this website includes many resources for parents and healthcare providers.
Seven Features to Guide Selecting the Best Shoes for Your Child (Video. 5:16) (Global HELP)
Dr. Lynn Staheli describes the seven different criteria for good shoes for children.
For providers: Orthopedics and sports medicine videos. Current and former Seattle Children’s experts discuss how to evaluate and treat pediatric orthopedic conditions.
Sports medicine videos
How to Keep Kids Active and Entertained Indoors (Video. 0:57)
Stuck inside on a cold winter day? Our athletic trainers designed a quick and easy obstacle course to keep your kids on the move while indoors.
The Importance of Physical Activity (Video. 1:01)
Being physically active can do many good things for teens. Dr. Monique Burton goes over the benefits that lead to building a healthy lifestyle.
Participating in Sports (Video. 2:25)
Sports provide teens with a chance to be active and interact with people their age. Dr. Monique Burton goes over the many benefits of participating in sports.
Sleep Is Essential for Children’s and Teenagers’ Sports (Video. 3:56) (Global HELP)
Dr. Cora Breuner stresses the importance of sleep for children and teens, especially when it comes to sports safety and performance.
Sports Medicine Symposium: Throwing Pt. 1 (Video. 1:22:10)
Part 1 of 2: Seattle Children's Sports Medicine Quarterly Symposium with internal and external experts discussing throwing mechanics, common injuries, rehabilitation and case reviews.
Sports Medicine Symposium: Throwing Pt. 2: Rehabilitating the Injured Thrower (Video. 1:24:15)
Part 2 of 2: Seattle Children's Sports Medicine Quarterly Symposium with internal and external experts discussing throwing mechanics, common injuries, rehabilitation and case reviews.
Toddler Sports (Video. 2:57) (KING 5 Healthlink)
Dr. Monique Burton comments on the growing trend of parents enrolling toddlers in organized sports.
Contact Us
Contact Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at 206-987-2109 for an appointment, a second opinion or more information.
Providers, see how to refer a patient.
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