Research and Clinical Studies

Doctors and scientists in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine work to develop safer, more effective treatments for conditions that affect children’s bones, muscles and joints. From refining surgical techniques to testing new drugs, we lead efforts to improve care so every child can live their life to the fullest. Our growing research program is discovering better ways to diagnose children’s musculoskeletal conditions.

Your child’s team will talk with you about  and  available through Seattle Children’s that might benefit your child. We may ask you to fill out questionnaires about your child’s function and quality of life. Your answers help us improve care for your child and others who have a similar condition. 

Here are some of the many projects in our research program, funded in part by the Lynn Taylor Staheli Endowed Chair in Pediatric Orthopedics. See detailed information about open research studies.

Foot and Ankle Research

Through our registry of children with limb differences as well as other foot and leg conditions, we collect and study data about patients’ quality of life and clinical outcomes. The data help us understand connections between a child’s diagnosis, the types of care the child receives and the results. By looking at data from many children over time, our doctors are able to choose the best treatment for each child.

To refine clubfoot treatment, Seattle Children’s is a research site for a national study that compares 2 years of bracing after casting to 4 years of bracing after casting. The goal is to learn how we can reduce the risk of clubfoot coming back.

Hip Research

We are part of a group of researchers known as the International Perthes Study Group (IPSG). The group seeks to better understand and treat Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in children. Dr. Todd Blumberg leads IPSG research at Seattle Children’s.

Blumberg also directs our Child and Young Adult Hip Preservation Program. The program provides care for children, teens and young adults with a wide range of hip conditions and does research on developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Spine Research

Our Spine Program team works closely with doctors from Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine to better understand how the lungs work in children with severe spinal curves (scoliosis). By looking at the degree of airway problems before and after surgery, we are learning more about methods to help children with lung disease linked to scoliosis.

We treat many young children with traditional growing rods, vertical expandable prosthetic titanium ribs, Mehta casting and, more recently, magnetic growing rods. Much of our research focuses on comparing how these children do and improving their care.

Seattle Children’s has a major role in the Pediatric Spine Study Group, an international group researching spine deformities in children. Dr. Gregory Redding, a , leads this effort.

Members of our Spine Program team are also a part of the Harms Study Group, a worldwide group of spine surgeons focused on children with spinal deformities. Dr. Burt Yaszay leads this effort at Seattle Children’s.

We provide care for neck (cervical spine) problems in children with skeletal dysplasia,  syndromes and . Dr. Jennifer Bauer takes part in international study groups for these conditions.

Members of our Spine Program team also belong to the Scoliosis Research Society and played an important part in a landmark research study called Bracing in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Trial (BrAIST).

Sports Medicine Research

The research team from our Sports Medicine Program focuses on returning children to sports safely after an injury. We collect details from our patients about how they do after surgery for shoulder and elbow conditions and for injuries to knee ligaments (anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, lateral collateral ligament, posterior cruciate ligament and medial patellofemoral ligament). Then we use this information to improve surgical techniques and rehabilitation plans.

We also take part in the Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine Society (PRiSM). PRiSM connects many types of healthcare providers who specialize in caring for young athletes. It promotes shared research to advance care for active children and teens. Drs. Michael Saper and Gregory Schmale both take part in this study group

Trauma Research

Seattle Children’s has developed a treatment-planning tool () for upper leg (femur) fractures and another for upper arm (supracondylar) fractures. These tools, or pathways, are designed to improve the safety of treatment for these common breaks, and we’re doing studies to check the results. We are also doing studies (randomized control trials) on treating common upper extremity fractures in children (medial epicondyle elbow fracture and supracondylar humerus fracture).

Upper Limb Differences Research<

We are part of a national registry known as CoULD, which stands for Congenital Upper Limb Differences Registry. This work is led at Seattle Children’s by Dr. Suzanne Steinman. The registry tracks quality of life and other outcomes after surgery to help improve care for children with conditions like syndactyly, polydactyly, symbrachydactyly, amniotic band syndrome and arthrogryposis.

Venous Malformations Research

Our Orthopedic, General Surgery and Interventional Radiology experts have worked together to come up with a better way to treat venous malformations in kids’ arms and legs. These clusters of blood vessels can become painful as your child grows, making it hard for your child to walk, play or enjoy common activities, like sports.

To remove the malformations, we inject a medical version of Super Glue first. After the glue hardens inside the blood vessels, surgeons can remove the cluster more safely and easily.