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Kids and teenagers often injure their knees as a result of a fall, an accident, or overuse during high-energy activities. When your child suffers a sprain, strain, fracture, tear or dislocation in their knee, there are many treatments and surgeries available.
Dr Alex Nicholls is a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon Sydney locals rely on to help children regain their full range of motion and function. Dr Nicholls completed a clinical fellowship in paediatric orthopaedics at John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford in the United Kingdom, and he is now consulting at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in Sydney.
Discoid Meniscus Surgery
Your paediatric orthopaedic surgeon will use arthroscopy to inspect the knee and guide miniature surgical equipment into place. Treatment depends on the type of discoid meniscus and can include saucerisation and stitches to trim and repair the problem.
Meniscal Repair Surgery
Meniscus tears are very common amongst children. In a partial meniscectomy, the damaged meniscus tissue is trimmed away. Some meniscus tears can be repaired by stitching the torn pieces back together and allowing them to heal with a substantial recovery time.
Paediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction
Reconstructing the anterior cruciate ligament by using a graft has been proven to restore joint stability in correctly selected paediatric patients. Your surgeon will remove the torn ACL and insert a graft from somewhere else on the leg through the knee.
Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL) Reconstruction
If your child’s kneecap has dislocated multiple times and continues to be unstable, the best treatment may be a surgical reconstruction. This procedure may require more complex surgery if the cause of dislocation is a bone deformity.
Guided growth
Limb length discrepancy is a difference between the lengths of a child’s legs and can be treated in a number of surgical and nonsurgical ways. Your surgeon will recommend a treatment to slow down the growth of the longer limb, shorten the longer limb or lengthen the shorter limb.
Corrective Osteotomy
Corrective osteotomy is a surgical procedure in paediatric patients which can correct deformities in different mechanical planes. In a knee osteotomy, either the shinbone or the thighbone is cut and reshaped, usually to relieve pressure on the joint above or below to reduce pain.
ARRANGE A CONSULTATION FOR YOUR CHILD TODAY
ARRANGE A CONSULTATION FOR YOUR CHILD TODAY
If your child has been referred by a GP for one of the above surgeries and treatments, organise a consultation with Dr Alex Nicholls in one of his consultation locations. Our clinical staff are here to answer any questions that you may have about your child’s surgery. Contact Dr Nicholls on (02) 8045 5640 or send a message online.