New Centers for Cerebral Palsy, Spine Treatment
The Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery celebrated the successful recruitment of our division director and professor of pediatric orthopaedic surgery, James McCarthy, MD, from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Rehabilitation in Madison. McCarthy was awarded the Alvin H. Crawford Chair in Pediatric Orthopaedics and has made significant progress toward development of the Cerebral Palsy Center, in collaboration with Jilda Vargus-Adams, MD, and the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Our much anticipated, state-of-the-art motion analysis laboratory will significantly improve the impact we can make in the study of and treatment for those struggling with the challenges of cerebral palsy and other conditions that can affect musculoskeletal function.
Orthopaedics was also strengthened by the addition of Peter Sturm, MD, who joined us from the Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago, to direct the Alvin H. Crawford Spine Center at Cincinnati Children’s. Sturm, professor of pediatric orthopaedic surgery, was awarded the Alvin H. Crawford Chair of Spine Surgery and along with codirector Alvin Crawford, MD, is developing a global center of basic science and clinical investigation directed at improving outcomes for those impacted by a wide variety of conditions affecting the spine.
Clinical Trial of HemiBridge Spine Clip
The division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery was excited to conclude negotiations and execute a clinical trial agreement with SpineForm, LLC, in addition to receiving IRB approval, thereby authorizing Cincinnati Children’s to begin patient enrollment in the FDA-approved study of the HemiBridge Spine Clip. The clip, developed by Eric Wall, MD, and our orthopaedic biomechanics research team, is the first vertebral stapling device to receive an investigational device exemption (IDE) from the US Food and Drug Administration. The study will utilize a minimally invasive, nonfusion surgical technique and the HemiBridge Clip to redirect spine growth, which could potentially revolutionize the treatment of scoliosis.
Orthopaedic Surgery Efforts Recognized
The Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery continues to lead the field in podium and poster presentations at annual meetings of the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America (POSNA) and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and for the second consecutive year, the division was ranked among the top five pediatric orthopaedic programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report magazine.