Archive for orthopedics
Foot deformity and amputation: Maria’s tough choice
Whenever she could, Maria Dupuis found a way to walk. She walked when she had to wear a cast from her chest to her ankles. She walked when the curve in her spine reached 94 degrees. When her right foot pointed up to the sky rather than straight ahead, she walked on her heel. Maria ... Read More about Foot deformity and amputation: Maria’s tough choice
Congenital scoliosis: Maria’s story
Growing up in a big family helped. When Maria Dupuis came home from the hospital after surgery to correct her scoliosis, her sisters played Subway Surfer with her and her brothers braided her hair. Having so many siblings around to play with probably motivated her to get up and start walking sooner. And when other ... Read More about Congenital scoliosis: Maria’s story
When athletes push too hard: How to screen and when to refer
With the rise in the number and competitiveness of female athletes, overtraining has become a serious health risk for many young women. Whether it comes from a coach, parent, teammate, or the athlete herself, the pressure to perform drives many young athletes to practice unsafe behaviors in an effort to boost performance. Instead of building ... Read More about When athletes push too hard: How to screen and when to refer
Ski and snowboard safety: Helmet guide
They’re large and they mess up your hair. Nonetheless, more than 80 percent of skiers and snowboarders wore helmets during the 2017-2018 season. The rise in helmet use is welcome news for specialists in sports medicine and traumatic brain injury prevention, says Jessie Oldham, a postdoctoral researcher who focuses on sport-related concussion. Oldham recently shared ... Read More about Ski and snowboard safety: Helmet guide
Everli: Living her best life after atlantoaxial instability
When they travelled to the orphanage in China in early 2018, Shannon and Matt Gottschalk knew the toddler they hoped to adopt had Down syndrome. They knew she had been abandoned by the side of a highway and delivered to an orphanage by the farmer who’d found her. The couple was surprised, however, that at ... Read More about Everli: Living her best life after atlantoaxial instability
Kaitlyn begins road to recovery after foot amputation
At just 14 years old, Kaitlyn Vu was asked to accept a drastic, life-altering surgery. In early 2019, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma — a rare type of bone cancer that ultimately led to the amputation of her left foot. Kaitlyn’s ability to meet each challenge of her diagnosis with a combination of grace and perseverance has ... Read More about Kaitlyn begins road to recovery after foot amputation
Nurturing strength: Tips for parents of female athletes
The drive to succeed can push female athletes to excel at any cost. Female athlete specialist, Dr. Bridget Quinn, talks about what parents and athletes can do to nurture strong bodies and healthy attitudes that will serve the athletes well now and in the future. What pressures are female athletes under? Today’s young athletes are ... Read More about Nurturing strength: Tips for parents of female athletes
Teen cancer survivor rediscovers her confidence with prosthesis
At just 18 years old, Gabbi Stewart is a two-time survivor of two very different types of cancer. While her care team acted quickly to aggressively treat her most recent cancer, Stewart was faced with what she says was her greatest challenge: building back the self-confidence that the disease had eroded. A rare diagnosis In ... Read More about Teen cancer survivor rediscovers her confidence with prosthesis
Hip pain resolved, Louise takes steps to become a surgeon
Louise Atadja couldn’t remember the last time her two big toes touched. Ever since she was born, her feet rotated out. As she got older, the outward position of her feet became more pronounced. “It caused me to walk strangely and run weirdly,” says the former track star who excelled in her sport even though ... Read More about Hip pain resolved, Louise takes steps to become a surgeon
Provider Spotlight: Meet Dr. Craig Birch
Dr. Craig Birch first moved to Boston for a fellowship with the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. In 2019, he was appointed attending physician. He grew up in Dallas, Texas. What drew you to pediatric medicine? Getting to work with kids is a big privilege and an honor. When you have ... Read More about Provider Spotlight: Meet Dr. Craig Birch