Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health has the only nationally ranked pediatric orthopedic program in Indiana. We are proud to offer many unique treatment options – from the most common to the most complex – to help your child reach their full potential.
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Concussion Care
We take concussion care very seriously. Recent research has changed the way we treat concussions. We make sure young athletes are ready before returning to play, because athlete's safety is our number one priority.
Indiana University Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine and the Indiana Sports Concussion Network have partnered to provide Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) for all high school athletes in Indiana. ImPACT is the 20-minute standard testing tool used for concussion management for athletes of all ages.
The test is administered by school staff during preseason to determine a baseline for each athlete's normal brain function. Then, if a concussion is suspected, doctors know more about the patient's specific condition and can create a customized treatment plan. The ImPACT test is also used to determine when an athlete is safe to return to play. Because of the nature of concussion care, it is important to take an individualized approach to treatment.
Sports Performance Training
Indiana University Health Sports Performance has a team of athletic trainers, physicians, coaches and clinicians dedicated to helping athletes reach their full potential. We take a unique, integrated approach to athlete care. From individualized sessions to team training programs, we help athletes reach their goals while keeping their physical well-being top of mind. IU Health Sports Performance also helps athletes who have been injured return to their sport.
Female Athlete Triad
Teen female athletes who restrict their eating or burn more calories than they eat due to rigorous activity could develop amenorrhea (lack of menstrual periods) and are often at risk for low bone density. As an athlete, this poses a particularly high risk for injury due to the increased amount of activity and physical contact.
In these cases, Indiana University Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine and Adolescent Medicine at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health collaborate to provide comprehensive care. This unique approach combines the expertise of all programs to provide a higher level of care. Our experience and team approach allows us to quickly recognize these patients – giving us the opportunity to not only treat the injury, but prevent injury from reoccurring.
Scoliosis Treatment
At our Scoliosis Center of Excellence, our pediatric orthopedics team is experienced in treating a wide range of scoliosis conditions. The most common type of scoliosis is idiopathic scoliosis, or scoliosis with no known cause. We treat the early-onset of this type of scoliosis through the advanced technology of whole body casting. This innovative procedure is specialized for very young children with scoliosis and involves a series of custom made casts designed to straighten the curvature of the spine. If spinal casting is not successful and the curving continues, we offer many surgical treatment options. We also treat other, rare types of scoliosis with surgery or non-operative options.
Pediatric Specialty
Children are not just small adults. Unlike adult specialists, the physicians in our pediatric program are specially trained to treat children. Their developing bones and joints are very different and require a unique approach. As pediatric specialists, our clinicians understand a child's body and how orthopedic care can affect growth.
Pediatric Level 1 Trauma Center
Our orthopedic surgeons are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through Indiana's only Pediatric Level 1 Trauma Center at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health and the emergency department at Indiana University Health North Hospital.