Department of Pediatric Orthopedics and Orthopedic Neurology - Schoen Clinic Vogtareuth

About the Department of Pediatric Orthopedics and Orthopedic Neurology at Schoen Clinic Vogtareuth

The Department of Pediatric Orthopedics and Orthopedic Neurology at the Schoen Clinic Vogtareuth offers the full range of medical services in its area of ​​competence. The department admits young patients aged 0 to 18 years. The medical facility provides both conservative and surgical treatment of musculoskeletal pathologies in children, including complex neuro-orthopedic syndromes. Conservative treatment options are considered first, and surgery is the last-line treatment. Special attention is paid to providing medical care to young patients with O- and X-shaped deformities of the lower extremities, hip dysplasia, Perthes disease, cerebral palsy, leg length discrepancy, juvenile femoral head epiphysiolysis, clubfoot, flat valgus foot, spasticity, spinal muscular atrophy, and other pathologies. An experienced medical team, consisting of orthopedists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and specially trained nursing staff, takes care of the children's health. Pediatric neurologists and spinal surgeons may also be involved in the therapeutic process whenever required. Children are diagnosed and treated in strict accordance with current clinical protocols. The department is headed by Dr. med. Sean Nader.

The department's team of pediatric orthopedists often treats hip dysplasia, one of the most common malformations in newborn babies. To confirm the diagnosis, the specialists at the medical facility conduct an examination and ultrasound scanning. As for the treatment, it can be conservative or surgical. This depends on the severity of hip dysplasia. It is worth noting that the department's doctors have more than 20 years of experience in taking care of children with this congenital deformity, so they definitely know what kind of therapy allows them to achieve the best result in a specific clinical case. If indicated, the child will be prescribed conservative therapy, which may include closed repositioning followed by the application of a plaster cast, Tübinger or Pavlik hip splinting, and/or physical therapy. If, based on the results of the preliminary diagnostics, the doctors come to the conclusion that treatment with the above methods will be ineffective, surgical treatment options may be considered, such as open repositioning of the femoral head into the acetabulum, pelvic osteotomy (Salter pelvic osteotomy or triple pelvic osteotomy), or corrective femoral osteotomy. The department's surgeons successfully perform such operations, thus giving the child a chance to completely get rid of congenital pathology and lead a full life in the future.

An important part of the department's daily clinical practice is the treatment of Perthes disease, which is femoral head avascular necrosis accompanied by impaired blood supply to the cartilage of the joint. The pathology is most often diagnosed in young patients aged 5-7 years. Should Perthes disease be suspected, the child will undergo X-ray scanning, and the orthopedist will conduct a physical examination and listen to the complaints of the young patient. In some cases, MRI and/or CT scans may be required as well. A treatment regimen is developed individually, taking into account the stage of the disease, the severity of symptoms, and the age of the child. In most cases, Perthes disease responds well to conservative treatment that involves the use of physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises, immobilization of the affected hip joint using orthopedic orthoses, plaster casts and splints, and drug therapy with medications of various groups. In the advanced stages of Perthes disease or when conservative treatment fails, the department's specialists perform surgery: corrective osteotomy or pelvic osteotomy. The operations are performed using minimally traumatic surgical techniques that facilitate the child's quick recovery in the postoperative period.

The department also successfully corrects axial O- and X-shaped deformities of the lower extremities. A physiologically normal lower extremity axis ensures optimal load distribution on the knee joint. Otherwise, there is a high risk of developing knee arthrosis. If doctors detect such a deformity in a child, the department's specialists carry out treatment to eliminate pain, normalize gait, and eliminate the risk of developing secondary orthopedic pathologies. Treatment tactics are determined individually, taking into account the causes of the deformity, symptoms, and the child's age. Conservative treatment is preferred whenever possible. When surgery is indicated for a child, it is performed using minimally invasive surgical techniques. During surgery, pediatric orthopedists place special implants (for example, RigidTack or EightPlate) that are secured with titanium screws. After 10-12 months, doctors can assess the result of the treatment, and then another minimally traumatic surgery will be performed to remove the implant and screws.

The department is one of the few in Germany and throughout Europe with many years of experience in the treatment of neuro-orthopedic disorders in children. The department treats children with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, plagiocephaly, torticollis, spina bifida, spinal muscular atrophy, and other diseases. Young patients with disorders of this spectrum are consulted and treated by pediatric orthopedists and neurologists. The department's specialists offer all treatment options for neuro-orthopedic diseases available in modern medicine, ranging from physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises, occupational therapy, drug therapy to surgical procedures of any complexity.

The department's range of medical services includes the following:

• Diagnostics and treatment of orthopedic diseases in children
  • Conservative and surgical treatment of hip dysplasia
  • Conservative and surgical treatment of Perthes disease
  • Conservative and surgical treatment of juvenile femoral head epiphysiolysis
  • Conservative and surgical treatment of growth plate fractures and associated growth disorders
  • Conservative and surgical treatment of clubfoot
  • Conservative and surgical treatment of flat valgus foot
  • Conservative treatment and surgical correction of O- and X-shaped deformities of the lower extremities
  • Conservative treatment and surgical correction of leg length discrepancy
• Diagnostics and treatment of neuro-orthopedic diseases in children
  • Conservative and surgical treatment of torticollis
  • Conservative and surgical treatment of plagiocephaly
  • Conservative and surgical treatment of cerebral palsy
  • Conservative and surgical treatment of Down syndrome
  • Conservative and surgical treatment of hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy
  • Conservative and surgical treatment of spinal muscular atrophy
  • Conservative and surgical treatment of spina bifida
• Diagnostics and treatment of other orthopedic and neuro-orthopedic diseases in children and adolescents