Hospital for Special Surgery Blog Tour -

Orthopedic Care for My Oldest Son

When My oldest son was five we had an experience with the wake of a barge on the river. My son was bounced up and down several times while seated, which resulted in a compression fracture of his lower back. It was a frightening time as a mother. I knew he was badly hurt and my husband did not want to leave the river. So he took me to shore and I carried him to my parents house. They drove us to the hospital. Did I say I was pregnant with twins at the time? It is an experience I will never forget.

Above see him in his back brace and Batman suit for Halloween…and driving the boat earlier that year

After x-rays and test, he was transferred to a larger hospital some 60 miles away from our small town. It all happened so quickly, he and I were both in shock. What started as a lovely family day on the river, turned into a lifelong ordeal for my son. Years later he still suffers with back problems from time to time. It is hard to watch your child suffer.

Of course I look for the best doctors, hospitals and specialized treatment I can afford for my children. When asked at the local hospital where I would like to take him, I responded without hesitation, “Wherever he can get the BEST treatment.” What else can you say?

As a parent, you must be strong and make decisions with care because they will affect your child for the rest of his/her life. It is not a good time to research when you child is looking up at you in pain and with fear. My advice would be for parents to do some research about the best treatment facilities near you in case of sports injuries or other childhood accidents. It is good to have some knowledge when faced with a situation like this. I was unprepared and had to rely on my family doctor to make the decisions about care for my son. It turned out to be the best care in the area, but it would have been easier had I been able to provide some intelligent input on the decision.

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Things have changed dramatically since my son had his accident. There is so much more knowledge about spinal injuries and so many medical professionals and facilities who specialize in treatment and rehabilitation. You have choices today. I had very few back then. One of these facilities is the Hospital for Special Surgery with the CA Technologies Rehabilitation Center.

The Hospital for Special Surgery is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. Located in New York City, HSS recently opened the CA Technologies Rehabilitation Center at the Children’s Pavilion providing comprehensive, individualized rehabilitation for both inpatients and outpatients from birth to 21 years. Its multidisciplinary staff includes physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists.