Philosophy of Care
The Department of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery deals with various diseases and traumas of the arms, legs, and spine that occur in children and adolescents. Even if the disease occurs at a young age, treatment is often required until the end of bone growth. The Department of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery of Seoul National University Children's Hospital strives to become a “warm companion with children” by administering the best medical care to children during the treatment process in order to provide them with a future. We place particular importance on avoiding unnecessary tests, orthosis, and surgery for young children, thereby minimizing physical/mental risks and economic losses. However, if treatment is necessary, we do not hesitate to intervene actively and continually ponder and research the ideal treatment for each patient. Through this, we are doing our best to help patients recover from illness and return to their families and school quickly.
Excellent Treatment Results
The Department of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at Seoul National University Children's Hospital has reported superior or similar treatment results compared to leading centers in any country in the world. In addition to developmental dysplasia of the hip and ischemic necrosis of the capital femoral epiphysis (LCP disease), which are the main diseases of pediatric orthopedic surgery, the best level of treatment results in the world have been reported for rare diseases such as congenital pseudoarthrosis of the tibia and osteogenesis imperfecta. We firstly started physeal-sparing treatments for sports injuries in children and adolescent in Korea. In the management of malignant bone tumors including osteosarcoma, we reported good results of our surgical treatment in which functions of growth plate and joints are preserved as much as possible while the cancer is cured completely. In the case of scoliosis, we reported the world's first result on a method of correcting deformity with thoracic pedicle screws, currently used as a standard treatment worldwide, and we also perform surgery to obtain a maximum corrective effect through a minimal surgical site. In the case of children with various or challenging treatment methods, the best treatment is decided after reviewing various opinions through conferences and consultations with other professors.
Incomparable Academic Capability
The Department of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at Seoul National University Children's Hospital has academic achievements of a number that makes them difficult to list, and a quality of research that is even more overwhelming. Every year, research achievements are presented at leading conferences abroad, and several papers have been published in the world's top journals in the field of orthopedic surgery. We are conducting research covering not only clinical research for patients, but also basic research fields on genetics and growth plates, and through this, we are building the foundation for children to receive better treatment in the future.
Global Cradle of Pediatric Orthopedic Education
We have produced several experts both home and abroad in the field of pediatric orthopedic surgery. Thanks to the superior treatment results and academic achievements of the Department of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at Seoul National University Children's Hospital, foreign orthopedic specialists are still visiting us almost every year to receive training in pediatric orthopedic surgery. We provide short-term training programs for pediatric orthopedics to the orthopedic residents in many training hospitals in Korea.
Target Diseases
Developmental dysplasia of the hip, ischemic necrosis of the capital femoral epiphysis (Leg-Calve-Perthes Disease, LCP Disease), congenital clubfoot, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, pediatric fractures, partial physeal growth arrest, scoliosis, spinal trauma and tumors, polydactyly, syndactyly, thumb hypoplasia, trigger thumb, trigger finger, osteosarcoma, bone and soft tissue tumor, discoid meniscus, cruciate ligament injury, patella dislocation, osteochondritis dissecans, torticollis, congenital hemihypertrophy, limb deformity, cerebral palsy, rare skeletal diseases, etc.
Notes before Treatment
Please wear clothes that allow you to easily expose the area to be treated. For example, if you have a sore knee, it is difficult to check if you wear tight pants. If you have any radiological tests done by other hospitals, please bring the images. In addition to MRIs and CTs, X-rays taken for the same problem a few years ago can be of great help in diagnosis and decision-making. Before treatment, please register the image data of the other hospital at the window for CD registration and copy on the 1st floor of the Children's Hospital.