Breaking down the facts about fractures
Thousands of children, adolescents and young adults come through the doors of Boston Children’s Hospital’s Orthopedic Center every year with the same diagnosis – fracture. Whether on the wrist or the ankle or anywhere in between, a fracture can be painful and restricting to an active child or teen.
What is a fracture?
A fracture is a bone that is partially or completely broken. There are two types of fractures:
A complete fracture is when a bone is broken into two or more pieces.
An incomplete fracture is when a bone is cracked or partially broken. Incomplete fractures are more common during childhood, because a chi...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - June 8, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Jenny Fernandez Tags: Health & Wellness Kids' Safety Dr. Peter Waters Orthopedic Center Orthopedic Urgent Care Clinic Source Type: news
Is it safe to give my baby probiotics for colic?
Having a colicky, inconsolable baby can be one of the toughest parts of parenthood. Seeing your newborn cry and scream — without the slightest clue as to how you can help — is enough to make most moms and dads want to curl up and cry right along with the child. Making things worse, science isn’t really sure what causes colic, making a quick and simple treatment hard to find in many cases.
“Fussy or colicky babies can be a source of stress for parents, caregivers and doctors,” says Dr. Sonia Ballal, a gastroenterologist atBoston Children’s Hospital. “Right now, we do not completely understand what ...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - June 6, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tripp Underwood Tags: Parenting colic gastroenterology Gastroesophageal reflux disease probiotics Source Type: news
Experiencing how spinal fusion treats scoliosis before surgery day
The Spinal Program at Boston Children’s Orthopedic Center has partnered with the Simulator Program to offer a unique simulation experience to patients who will undergo surgical treatment for scoliosis, a procedure called spinal fusion, this summer.
“In my experience, patients do better when they are well prepared for surgery,” says Dr. Michael Glotzbecker, a pediatric spine specialist and surgeon at Boston Children’s Hospital, who performs dozens of spinal fusion surgeries each year to treat children with scoliosis.
That’s why Glotzbecker teamed up with Brianna O’Connell, a child l...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - June 5, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Kat J. McAlpine Tags: Research and Innovation Michael Glotzbecker Orthopedic Center scoliosis Simulation Program spinal fusion surgery Source Type: news
Twist of fate: Anna reconnects with the oncologist who saved her life
Credit: Mark Dela Cruz
Anna Protsiou was five in 2002 when she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. She remembers pain and the fruit-scented anesthesia masks that led her to stop eating cherries. She remembers hospital arts and crafts projects. What she barely remember is the pediatric oncologist who saved her life.
She was a young girl then who didn’t speak English, moving with her family from their native Greece to be treated for a year at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Now, after moving with her family to Canada in 2014, she’s a 20-year-old dance student at the Eg. School of Contempo...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - June 2, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Irene Sege Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories Research and Innovation Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center Lisa Diller MD neuroblastoma Source Type: news
Living with Rett syndrome, living with hope
For the first year of her life, Ava Gryniewicz seemed to be developing like any other happy baby. She had learned a few words, including “mama” and “dada,” and was picking up Cheerios with pincer fingers.
But by the time she was 14 months old, everything had changed. Ava started to lose these skills and wasn’t reaching other milestones. At the recommendation of her daycare center, she started early intervention.
“She wasn’t keeping up and her daycare providers were concerned that standard daycare might be too much for her,” says her mom, Joanne. That’s when Joanne and her husband Jack decided to have Ava ...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - June 1, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Ellen Greenlaw Tags: Our Patients’ Stories Alycia Berg Augmentative communication Dr. Jonathan Picker rett syndrome Rett Syndrome Program Suzanne Rose Source Type: news
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children: What parents need to know
When Lauren was just under two years old, she developed a fever of 103, was irritable and lost her appetite. Mom, who suspected her daughter’s condition was more than “just a bug,” scheduled an appointment with Lauren’s pediatrician.
Based on her symptoms and physical examination, Lauren was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection (UTI). The tiny tot was treated and quickly felt better.
Unfortunately, the relief was short-lived. To mom’s surprise, the UTI returned.
“This is an incredibly common story,” says Dr. Caleb Nelson, urologist in the Boston Children’s Hospital Department of Urolog...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - May 31, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Maureen McCarthy Tags: Ask the Expert Diseases & Conditions Department of Urology Dr. Caleb Nelson recurrent UTI urinary tract infections Source Type: news
Making progress: Eli is thriving after laryngeal cleft repair
Eli Bustard is pretty laid back for a 3-year-old — until he sees a picture of a dinosaur. “He’s obsessed,” laughs his mother, Nicole, who reports that Eli has been poring over a library book about these prehistoric beasts. Some of his other favorite pastimes: playing with trucks, caring for his Boston terrier and climbing up and down the musical stairs at Boston Children’s Hospital, which play a cheerful melody with every step.
A native of Bangor, Maine, Eli first came to Boston Children’s when he was just a few months old. Although he was born about three weeks early, he appeared to be in perfect health, and r...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - May 30, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Jessica Cerretani Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories Center for Airway Disorders Dr. Reza Rahbar laryngeal cleft Source Type: news
Caring for the female athlete: A guide for athletes, parents and coaches
Since the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, the number of girls competing in high school sports has increased from 295,000 to nearly 3.2 million, and more women are playing collegiate sports than ever before. As these numbers continue to rise, and girls and young women become more empowered through sports, awareness of the health issues specific to female athletes has become increasingly important.
Dr. Kathryn Ackerman, medical director of Boston Children’s Female Athlete Program, and the program’s sports dietitian, Laura Moretti, share need-to-know information and offer strategies to keep ...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - May 25, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Maureen McCarthy Tags: Ask the Expert Female Athlete Program Kathryn Ackerman Laura Moretti Source Type: news
Is your teen depressed? Seven tips for parents
Your daughter comes home from school, slams down her books and retreats to her room with a scowl. Since starting high school, you’ve noticed she’s been moody and irritable and her grades are starting to suffer. Should you be worried about depression?
“Almost everyone goes through periods of feeling sad or irritable for usually brief periods of time,” says Dr. Oscar Bukstein, associate psychiatrist-in-chief and vice chairman of psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital. “What sets depression apart is the presence of distress or impairment that interferes with daily life.”
Bukstein says he’s seen a steady rise...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - May 23, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Ellen Greenlaw Tags: Diseases & Conditions Mental Health Teen Health adolescent depression child depression Dr. Oscar Bukstein Source Type: news
Keeping up with Amanda: Life after brain surgery
In most ways, Amanda LePage is just like any other rambunctious fourth grader. She loves school, dance class, playing basketball and keeping up with her twin sister Macy and older brother Nathan. Sometimes it just takes her a little longer to do these everyday things. That’s because Amanda has been through a lot in her short nine years.
Amanda was just 5 months old when she was brought by helicopter to Boston Children’s Hospital for a hemorrhage in her brain from an intracranial aneurysm, a type of vascular malformation. Despite long odds, Amanda survived two life-saving brain surgeries and a massive stroke that left ...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - May 22, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Ellen Greenlaw Tags: Our Patients’ Stories brain aneurysm Dr. Caroline Robson Dr. Craig McClain Dr. Edward Smith Dr. Peter Manley Hydrocephalus low-grade glioma pediatric stroke Source Type: news
Faces of IBD: Celebrating our patients and their caregivers
IBD nurse practitioner Caitlin Dolan educating her patient Jenna, 11
Some say it takes a village to raise a child. When it comes to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), our patients and their families depend on a “village” of caregivers — gastroenterologists, nurses, dietitians, social workers and more — to carry them through their journey.
In honor of World IBD Day, May 19, we are celebrating the patients who inspire us and the dedicated Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center team that diagnose, educate and treat nearly 1,500 patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis each year.
Defining the dise...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - May 19, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Maureen McCarthy Tags: Diseases & Conditions Research and Innovation Athos Bousvaros IBD Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center Scott Snapper Source Type: news
Bike safety 101: A guide for parents
Learning to ride a bike is one of the most exciting childhood milestones. It often involves a few falls, scrapes and tears, but as parents we know it’s worth it because it opens up a whole new world of adventure and freedom for our kids.
Exposing children to new risks can be nerve-wracking, but by understanding specific dangers and getting kids actively involved in their own safety, we can help them avoid unnecessary injury. Our bike safety guide will help you prevent injury and protect your children, while still allowing them to have fun on two wheels.
Prevention: The ABC Quick Check
Safe riding starts with having a goo...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - May 18, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Patrick Bibbins Tags: Health & Wellness Kids' Safety Source Type: news
The playbook for protecting your pitcher
Repeatedly throwing a baseball as hard as possible is exhausting, and, if done too often, can be harmful. Following pitching rules, adopting the right workout regimen and allowing time to rest can help prevent a Little League pitcher from getting injured.
1. Follow pitching rules
Keeping pitch counts (the number of pitches thrown by a pitcher in a game) low is very important for the well-being of a Little League pitcher, says Boston Children’s Hospital Sports Medicine injury prevention specialist Corey Dawkins. “Most young pitchers don’t have good mechanics and as a result they can fatigue quickly,”...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - May 17, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Kim Slade Tags: Health & Wellness Kids' Safety Division of Sports Medicine Micheli Center Source Type: news
Chloe ’s smile: Moving the needle on Williams syndrome research
“Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Her wide, warm smiles are generous. Even strangers can’t resist smiling back. “Chloe loves people and relationships,” says her mom, Johanna. “She can completely change a person’s demeanor with one of her incredible smiles.”
Now, Chloe’s powerful smile is bringing together supporters and scientists to advance research on Williams syndrome, the rare neurodevelopmental disorder she was born with 11 years ago.
What is Williams syndrome?
Williams syndrome is a genetic condition that affects 1 in 10,000 people worldwide. It causes a range ...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - May 16, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Jenny Fernandez Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories Research and Innovation Dr. Amy Roberts Dr. James Lock Dr. Leslie Smoot Heart Center Williams syndrome Source Type: news
Experience Journal: From Venezuela for the chance to live
At five months old, Diana was diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, a congenital heart defect (CHD) that couldn’t be treated in her home country of Venezuela. “Being told that your child has no chance of surviving is devastating,” says Diana’s mom, Alejandra. “We were given no hope.”
Research into where in the world Diana would receive the best treatment led her parents to the Heart Center at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Throughout Diana’s journey to health, Alejandra relied on support from her husband, her sisters and the community she found in Bost...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - May 13, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Jenny Fernandez Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories congenital heart defect Dr. Pedro del Nido Experience Journal Heart Center Source Type: news
