Our orthopedic hand and upper extremity program is the only program in the state with 100% focus on pediatric hand conditions. We treat all young patients — from infants, children, adolescents to young adults — with a variety of conditions in the shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist and hand. These conditions can be congenital (present-at-birth), neuromuscular, due traumatic or post trauma or related to sports participation.

Expert pediatric care: Children's Wisconsin is proud to offer the only comprehensive pediatric hand and upper extremity program in the state. Our extraordinary team of pediatric experts work together to care for patients from diagnosis through treatment. Our goal is to maximize kids’ functional movement so they can continue to learn, play and explore to their full potential. Small, growing hands need specialized care. A child’s hand is intricate, requiring a highly skilled pediatric hand surgeon to surgically repair the bones, tendons and soft tissue in a precise and delicate manner to ensure the highest level of functionality.

Our compassionate, comprehensive care will support your child’s health and healing as they recover from an injury or work through a new or ongoing diagnosis. Your child’s care experience could include:

• Imaging: The Children’s Wisconsin imaging team will help your child feel comfortable and use systems to ensure your child is exposed to the smallest amount of radiation possible.
• Surgery:  If surgery is needed, your child will be in good hands at Wisconsin’s highest-rated pediatric surgery center. Our board-certified surgeons use the most advanced techniques and technology, and our recently renovated and expanded surgical services area is designed to enhance the patient family experience.
• Hand therapy: Our certified pediatric hand therapists will help your child maximize functional use of their hand/arm.
• Casting and bracing: Orthopedic specialists at Children’s Wisconsin  stabilize broken bones with innovative casting techniques to ensure the best outcomes for growing bones. Fun colors and glitter? We’ve got that covered, too.

Our team has vast experience treating a wide range of hand and upper extremity conditions, including sports-related injuries, general trauma and congenital (present-at-birth) differences.

Sports Injuries

• Brachial plexus injuries
• Gymnast wrist
• Join instability of shoulder, elbow, fingers
• Sprains and strains
• Triangular fibrocartilage complex tears (TFCC)
• Trigger finger
• Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries

Trauma/Post Traumatic

• Amputations
• Broken bones (fractures)
• Nailbed injuries

Nerve and Vascular

• Nerve entrapment
• Nerve injuries
• Vascular injuries
• Vascular malformations

Congenital/Neuromuscular

• Amniotic band syndrome
• Arthrogryposis (joint problems)
• Brachydactyly/symbrachydactyly (shortened or missing digits/limb)
• Camptodactyly (bent fingers)
• Cerebral palsy
• Cleft hand
• Clinodactyly (crooked fingers)
• Congenital radial head dislocations (elbow abnormality)
• Contractures or spasticity of the fingers, hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder
• Macrodactyly (abnormally large fingers or toes)
• Madelung’s deformity (a misalignment in the forearm)
• Polydactyly (extra fingers or toes)
• Radial/ulnar longitudinal deficiency (radial/ulnar club hand)
• Radioulnar synostosis (forearm abnormality)
• Syndactyly (webbed digits)
• Trigger thumb/finger
• Thumb duplication
• Thumb hypoplasia (underdeveloped thumb)

Other

• Ganglion cysts or masses

When coming to a visit in one of our orthopedic hand and upper extremity clinics, your child’s care experience could include:

Check-in

• After you check-in with the front desk, they may notify you if any X-rays are needed before seeing the doctor. If so, you will be directed to one of our radiology rooms where X-rays will be taken before you are shown to your clinic room.

Clinic room

• Once you finish check-in, you will be brought to the clinic room where our clinic staff will take your vital signs (height, weight, blood pressure and temperature). You may then see multiple providers to help you in your visit.

Your visit with providers

• You may be seen by a nurse, licensed athletic trainer or medical learner before you see your doctor. They will ask you questions about your injury or condition and examine your affected limb.
• The doctor will come in shortly after. They may ask some of the same questions as well as perform another examination. This may seem redundant, but this is done to be as thorough as possible and give an opportunity for teaching and learning throughout the visit.
• After the history and physical examination is complete, your doctor will provide you details of your diagnosis and answer any questions you may have.
• They will then give you options for treatment of your condition or injury. Sometimes that includes observation, medication, physical or occupational therapy, immobilization with a cast or splint or, in some cases, surgery.