We Help Children Live Their Best Lives with Prosthetics
Phoenix Children’s Prosthetics Clinic is committed to improving the quality of life for babies, children and young adults with missing limbs or limbs that are not shaped in the usual way. Families make appointments with our clinic for many different reasons:
- A little one was born without a finger or hand
- A child is missing an arm or leg from birth or due to a traumatic accident, an infection, cancer or following an unsuccessful surgery
- While weighing surgery options, our orthopedic surgeon wants to meet with a child and their family, a physical therapist and prosthetist to discuss both limb reconstruction and prosthetic reconstruction options as a team
- A growing child is ready for a new, larger prosthesis (artificial limb)
- A growing child has problems with the amputated leg and may need a revision amputation for better prosthetic fitting
- It’s time for a check-in to ensure a child’s prosthesis is still meeting their needs
Our experts work with the nationally known Hanger Clinic, which has more than 150 years of experience, to fit and create innovative prosthetic limbs that help your child be as active as possible. Prosthetics (or prostheses) are artificial body parts or devices specially designed to replace a missing limb or joint. If your child already has a prosthetist, they are welcome to attend the clinic appointment so we can work with them.
Every child has unique physical, emotional, and social needs. With custom prosthetics, we can help your child move better, function more independently and perform activities they enjoy – even walking, running, swimming, throwing a ball or playing an instrument.
Our skilled pediatric doctors treat many different mobility and musculoskeletal conditions, both common and rare. We will closely monitor your child’s progress over time and make age-appropriate treatment plans that allow us to apply new, innovative technologies. We also work with adults who have found it challenging to find a prosthetic team that understands less common congenital conditions. Our pediatric specialists want a world without limits for your child, and they have the expertise to provide family-centered, customized care.
Comprehensive Prosthetic Care for Your Child
In One Place
When you visit our Prosthetics Clinic, your child will get highly specialized care from three different experts on the same day: an orthopedic surgeon, a prosthetist and a physical therapist. There is no need to make appointments on separate days or in separate locations.
We’ll talk with you about your child’s goals, interests, and activity levels. Then, each specialist will perform an evaluation.
An expert in treating disorders of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons, an orthopedic surgeon will thoroughly examine your child and ensure they receive the most proper medical care and prosthetic device for their age and needs. Our orthopedic surgeons can write prescriptions for new prosthetics and accessories, such as liners. They also will monitor your child’s growth and development over time, managing issues such as stump overgrowth, which may require surgery.
At each clinic appointment, a physical therapist will assess your child’s strength, range of motion, balance and ability to walk and participate in age-appropriate activities. They will also check the skin around the area of the missing limb to ensure no wounds are developing.
A prosthetist is an expert in the design, fabrication, and fitting of artificial limbs. A certified prosthetist will be present at every clinic appointment to evaluate your child’s mobility, needs and goals, and will recommend the most appropriate prosthesis to improve your child’s function and quality of life.
Our team of specialists works together to create a very tailored treatment plan for your child. We prescribe a custom-made prosthesis that’s designed to serve your child’s needs. Our prosthetist will explain how the device will function, so that you have the important details needed to make the best decisions for your child. If your child already has a prosthetic limb, we will check to make sure it still fits and functions properly, and we will provide you with a care plan for the future.
All You Need to Help Your Child Move and Thrive
You can count on our team to take the time to listen to you and your child’s concerns and answer all your questions. We welcome the opportunity to talk with your referring provider – whether you are local or traveling from out of the area. As part of your care plan, we will ensure your child can use the prosthetic device properly. Our team of specialists will also follow up to ensure your child continues to move well and thrives after you return home.
If your child is a candidate for limb reconstruction surgery or requires another type of limb surgery, our experts will provide you with all the necessary information. We will explain how your child might benefit from this surgery, and we will guide you through that care plan.
Locations
