Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
“Early diagnosis and comprehensive care for a deformity and disability free Child”
The Paediatric Orthopaedic Unit at LRH, established in year 2004, is a highly specialized unit which provides dedicated care to all musculoskeletal problems in children such as broken bones, inability to walk, bone tumours, congenital bone problems, bony deformity and various other paediatric orthopaedic problems from birth up to 15years.
A child is not a ‘small adult’, the tender musculoskeletal system behaves different from that of an adult. Moreover, they have growth potential which needs to be preserved for them to become mature adults. All these make children so special and thus the need for trained specialists to make sure that they get the best possible care.
Any musculoskeletal problem, be it a congenital deformity (birth defect), a fracture involving the growth plate or an infection can cause alteration in growth and deformity. Timely identification of the problem and right intervention will go a long way in preventing long-term disability.
Our highly skilled, well trained and experienced medical and support staff attend to about 300-350 outpatients per week and perform up to 1000 surgical procedures a year, covering all aspects of paediatric musculoskeletal problems.
With a vision to provide affordable cutting edge technology to one and all, we have a dedicated team which focuses on developing indigenous solutions to complex problems through basic science and clinical research.
Our highly skilled, well trained and experienced medical and support staff includes Consultants, Medical Officers, Nursing officers, Supportive Staff and the Staff of Orthopedic Workshop.
Dr. Sunil Wijayasinghe
Consultant Paediatric Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Dimuthu Tennakoon MD
Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon
| Name of Consultant | Speciality | Ward | Clinic Room | Day of the week |
| Dr. S.Wijayasinghe | Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon |
Ward 14 B | Accident Service Ward 13B | Monday Wednesday Thursday 07.30am-1.00pm |
Club foot clinic – Every Tuesday 7.30am onwards
Limb Reconstruction Clinic – Tuesday 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Every clinic day, we see following categories of patients.
- New patients coming through OPD and accident service
- Our own clinic follow-ups
- Post-surgical patients
- Referrals from LRH consultants and
- Referrals from other hospitals.
Special Notes – New patients are accepted till 10:00 am
Inpatient Care
- Ward 13A
- Ward 13B
- Ward 14B
- Trained pediatric orthopaedic specialists to provide optimal care to children.
- Regular meetings and scientific deliberations are conducted to facilitate the most appropriate care.
- Exclusive club foot clinic to provide Ponseti method of correction (Ponseti casting), Tenotomy & Regular review for corrected new born and children with congenital talipes equinovarus foot deformity (clubfoot) since birth.
- Special clinics for children with spinal deformities and neuromuscular disorders and disabilities such as cerebral palsy.
- Surgical services – We perform more than 1000 surgeries per year for children with musculoskeletal problems. There are two main elective operating days. Once weekly day care theatre provides facility for the day care procedures. (1 day stay in the hospital)
- Limb Reconstruction Service provides the treatment of limb deformities, limb length discrepancy, arthritic joints for joint preservation, nonunions, bone defects, osteomyelitis and orthopaedic oncology.
- Paediatric Sports service provide treatment from simple ligament injuries to complex ligament reconstructions (open and key hole surgeries by arthrocopically)
- Orthopaedic Oncology service
- Paediatric Neuromuscular service and gait pattern
- 24 x 7 pediatric trauma care services enabling appropriate treatment for each child with trauma.
- Emergency surgeries and trauma are done round the clock including weekends.
- Inpatient physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
- Orthotic and prosthetic services.
- Paediatric intensive care unit for postoperative care
Congenital problems
Clubfoot is the commonest problem and we can boast of near 100% cure with the Ponseti Method of plasters which has eliminated the need for surgery in neonates with clubfoot. More than 200 children are being treated every year with this problem with excellent results. In addition, surgical treatment for DDH, Radial Club Hand, Torticollis, Congenital knee dislocations, Arthrogryposis Multiplex, and various other birth defects are carried out in our unit.
Paediatric fractures
specialized care for the injured child involves making the correct diagnosis for children’s fractures especially around the elbow using latest knowledge and innovative methods like percutaneous reductions and fixations to save children from problems of deformity and disability. Minimal scars and complete functional recovery are hallmarks of these methods.
Bone and joint infections in children
Early and prompt treatment for Bone and joint infections need to be emphasized upon and many children can be saved from disability and growth related issues by prompt intervention. Reconstruction of deformed joints and bones by innovative methods are also available.
Deformity correction and limb lengthening -We have pioneered deformity correction in children with Knock knees and Bow legs with minimally invasive 8 plate devices. We have become experts in limb lengthening and deformity correction using external fixation in both mono lateral and circular (Ilizarov and Hexapod)
- Paediatric conditions treated in this service include DDH, clubfoot, Perthes, SCFE, OI, CP, growth arrest, joint contractures, LLD of all causes including congenital femoral deficiency, fibular hemimelia, tibia hemimelia, radial club hand, syndactaly and many congenital hand anomalies, orthopaedic oncology, skeletal dysplasia, metabolic bone disease etc.
Perthes disease and SUFE
Some unusual hip problems in children which need prompt attention and treatment to prevent Hip replacement at a young age. This include surgical hip dislocation and its various applications for FAI, SCFE, Perthes and femoral head , neck osteotomies. Joint preservation surgeries including various pelvic osteotomies.