Experts in Orthopedic Surgery Geared Toward Kids
When your child is facing a complex spine or orthopedic condition, you need more than expertise. You need a team that truly understands children. At Rady Children's Orthopedics & Scoliosis Center in San Diego, our nationally recognized specialists have dedicated their careers to treating kids with the most complex conditions, because every child deserves to get back to being a kid.
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's top children’s hospitals and among the Top 10 pediatric orthopedic programs, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego gives your family access to expert teams, advanced treatments, and care you can trust at every step.
The Destination for Pediatric Orthopedic Care
Families travel from across the country to Rady Children’s because they know their child will receive care they can't find closer to home. From our dedicated spine center to expertise in the most complex cases, our team is here to guide your family every step of the way.
A Dedicated Spine Center
Every child's spine condition is different, and their care should be too. Our team combines minimally invasive surgical techniques with innovative technology to create personalized treatment plans tailored to each child's unique needs. No matter the diagnosis, we have one goal: helping your child heal and get back to living fully. Treatments offered at our Spine Center include:
- Non-surgical treatments such as observation, physical therapy, bracing and halo gravity traction
- Surgical correction of scoliosis and spinal curvature
- Dorsal and lumbar spinal fusion procedures
- Vertebral and intervertebral spinal surgery
- Disc procedures and decompression
- Revision spine surgery
Expertise in the Most Complex Cases
If your child has a complex condition, or if you've been referred by another provider, our team is ready. We regularly treat some of the most challenging orthopedic cases in the country, including many children who come to us after being seen elsewhere. Our experience with the hardest cases means your family can move forward with confidence. Our surgical expertise includes:
- Revision spine and hip procedures
- High-acuity musculoskeletal reconstruction
- Complex deformity correction
- Multidisciplinary surgical coordination
- Cases referred from outside institutions
Support for Traveling Families
When faced with a spine condition, it can feel daunting to know what comes next. Planning a trip for your child's medical care can feel overwhelming. You don’t have to navigate it alone. We offer hands-on support to help your family prepare for the trip and feel at home during your stay, so you can focus on your child’s treatment. Our destination services can help with:
- Scheduling appointments and coordinating your care
- Travel tips and local transportation guidance
- Finding places to stay near the hospital
- Getting around the hospital campus
Where Complex Cases Find
Expert Solutions
Sometimes the most reassuring thing you can hear is from another parent who's been where you are. These families came to Rady Children's Hospital San Diego facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives and found their way to the other side.
Meet Dr. Peter O. Newton
Dr. Peter O. Newton has spent his career focused on helping children with complex spine conditions get better. As surgeon-in-chief at Rady Children's and a professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine, he is one of the most sought-after pediatric spine surgeons in the country. A former president of the Scoliosis Research Society, he has published more than 200 research studies and is known worldwide for advancing care for kids with scoliosis and spinal deformities.
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Meet Dr. V. Salil Upasani
Dr. V. Salil Upasani cares for children with some of the most complex hip and spine conditions, and he helps train the surgeons who will do the same for the next generation. A professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine and fellowship-trained at Boston Children's Hospital, he leads the surgical training program at Rady Children's while continuing to treat patients and advance research that improves outcomes for kids.
Take the Next Steps for Your Child
Whether your child has just received a diagnosis, you're navigating a difficult treatment decision, or you're looking for a second opinion, our team is here to help. You don't have to figure this out alone.
