Orthopaedic Surgery

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery provides consultation and management services for all children's orthopaedic (bone and joint) conditions including all congenital or acquired musculoskeletal problems and  musculoskeletal trauma.  The Department has particular expertise in musculoskeletal deformities including leg lengthening and treating major spinal curvatures.

Outreach clinics operate in Kangaroo Island, Mt Gambier, Port Augusta and Alice Springs.  The Department co-operates closely with the Orthopaedic Surgery departments at Flinders Medical Centre, Lyell McEwin Hospital and Modbury Hospital. The Department also has a close association with Novita, the South Australian agency responsible for disabled children.

The Department conducts Clinical Orthopaedic Research and is closely associated with the Bone Growth Foundation, which conducts research into problems with the growth of children's bones.

How to access the service

Consultation is by referral either through General Practitioners, WCH Children's Emergency or other medical staff within the Hospital.

For Orthopaedic Outpatient Clinic appointments call (08) 8161 7399.

Information for Families

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis

In children, there are growth plates (physes) at the junction between the head and neck of the thigh bone (femur) and also at the lower end of the bone. In later childhood, for some unknown reason, the head of the femur may slip downwards and backwards, like ice cream partially sliding off a cone. It is important that hip, thigh or knee pain is properly assessed to ensure that this condition is not missed. Treatment usually requires the insertion of a metal screw through a small incision to stop the head of femur sliding off.

Broomstick plaster

A broomstick plaster is a cast used to keep the legs apart and the hip joint in a good position. It can be made of plaster of paris, fibreglass or a combination of both.

Collar and cuff

The collar and cuff holds your child's injured arm in the correct position for healing to occur. This is commonly used for fractures of the humerus bone.

External fixators

An external fixator can be used for lengthening bones or  to hold broken bones in place.

Hip Spica

A Hip Spica is a large plaster extending from under the armpits down to the feet. It is used to rest the child's hip/s to promote healing of the affected hip/s or secure a fracture in the thigh.

Legg Calvé Perthes' Disease

Perthes disease is the name applied to a condition which affects the upper end, or head/ball, of the thigh bone, where the hip joint is.  In this condition, the growing part of the head goes through a series of changes, in which it softens, breaks up into fragments, and then gradually re-forms. Treatment often requires some restriction of activities while the hip is irritable. Occasionally treatment with broomstick casts, braces or surgery is required.

Spinal Fusion

Spinal fusion is a procedure performed to treat severe scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

Plasters

General information on care of your own or your child's plaster is contained in the Carte of your Child’s Cast brochure.

Spinal Surgery and Intensive Care

The information brochure is designed to help you become familiar with the care your child will receive whilst he/she is in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) following spinal surgery.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a method of making pictures of people without using x-ray.  Short pulses of this sound are sent into the body, and when the echoes bounce back, they are used to build up a picture of the inside of the body (much like a very complex sonar).

How Bones Grow

This is a link to the Bone Growth Foundation. It describes how bones grow, as well as a description of selected clinical conditions and useful links to other sites.

Research Activity

Two areas of research have been carried out in our Department: Clinical Orthopaedic Research and Basic Bone Growth and Repair Research (Bone Growth Foundation).

The Clinical Research aims to provide the benchmarks for clinical audit and quality management issues to be undertaken in a structured manner. The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery has a high clinical workload, which enhances the opportunities for organised clinical orthopaedic research. The Department has a Clinical Research Scientist, Dr Leanne Sutherland who coordinates the Research programme. Contact 08 8161 7059, email cywhs.orthovmo@cywhs.sa.gov.au.

Staff Participating in Clinical Research, Department Orthopaedic Surgery

Dr P Cundy, Department Head
Assoc/Prof Bruce Foster, Chairman Bone Growth Foundation
Dr M Clayer
Dr H Kaptijn, Clinical Research Fellow
Dr B Gomes, Registrar
Dr R Wallace, Registrar
Dr J Clayer, Registrar
Dr N Williams, Registrar
Dr N Frost, Resident Medical Officer
Dr L Sutherland, Clinical Research Scientist

Clinical Research Projects, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Scoliosis treatment and outcome: monitoring past and present through establishment of a scoliosis database (PJ Cundy)
Metal ion release in paediatric scoliosis instrumentation (A Oakley, LM Sutherland and PJ Cundy)
Blood transfusion protocol for paediatric patients undergoing `spinal surgery (B-TRAPPP) (HH Kaptijn, LM Sutherland and PJ Cundy)
Theatre Traffic (M Rackham, LM Sutherland and PJ Cundy)
Slipped Captial Femoral Epiphysis (B Gomes, LM Sutherland and PJ Cundy)
Paediatric scoliosis analgesia: comparing prescribing habits of a specialist pain unit in contrast to those of the operating surgeon (N Frost, LM Sutherland, PJ Cundy)

The Basic Research is funded by the Bone Growth Foundation, competitive funding bodies and the Department; it carries out fundamental research aimed at elucidating mechanisms of normal bone growth and bone growth disorders and developing biological treatments to induce growth plate cartilage repair. The understanding of the pathophysiology of skeletal disorders and fracture-induced growth arrest will generate a basis for strategic research in the use of growth factors and cells to repair growth plate fractures in children's bones. Dr Corey Xian coordinates the Basic Research and heads a team of Honours and PhD students.

Staff/Students Participating in Basic Research, Bone Growth Foundation (grant-funded)

Assoc/Prof Bruce Foster, Chairman Bone Growth Foundation
Dr Cory Xian, Head of Bone Growth Research Laboratory
Michaela Scherer, Medical Scientist
Carmen Macsai, PhD Student
Rosa Chung, PhD Student
Chia-Ming Fan, PhD Student
Kristen Georgiou, PhD Student
Tristan King, PhD Student
Rosa McCarty, PhD Student

Current Basic Research Funding Sources, Bone Growth Foundation

Xian CJ. WCH Foundation project grant, Roles of NF-kB signaling in methotrexate chemotherapy-induced osteoporosis. $50,000 for 2008.

Xian CJ and BK Foster, Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation. Protective effects of antidote folinic acid in methotrexate chemotherapy-induced bone growth defects. $50,000 for 2008.

Xian CJ, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia, RD Wright Biomedical Research Career Development Award. $435,000 for 5 years (2003-2007).

Xian CJ and BK Foster, Channel 7 Children's Medical Research Foundation, Potential roles of p38 MAP kinase signaling in the bony repair of injured growth plate cartilage. $22,000 for 1 year (2007).

Xian CJ and BK Foster, NHMRC, Roles of injury-induced inflammatory response in bony repair of growth plate cartilage. $351,700 for 3 years (2007-2009).

Xian CJ, NHMRC, Senior Research Fellowship. $537,500 for 5 years (2008-2012).

Xian CJ and BK Foster, NHMRC, Pathophysiology and prevention of methotrexate chemotherapy-induced bone growth defects. $597,750 for 3 years (2008-2010).

Wards

Newland Ward
Campbell Ward
Adolescent Ward
Paediatric Day Unit

Hours

General Business 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday Tel: 08 8161 7223
Patient appointments 08 8161 7399

Contact Information

Unit Head

Head, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Dr Peter Cundy
Tel: 08 8161 7223
Fax: 08 81617057
Email: cywhs.orthoadmin@cywhs.sa.gov.au

Orthopaedic Surgeons

Dr Peter Cundy (Department Head)
Dr Andrew Sutherland
Assoc/Prof Bruce Foster
Dr Jonathan Middleton
Dr Peter Viiret
Dr Phillip Brook
Dr Mark Clayer (Tumour)
Dr Christopher Cain (Spinal Deformity)
Dr Malcolm Begg
Dr David Hermann
Prof Brian Freeman (Spinal Deformity) 

Location

2nd Floor, Good Friday Building, adjacent to Rose Ward

Mailing Address

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Women's and Children's Hospital
72 King William Road
North Adelaide
South Australia 5006

Phone/Fax/Email

Ph (08) 8161 7223
Fax (08) 8161 7057
Email cywhs.orthoadmin@cywhs.sa.gov.au

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