Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville (COOL), affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, is the foremost provider of pediatric orthopedic care in Louisville, Kentucky, and Southern Indiana. Our pediatric orthopedic specialists understand that growing children have their own unique needs, as do their bones and muscles. Whether it’s a broken bone or a condition that will need a lifetime of care, our pediatric orthopedic specialists are fellowship trained and provide specialized care for infants, children and teenagers.
Nonsurgical and Surgical Care for All Pediatric Orthopedic Conditions
We tailor our care plans to meet the unique needs of each child. Our team includes pediatric orthopedic surgeons and nonsurgical orthopedic physicians.
Our experienced physician assistants work with patients to prevent or delay surgery when possible. Just 1 in 20 children evaluated in our office by a pediatric orthopedic surgeon requires surgery. Should surgery be needed, our pediatric orthopedic surgeons work closely with Norton Children’s pediatric anesthesiologists and operating room staff to provide care that is designed “Just for Kids.”
State-of-the-Art Pediatric Orthopedic Technology
We use extremely low-dose imaging for children with scoliosis and other orthopedic conditions. Radiation exposure can be a concern surrounding X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans. We use the EOS Imaging system, which collects high-resolution images while exposing the patient to 50% to 85% less radiation than traditional X-rays and 95% less than basic CT scans. The EOS system was recently installed at Norton Healthcare Pavilion in downtown Louisville.
For patients who need rehabilitation, the Norton Mobility Lab, located on the Norton Healthcare – St. Matthews campus, provides rehabilitation for patients with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, incomplete spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis.
The lab uses virtual reality in a therapy setting to help children and adults with gait issues caused by injuries or neurological and musculoskeletal conditions. How it works: A child wears sensors that track their movement on a dual-belt treadmill with overhead suspension. The child experiences an interactive simulation, such as walking in a forest, riding on a boat or flying a kite, on a massive projector screen. The technology’s movement-tracking sensors provide physicians with data that helps them diagnose a condition and document progress over time.
The Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation, with support from the PACCAR Foundation, funded the EOS Imaging system recently installed at Norton Healthcare Pavilion in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. The Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation also funded the Norton Mobility Lab thanks to generous donations from the community.
Multidisciplinary Pediatric Orthopedic Care
Children with musculoskeletal conditions may require care from several specialties at the same time. Our physicians participate in multidisciplinary clinics to provide specialty orthopedic care as part of a child’s comprehensive treatment plan. Multidisciplinary clinics are focused on treating conditions such as spina bifida, metabolic bone diseases, spasticity, cerebral palsy and more.
The Norton Children’s Difference
Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville physicians are fellowship trained, meaning they have undergone specialized training to diagnose and treat the unique needs of children’s bones and joints. Our pediatric orthopedic surgeons have more than 50 years of combined experience in caring for children.
With a 125-year presence in Louisville, Norton Children’s is a leader in pediatric care across Kentucky and Southern Indiana, providing an expanded footprint that includes:
- Norton Children’s Hospital – The region’s only full-service, free-standing pediatric hospital and Louisville’s only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. Norton Children’s Hospital also has one of the largest Level IV (highest level) neonatal intensive care units in the country.
- Numerous regional outpatient centers and extensive pediatrician and pediatric specialist offices throughout the area.
- Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital – The only women’s hospital in Louisville, providing care dedicated to the needs of women and children.
- Norton Children’s Medical Center – A unique regional outpatient facility designed “Just for Kids,” bringing pediatric care to northeastern Jefferson County and the surrounding area.
Norton Children’s Specialized Programs and Services, Including:
- Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, and the Addison Jo Blair Cancer Care Center, which is one of the oldest oncology programs continuously accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.
- Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, a pioneer in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. Norton Children’s heart transplant surgeons performed Kentucky’s first heart transplant in a newborn in 1986, making the hospital the second site in the United States to perform an infant transplant. Norton Children’s Hospital is home to the Jennifer Lawrence Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.
- Pediatric neurology and neurosurgery, including a Level 4 epilepsy center
- Orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation
- Wendy Novak Diabetes Center
