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Paediatric orthopaedics
- The only private hospital in the UK dedicated to treating women and children
- Internationally renowned consultants
- The first private hospital with a low-radiation X-ray scanner
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Paediatric orthopaedic care at HCA UK
Why choose us?
From injuries on the school playing fields and peripheral nerve trauma to developmental conditions and gait problems, our team of specialist experts are dedicated to getting your child back to doing what they love.
Your child will receive family-centred care from multidisciplinary teams that bring together experts from a wide range of disciplines including neurologists, therapists and specialist nurses. It’s how we ensure your child gets the care they need when they need it.
Your child will receive family-centred care from multidisciplinary teams that bring together experts from a wide range of disciplines including neurologists, therapists and specialist nurses. It’s how we ensure your child gets the care they need when they need it.
While you can have a consultation at one of our outpatient centres, any surgery will be carried out at our dedicated paediatric hospital, The Portland Hospital.
The excellent facilities include a playroom, sensory room, gym, and individual treatment rooms. Your child will also have access to the latest diagnostic technology, including low-radiation X-ray scanning.
The excellent facilities include a playroom, sensory room, gym, and individual treatment rooms. Your child will also have access to the latest diagnostic technology, including low-radiation X-ray scanning.
You’ll find a more comprehensive list of the conditions we commonly treat below. These include injuries and conditions of the joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and bones, including the spine.
There are many reasons your child may be experiencing back pain. Our multidisciplinary paediatric orthopaedic care team, including orthopaedic, neurological and paediatric specialists, can help get to the root of the problem with state-of-the-art diagnostic testing and results in as little as 48 hours.
They’ll also be able to talk you through any potential treatment options, whether that’s medication and physiotherapy or surgery.
No.1
in London for private orthopaedic care
40,000+
babies, children and young people cared for every year
20+
paediatric orthopaedic consultants
Fast access to specialists
Appointments confirmed within 24 hours.
State-of-the-art diagnostics
With results in as little as 48 hours.
Treatment for complex conditions
Our complete breadth of expertise, focused on you.
PAEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEDIC SERVICES AT HCA UK
Fast, accurate diagnosis
When your child is unwell, they need a quick and clear diagnosis and a fast path to safe, effective treatment.
With appointments confirmed within 24 hours and diagnostic results in as little as 48 hours, our specialist orthopaedic team can help your child get treatment fast, no matter how complex their case.
With appointments confirmed within 24 hours and diagnostic results in as little as 48 hours, our specialist orthopaedic team can help your child get treatment fast, no matter how complex their case.
Cerebral palsy
The term cerebral palsy refers to a group of conditions, all related to problems with muscle control and movement. These conditions are caused by a brain injury before, during or after birth. Although they are lifelong, there are a range of treatments available to support your child's development.
Clubfoot
Clubfoot is a congenital condition where a baby is born with their ankle and foot pointing towards the body and the tendons are shorter than usual. If your baby has clubfoot, it’s most likely to be treated soon after birth with a procedure called the Ponseti technique, in which their foot will be realigned using plaster casts, and then encased in a special boot until they are five.
Irritable hip in children
Sometimes called transient synovitis, irritable hip is the most common cause of hip pain in children. Your child might have difficulty crawling, standing or walking but the condition isn't serious and should clear up on its own with rest. However, depending on the symptoms your child displays, your consultant may recommend other treatment.
Kyphosis in children
Kyphosis in children is sometimes called juvenile kyphosis or roundback. If your child has kyphosis, their back will appear markedly curved when viewed from the side. Depending on the severity of the condition, your child may be treated with physiotherapy, a special brace, or in severe cases, surgery to prevent further curving.
Scoliosis in children
- The only UK private hospital dedicated to treating women and children
- 40,000+ babies, children and young people cared for every year
- 24-hour one-to-one care
Perthes' disease
Perthes’ disease is a rare condition affecting a child’s hip joint by restricting blood supply to the thigh bone, leading to inflammation, irritation and difficulty with walking.
Pseudarthrosis of the tibia
Pseudarthrosis of the tibia is a rare and complex condition that usually occurs before a child is two. It’s often linked to a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis. A spontaneous fracture acts as a false joint, so your child’s leg may appear bowed. We can treat pseudarthrosis with surgery, replacing your child’s damaged bone with healthy bone.
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE)
If your child experiences hip problems they may have SCFE. It is more common in adolescents who are still growing. It is when the head of the thigh bone (femur) moves backwards of the neck of the bone. Our paediatric orthopaedic consultants can make a diagnosis and treat them.
Spina bifida
Spina bifida occurs when a baby's spine doesn't develop properly in the womb, leaving a gap in their spine. There are different forms, which vary in severity. Spina bifida can usually be detected in a pregnancy scan between the 18th and 21st weeks. It might be possible to perform spinal surgery soon after birth to close the gap in your baby’s spine.
PAEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEDIC TREATMENT AT HCA UK
Leading expertise in children’s orthopaedics
Whether it’s a routine procedure or complex surgery, your child will be cared for by a dedicated team of specialists, including some of the world's leading consultants and clinical nurse specialists.
Every year, they help thousands of children just like yours with life-changing treatments. Find out more about how we can help you by clicking the links below.
Every year, they help thousands of children just like yours with life-changing treatments. Find out more about how we can help you by clicking the links below.
Brachial plexus injuries during birth
The brachial plexus is a group of nerve fibres that send signals to the shoulders, arms and hands. If your baby’s brachial plexus is damaged during delivery, it can cause weakness or total lack of function in these areas. Your consultant is likely to recommend nerve graft repair or nerve transfer to repair the damage and restore movement.
Joint inflammation caused by sport injury
If your child plays a lot of sports, they might end up with a sports injury that causes joint inflammation and swelling, which can be very painful. Your consultant may arrange an MRI or ultrasound scan to examine the joint and the surrounding soft tissue. Treatment can range from rest and ice packs to ultrasound-guided steroid injection to aid rehabilitation.
Paediatric fractures
Your child’s bones are softer than an adult’s bones, which means that they are more easily broken. Fractures are usually diagnosed with an X-ray and our consultants can treat them with surgery or a non-surgical procedure called a ‘closed reduction’ to reset the bone. After a closed reduction, the injured area might be put in a plaster case to protect it while it heals.
Pavlik harness treatment
Babies are treated with a Pavlik harness by our paediatric experts to stabilise their hips and aid normal development. Sometimes the hip joint (a ball and socket joint) doesn't form properly in babies and is referred to as hip dysplasia, otherwise known as a dislocation of the hip.
Meet the team
In this video, our young interviewer Johana meets Mr Jonathan Lucas, Consultant Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgeon, to ask him about spines, why they sometimes curve, and how surgeons like him can help.
Where can my child get orthopaedic treatment?
If your child needs a consultation for an orthopaedic condition or a sports injury, they can be seen by our specialists at our outpatient centres across London. Their treatment will be carried out at our dedicated paediatric hospital, The Portland Hospital.
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
Institute of Sport Exercise and Health (ISEH)
170 Tottenham Court Road W1T 7HA London
Elstree Waterfront Outpatients
The Waterfront Business Park, Beaufort House Elstree Road, Elstree WD6 3BS Hertfordshire
Golders Green Outpatients
Roman House, 296 Golders Green Road Golders Green NW11 9PY London
Chiswick Outpatients
Bond House 347-353 Chiswick High Road W4 4HS London
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance for your child to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all of our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And we’ll give you a clear and transparent quote from the start, outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
Your questions answered
Pick-up and drop-off options: Visitors can pick up and drop off patients at the main entrance. No parking is allowed as the driveway is for emergency vehicle access.
Local parking: There’s no on-site parking and street parking isn’t permitted on a single yellow line between Monday and Saturday, from 8.30am to 6.30pm. However, national and private car parks are available nearby. Please contact the admissions team if you need help finding a local car park near to the hospital.
Disabled parking: Westminster Council operates a small number of disabled parking bays near the hospital, available to Blue Badge holders for up to four hours. The nearest one is on the corner of Bolsover Street, next to Tesco Express.
At The Portland Hospital, we have open visiting. However, we recommend that visitors leave by 10pm. If your child’s staying overnight, this gives both parents and child the chance to settle for the night. Should you wish to stay overnight with your child, we can provide you with a bed for one parent.
Of course. You’re very welcome to go to the anaesthetic room, where you can stay until your child’s asleep. At that point, the nurse will accompany you back to your room.
Our patients’ stories
Millie's story – still hula hooping after scoliosis surgery
On the day of her 14th birthday, Millie was driving from South Wales to London with her mum, Vicki, for her long-awaited scoliosis operation. "It was the best birthday present I could ask for," says Millie, who is from Blaenrhondda in the Rhonda Valley, "being given a perfectly straight back."
Rhiannon’s courage: Recovering after scoliosis surgery
Rhiannon was an active 14-year-old girl. When she occasionally complained to her parents about aches and pains in her back, there was no reason to think it was anything more sinister than sore muscles from one of her dance classes, or something she’d pulled while horse riding.
Jack's Spinal Scoliosis story
Jack’s mother Jaime noticed his shoulder blades were slightly uneven in March 2020, at the start of the UK COVID-19 lockdown. After being faced with a long wait for a referral, a chance recommendation led Jaime to turn to The Portland Hospital. Here Jaime shares their story and explain why this surgery was so important.
“The whole team are lovely – and so great with children and teens.”