Why Choose Connecticut Children’s?
The Numbers Tell the Story
1 EOS X-ray in Hartford
1,500 Surgeries Annually
15-30% Injuries to Growth Plates
32,000 Patient Visits Annually
Our orthopedic and sports medicine specialists care for thousands of young adults, teens and children every year, each experiencing exceptional treatment and outcomes.
Highly Qualified Team That Understands Pediatric Fractures
When your child sees us for immediate care, we offer a unique pediatric-centered perspective and services you won’t find anywhere else in Connecticut.
Learn MoreTreatment Tailored to Growing Teens and Kids
Our EOS X-ray machine in Hartford is an ultra-low-dose, 3D imaging system that uses two to three times less radiation than conventional machines while still producing high-quality, detailed images.
Learn MoreComprehensive Expertise and Experience
We understand that being happy with your care is just as important as clinical experience and expertise. That’s why we care for your teen or child with the same compassion, attentiveness and concern as we would a member of our own family.
Learn MoreSwift Care for Your Teen’s or Child’s Fractures
Teens’ and children’s ligaments are stronger than their bones. As a result, they’re more likely to suffer broken bones from the kinds of injuries that would generally lead to sprains or ligament tears in adults.
All fractures fall into two categories: compound and simple. Compound fractures penetrate the skin, exposing the bone and deep tissues. Simple fractures remain inside the body — making them more difficult to diagnose without an X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan.
It’s vital your child sees us immediately if they’ve broken a bone so they can begin treatment right away. Broken bone symptoms include:
- A crooked arm or leg
- Inflammation (swelling)
- Persistent pain
What is the Difference between Strains and Sprains
Muscles contract and relax (almost like rubber bands) to help your body move. So a strain is exactly what it sounds like: a muscle or tendon (tissue that attaches muscle to bone) that has been stretched too far. It’s common for people to strain the muscles in their backs, necks, or legs.
Bones meet at joints, such as elbows, knees, or shoulders. That’s where your body bends and rotates. Strong, elastic bands of tissue called ligaments hold bones together in the joints. A sprain happens when those ligaments have been overstretched (mild sprain) or torn (severe sprain). Ankles, wrists, and knees sprain easily. Sprains are common injuries, especially among active older kids and teens who play sports.
Our team can examine and diagnose your child’s condition during our walk-in hours, providing your child with fast, expert treatment.
Address Your Teen’s or Child’s Movement Restrictions
If your teen or child suddenly has trouble walking that’s associated with pain or discomfort, there’s a great chance they have sustained an injury, such as a sprain or broken bone. Our pediatric experts can provide you and your teen or child peace of mind during walk-in times by:
- Discussing your child’s symptoms
- Performing any necessary imaging tests
- Prescribing the best possible treatment
-
Broken Bones
Swift Care for Your Teen’s or Child’s Fractures
Teens’ and children’s ligaments are stronger than their bones. As a result, they’re more likely to suffer broken bones from the kinds of injuries that would generally lead to sprains or ligament tears in adults.
All fractures fall into two categories: compound and simple. Compound fractures penetrate the skin, exposing the bone and deep tissues. Simple fractures remain inside the body — making them more difficult to diagnose without an X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan.
It’s vital your child sees us immediately if they’ve broken a bone so they can begin treatment right away. Broken bone symptoms include:
- A crooked arm or leg
- Inflammation (swelling)
- Persistent pain
-
Strains, Sprains & Pains
What is the Difference between Strains and Sprains
Muscles contract and relax (almost like rubber bands) to help your body move. So a strain is exactly what it sounds like: a muscle or tendon (tissue that attaches muscle to bone) that has been stretched too far. It’s common for people to strain the muscles in their backs, necks, or legs.
Bones meet at joints, such as elbows, knees, or shoulders. That’s where your body bends and rotates. Strong, elastic bands of tissue called ligaments hold bones together in the joints. A sprain happens when those ligaments have been overstretched (mild sprain) or torn (severe sprain). Ankles, wrists, and knees sprain easily. Sprains are common injuries, especially among active older kids and teens who play sports.
Our team can examine and diagnose your child’s condition during our walk-in hours, providing your child with fast, expert treatment.
-
Difficulty Walking
Address Your Teen’s or Child’s Movement Restrictions
If your teen or child suddenly has trouble walking that’s associated with pain or discomfort, there’s a great chance they have sustained an injury, such as a sprain or broken bone. Our pediatric experts can provide you and your teen or child peace of mind during walk-in times by:
- Discussing your child’s symptoms
- Performing any necessary imaging tests
- Prescribing the best possible treatment
Jeffrey Thomson, MD
Dr. Jeffrey Thomson’s practice focuses on spinal deformity in children (scoliosis), myelomeningocele (spina bifida), neuromuscular disorders, clubfeet and other foot abnormalities, and children’s fractures. He also treats children’s hip disorders such as hip dysplasia and slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Dr. Thomson’s research interests include scoliosis and spinal deformity, spina bifida, gait disorders and clubfeet.
He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. His is a member of the Scoliosis Research Society, Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America, and the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. Dr. Thomson is the director of orthopedic surgery and vice president of Connecticut Children’s medical staff.
Our Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Providers
Our Walk-In Locations
Get the Best Care Right When Your Family Needs It
Teens and children require specialized needs for bone and muscle care that only top-qualified sports medicine and orthopedic specialists can provide. With our walk-in access and same-day appointments, you can now visit our orthopedic specialist in our Hartford office and our sports medicine and orthopedic specialist in our Farmington, Glastonbury and Danbury offices for immediate care.
We know active teens and kids hit their goals — and ground — hard. Between 15% and 30% of children’s fractures are accompanied by an injury to a growth plate, the weakest part of the skeletal system during adolescence and childhood. Our highly qualified team understands how to best treat such fractures — so you don’t have to worry about your teen’s or child’s treatment plan interfering with their growth.
Our experts provide your teen or child with the best orthopedic pediatric care right after sustaining an injury — whether a broken bone or sprain — from participating in sports, enjoying recreational activities or playing outside.
And when your child sees us for immediate care, we offer a unique pediatric-centered perspective and services you won’t find anywhere else in Connecticut, including:
- Connecticut Children’s pediatric hand surgeon, Sonia Chaudhry, MD, who exclusively treats children
- One of only seven facilities nationwide featuring an EOS imaging system, providing low-dose radiology images in our Hartford office
Our collaborative approach integrates the latest technology, innovation and research to produce the most accurate diagnoses and the best possible outcomes — helping us fulfill our mission to keep teens and kids moving so they can focus on living their normal, active lives.
As a Level 1 Trauma Center, we have performed more than 1,500 orthopedic surgeries and completed 32,000 patient visits this year alone. We look forward to serving your family right when you need us most.
Treatment Tailored to Growing Teens and Kids
Unlike adult orthopedic departments, we use radiology equipment that emits as little radiation as possible. This ensures your teen’s or child’s safety — especially if your teen or child has a condition requiring repeated imaging for treatment, such as certain types of fractures and conditions.
Our EOS X-ray machine in Hartford is an ultra-low-dose, 3D imaging system that uses two to three times less radiation than conventional machines while still producing high-quality, detailed images. It can scan your teen or child sitting or standing — the optimal position for showing their natural, weight-bearing posture to most accurately assess the interaction between the joints and the rest of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine. We are the only facility in Connecticut, and one of seven in the country, to feature an EOS imaging system. Connecticut Children’s also recently installed a 3T MRI Scanner which provides more sophisticated imaging procedures with more accurate diagnosis.
Comprehensive Expertise and Experience
At Connecticut Children’s, our board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic and sports medicine surgeons are experts at treating all sorts of orthopedic conditions unique to infants, children and teens. And with 32,000 pediatric patient visits and more than 1,500 surgeries a year, we are among the most experienced team in the state.
We understand that being happy with your care is just as important as clinical experience and expertise. That’s why we care for your teen or child with the same compassion, attentiveness and concern as we would a member of our own family.