Treating pediatric arm and hand injuries in Denver

If your child has an arm or hand injury or disorder, trust the experts at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children (RMHC). Our pediatric orthopedic care team treats a wide range of hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder conditions in children of all ages throughout the Rocky Mountain region.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call (877) 752-2737.

Injuries of the hand and upper extremities are common in children and adolescents, particularly in children who are very active and participate in organized sports. Student athletes who partake sports that require repetitive activity, such as gymnastics, are exceptionally prone to hand and wrist injuries. Additionally, athletes involved in overhead activity, such as baseball, volleyball and swimming, are prone to elbow and shoulder injuries.

Find a Pediatric Orthopedist

At RMHC, our pediatric orthopedic surgeons in Denver commonly treat acute and overuse injuries in children. Acute injuries occur as a result of one particular traumatic episode. In skeletally immature children, acute injuries can occur at the area of growth in the bone, otherwise known as growth plate injuries. Injuries that occur over time because of repetitive activity are known as overuse injuries.

Learn more about childhood sports injuries and bone health in young athletes.

Importance of stretching and strength training in youth athletes

Comprehensive pediatric orthopedic care

Whether your child has a congenital abnormality, such as webbed fingers, or an injury, such as a forearm fracture, the pediatric orthopedic specialists at RMHC are here to diagnose and treat your child’s orthopedic condition with expertise and compassion.

Rocky Mountain Pediatric OrthoONE offers fellowship-trained physicians who develop a detailed treatment plan that includes a rehabilitation program focused on returning your child to play safely. When surgery is necessary, our pediatric orthopedic surgeons will discuss specialized, age-appropriate and minimally invasive surgical options with you and your child.

When to see a pediatric orthopedic specialist

Consulting a pediatric orthopedic surgeon/specialist is especially important if your injured child is still growing. Injuries that occur near the growth plate can be challenging to recognize, and appropriate treatment is necessary to ensure adequate management and healing. Our sports medicine specialists work with our orthopedists to make specific recommendations about rehabilitating the injury and safely returning to activity and sports.

Consult a pediatric orthopedic specialist if:

  • Your child’s pain, swelling and trouble using the arm or hand persists despite home treatment, which includes rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE).
  • Your child is unable to return to activities or sports.
  • Your child has joint swelling, locking or instability.
Is it a sprain, strain or break?

Pediatric hand and upper extremity conditions we treat

At RMHC, our pediatric orthopedic specialists treat a wide range of arm and hand injuries in children, including:

Shoulder injuries and disorders

  • Biceps tendinitis
  • Biceps tendon rupture
  • Broken shoulder
  • Burners and stingers
  • Fracture of the collarbone (clavicle)
  • Fracture of the shoulder socket (glenoid)
  • Fractures of the greater tuberosity
  • Fractures of the shoulder blade (scapula)
  • Glenoid labrum tears
  • Hill-Sachs lesion
  • Loose shoulder
  • Muscle imbalance in the shoulder
  • Rotator cuff injuries and tears
  • Superior labrum from anterior to posterior (SLAP) tear
  • Shoulder dislocation and separation
  • Shoulder impingement syndrome
  • Snapping scapula syndrome
  • Subacromial bursitis
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Winged scapula

Hand and wrist injuries and disorders

  • Amniotic banding
  • Bifid thumb
  • Boutonniere deformity
  • Boxer's fracture
  • Brachydactyly
  • Broken wrist
  • Cleft hand
  • Colles fractures
  • Condylar fractures
  • De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
  • Finger dislocation
  • Fingertip injuries
  • Flexor tendon Injuries
  • Fractures of the finger
  • Fractures of the hand
  • Ganglion cysts of the hand
  • Kienbock's disease
  • Mallet finger
  • Polydactyly
  • Pollicization
  • Scaphoid fractures
  • Syndactyly
  • Swan neck deformity
  • Thumb ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury
  • Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC)
  • Trigger thumb
  • Tears volar plate injuries
  • Webbed fingers
  • Wrist sprain

Elbow injuries and disorders

  • Elbow bursitis
  • Hyperextension injury of the elbow
  • Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
  • Medial apophysitis (little league elbow)
  • Medial epicondylitis (golf elbow)
  • Medial ulnar collateral ligament injury
  • Osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow
  • Overuse injuries of the elbow
  • Radial head subluxation (nursemaid’s elbow)
  • Radioulnar synostosis
  • Throwing injuries of the elbow
  • Triceps tendonitis