About Us

Pediatric Spine Program

The Shriners Hospital for Children — Northern California Pediatric Spine Program

Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California's Pediatric Spine Program offers highly specialized care for pediatric spinal disorders. From common adolescent idiopathic scoliosis to the most complex spine deformities, our pediatric specialists create an individualized treatment plan for every child. Patients benefit from advanced, innovative surgical and spine care techniques in a compassionate, child and family friendly environment. The program emphasizes early intervention methods including cast treatment for early onset scoliosis, fusionless treatment for the growing spine, minimally invasive surgery and nationally-recognized care for children with spinal curvature.

Advanced Pediatric Spine Care

Our Pediatric Spine Program is consistently one of the busiest pediatric centers for the surgical treatment of scoliosis in the state of California. With highly specialized expertise, coordination among multidisciplinary teams, and intensive care unit support, our medical staff performs a wide range of complex spine surgeries. Protocols instituted in 2014 have resulted in a near zero infection rate hospital wide.

U.S. News and World Report has ranked Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California as one of the best children’s hospitals in the country for pediatric orthopedics, in partnership with UC Davis Children's Hospital. Our specialists regularly participate in research studies and have made significant contributions to the treatment of scoliosis and other disorders.

The synergy between the Northern California Shriners Hospital and UC Davis Children’s Hospital, located just across the street, strengthens the care provided at both institutions and attracts internationally recognized physicians to Northern California. Most providers and surgeons in the pediatric spine program practice at both hospitals. This cooperation and collaboration between both institutions enables the team to utilize all available resources for patients.

Advanced Diagnostics

Pediatric patients with scoliosis or other spine disorders encounter repeated exposure to X-rays. They may need more than 20 scans over the course of treatment, significantly increasing their exposure to radiation over time. X-ray administration is also a source of stress and anxiety for many young patients and their families. With funding provided entirely by generous donors, Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California offers the EOS Imaging System for patients with scoliosis and spine disorders. EOS imaging simultaneously takes full-body, frontal and lateral images, using significantly less radiation than traditional X-rays or CT scans. Advantages of the EOS System over conventional radiography include:

» Ultra low-dose radiation: 1/100th of the radiation dose of general radiography X-rays.

» Patient comfort: Children stand in the machine and imaging is completed in less than 20 seconds.

» Detailed, high-quality images with accurate views of spine and limbs, including:

  • Standing, weight-bearing position allows interaction between joints and the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine, hips and legs.
  • Views of all areas of the body in a single image.

» 2D and 3D images offer 3D modeling potential.

Child And Family Centered Care

Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California offers patients and their families child centered care with unique, carefully designed features that create positive experiences. The focus is on the child as a whole person; our staff understand the fears and anxieties medical care creates for many young patients and their families.

Research shows children who are prepared for medical procedures and engage in therapeutic play, experience less fear and anxiety and have better long-term adjustment to medical challenges. Our qualified Therapeutic Recreation and Child Life (TR/CL) staff provide coping strategies and distraction therapy before and after surgery and other procedures. They work in partnership with physicians and nurses to support patient care. Children who are admitted to the hospital benefit from playtime, music and art therapy. The TR/CL department coordinates visits with therapy dogs, and have special activities like movie nights and patient outings to reduce stress.

Support services include an on-site public school - a joint project between the Northern California Shriners Hospital and the Sacramento City Unified School District. The school provides bilingual education and support to help students continue curricula from their home school.