Tibial Pseudoarthrosis

NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital has special expertise in the treatment of tibial pseudoarthrosis, a rare disorder in which the tibia (shinbone) fractures and does not heal properly. Left untreated, the fractures cause pain and impair the normal growth of the child's leg. With conservative treatment, your child may be able to participate in many of the activities we associate with being an active, growing child.

About Tibial Pseudoarthrosis

Tibial pseudoarthrosis results when certain genes create proteins that impair proper bone healing. Children with this disorder may experience pain; infants may demonstrate unusual crying. X-rays may show fractures and/or bowing of the affected leg.

Advanced Care for Tibial Pseudoarthrosis

Traditional treatment for tibial pseudoarthrosis has been amputation, with the belief that replacing the fragile leg with a prosthesis is the best approach. At NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's, we have multiple options that we employ to treat your child, with the goal of avoiding amputation whenever possible. These treatments include:

• Therapy with "biologic" drugs such as "bone morphogenetic proteins" (BMP), which promote healing and reduce pain
• Surgery to stabilize the affected leg using instrumentation, align the leg, and treat discrepancies in leg length (where one leg is shorter than the other, due to improper growth). Multiple surgeries are typically needed as your child grows.
• Rehabilitation through physical therapy

Your Child's Healthcare Team

Your child benefits from a team of specialists and subspecialists who are all part of the staff at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's. The team includes:

• Pediatric orthopedic surgeons
• Pediatric endocrinologists (doctors with expertise in the hormonal and metabolic problems contributing to bone healing disorders)
• Medical geneticists (since tibial pseudoarthrosis is a genetic disorder)
• Pediatric physical therapists
• Nurses
• Social Workers
• Child Life Specialists, who ease the hospital experience for young patients and their families

All of the tests your child may need, including imaging tests, blood tests, and pediatric bone density testing, are available at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's.

Make an Appointment

If your child has tibial pseudoarthrosis or and you would like to make an appointment with our team, please contact us at (212) 305-5475.