Orthopedic, Sports injury and Scoliosis Clinic

Please sign up for a MyChart account before your first visit.

Our scheduling team will contact you by phone to schedule an appointment.

When you arrive to the clinic, your plan of care may include any or all of the following: removal of cast/splint, x-rays or other imaging before you see the orthopedic specialist. When you are finished your pre-visit plan, you will be directed to the waiting room.

We do our best to honour appointment times and understand how frustrating waiting can be. You can expect to wait approximately 2-4 hours to see your orthopaedic specialist. Our providers and staff will stay until every child and youth has been served.

Once available, you will be put into an examination room awaiting your orthopedic provider. CHEO is an academic hospital and you may see the learner/resident before seeing your orthopedic provider (surgeon or nurse practitioner). You will be given the opportunity to ask questions and will receive instructions on next steps and follow-up visit plans.

While you wait, it is important to have all snacks and distraction items with you as the clinic will not supply these items. You may see our hospital volunteers in the waiting room with coloring, books, or surprises for your children.

All patients must be referred by a Physician or Nurse Practitioner. You will have to see a medical provider for a physical assessment and referral to orthopedic surgery. Parents are not able to self-refer to orthopedic surgery for their child. We do not accept physiotherapy referrals. All referring providers must have an OHIP billing number.

After a referral is received, we will notify the referring Physician or Nurse Practitioner whether the referral has been accepted or denied, and if accepted we will provide an estimated wait time. This wait time can vary based on the clinical problem and capacity to assess your child.

For any new referral: Once we have an appointment spot to offer, our Scheduling Team will reach you by phone to schedule an appointment. Please do not contact the orthopedic clinic if you have a new referral.

For any return/follow-up visits: you may contact the clinic or scheduling office (x2222) about 1 month prior to your suggested follow-up timeframe and book your appointment.

• For patients who are being followed by the Orthopedic Clinic: You maycall the clinic nurse or send a direct message to them through MyChart. This is not for urgent concerns and your message will be responded to when the staff is able to answer. Our nurses are here to give support, education and will work to coordinate your child’s care. It may take 3-5 days for us to get back to you (and sometimes longer during holidays). We will return the most serious calls first. Please avoid leaving multiple messages for the same issue.
• For patients who are waiting for their first visit with the Orthopedic Clinic: Please do not call the nurses line if you have not yet been seen by a CHEO Orthopedic Provider. Please call your family doctor, pediatrician or visit your nearest walk-in clinic for everything else.
• For emergencies: please visit your nearest emergency department.

Yes, please bring all available imaging taken outside of CHEO with you on a CD, USB or PocketHealth (online access to diagnostic imaging), to your first clinic visit.

If you do not have accessible imaging, you can expect an x-ray to be part of your pre-visit care plan.

Please note that we have formalized our process for children with possible hip dysplasia. If you would like
your patient to be assessed at CHEO, please follow our DDH Algorithm.

In summary:

1. Patients who have a positive Ortolani or persistently positive Barlow test must be referred to CHEO Orthopedics Clinic and NOT directly to Diagnostic Imaging. The Clinic will organize an ultrasound if required.
2. Patients who have positive risk factors and are being screened for DDH can be referred to CHEO Diagnostic Imaging for a hip ultrasound, which will be completed between 6-8 weeks of age.
3. Patients who have worrisome physical exam findings (abnormal ROM, limited abduction, asymmetrical folds) can be referred to CHEO Diagnostic Imaging for a hip ultrasound or x-ray.

Please note: Ultrasounds can be performed on children under 6 months of age. X-Rays are
required if the child is over 6 months of age.