Limb Preservation and Reconstruction Program

The care of children with limb differences, limb deformities and limb defects is complex. As a child grows, limb problems can worsen – accentuating the difference in length, or an abnormal bend or rotation of the arm or leg.

The members of the Limb Preservation and Reconstruction Program team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) understand these complexities. Whether your child was born with a limb disorder or acquired it due to infection, disease or accident (trauma), we are here to provide expert assessment of congenital limb defects and other acquired problems affecting the arm, hand, hip, leg or foot. Our experience helps us to predict changes as your child grows and guides the treatment options we offer.

Our team believes strongly that there is a solution to improve functionality for every child with a limb difference. We are committed to working with families and referring physicians to offer our patients the most advanced surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. Your child will have access to a broad range of treatments, including limb straightening, lengthening or shortening; procedures to slow down the growth of a longer limb; vascularized bone grafts for surgical limb reconstruction; limb preservation and limb salvage procedures for tumors and infections; orthotics or prosthetics, and more.

Limb-length Discrepancy: Lukas’ Story

Conditions We Treat

Whatever the nature of your child’s limb difference or deformity, there is an expert at Children’s Hospital with experience treating their specific problem. The Limb Preservation and Reconstruction Program cares for children with a wide variety of conditions that affect their arms and legs, from congenital limb defects and missing limbs to limb length discrepancy or acquired limb deformities caused by trauma or tumors.

We also work closely with other subspecialty programs at CHOP that focus on specific needs related to tumors, cerebral palsy, trauma, and foot, ankle, hand and hip disorders.

View Conditions

Conditions We Treat

Whatever the nature of your child’s limb difference or deformity, there is an expert at Children’s Hospital with experience treating their specific problem. The Limb Preservation and Reconstruction Program cares for children with a wide variety of conditions that affect their arms and legs, from congenital limb defects and missing limbs to limb length discrepancy or acquired limb deformities caused by trauma or tumors.

We also work closely with other subspecialty programs at CHOP that focus on specific needs related to tumors, cerebral palsy, trauma, and foot, ankle, hand and hip disorders. In addition to the sample list below, see a more detailed list of who and what we treat.

Our Team

The Limb Preservation and Reconstruction Program includes highly skilled pediatric orthopaedic, microvascular, general and plastic surgeons who work closely with physicians from rehabilitative medicine, genetics, radiology, interventional radiology, oncology (including orthopaedic oncologists), hematology and pathology. In addition, skilled nurses, prosthetists, physical and occupational therapists, bone health specialists and others are available on site to provide comprehensive support for your child and your family.

mother hugging son

Would you like a second surgical opinion from a CHOP expert?

Our referral nurse navigator can give your family timely access to world-renowned pediatric orthopaedic surgeons in every specialty.

Teenage girls on crutches

Why Choose Us

Children's Hospital's Division of Orthopaedics is one of the largest and most active pediatric orthopaedic centers in the world.