Christine M. Goodbody, MD, MBE
Areas of expertise: Cerebral palsy, Gait disturbances, Limb-length discrepancies, Complex lower limb deformities, Spina bifida, Genetic syndromes, Post-traumatic injuries, Club foot, Foot deformities, Post-traumatic deformities
Locations: Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care, Specialty Care, Abington, Specialty Care, Virtua
About Christine M. Goodbody, MD, MBE
Christine M. Goodbody, MD, MBE, is an attending pediatric orthopedic surgeon with the Orthopedic Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Dr. Goodbody earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Magna Cum Laude, from Princeton University in New Jersey, where she also received certificates in Material Science and Engineering, as well as Spanish Language and Culture. She earned a combined medical degree/master’s in bioethics from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Before her fourth year of medical school, Dr. Goodbody served as a Benjamin Fox Orthopedic Research Scholar at CHOP, confirming her interest and aptitude in pediatric orthopedics – particularly in optimizing the health and happiness of all youth, despite any anatomic or neurologic differences, and no matter their perceived ability level.
“I’ve always be interested in pediatrics, but I caught the orthopedics bug in medical school and through my research at CHOP,” Dr. Goodbody says. “I’m particularly interested in working with non-neurotypical kids – patients with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, genetic conditions, developmental differences and the like. I like to work with families long-term – when the condition calls for it – to improve the child’s mobility and function, and to optimize their quality of life.”
“The medical field so often focuses on what children with these conditions can’t do, and I want to help these patients and their families realize all of the amazing things that they can do, and to be there with them every step of the way,” she adds.
Dr. Goodbody completed an orthopedic surgery residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, before returning to CHOP as a pediatric orthopedic surgery fellow in the Orthopedic Center. During her time at CHOP, Dr. Goodbody worked with a variety of leading orthopedic specialists at CHOP to learn the latest in limb salvage, cerebral palsy surgery, clubfoot, hip preservation, guided-growth and minimally invasive surgical techniques to improve short- and long-term outcomes for patients.
She then went on to complete a 6-month fellowship at the International Center for Limb Lengthening in Baltimore, MD, with a focus on novel techniques for correcting pediatric lower limb deformities and congenital deficiencies. In March 2022, Dr. Goodbody joined the Orthopedic Center as an attending physician.
Dr. Goodbody’s research interests include methods to delay or prevent hip dislocation in children with cerebral palsy, the impact of caring for patients with neuro-orthopedic conditions on families, and the safety of limb lengthening in patients with underlying syndromic etiologies.
Dr. Goodbody has had projects presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA), the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society (LLRS), and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
Titles
Attending Orthopedic Surgeon
Awards and Honors
2020, Selected as Class of 2020 Representative for the Hospital for Special Surgery Alumni Committee
2019, Hospital for Special Surgery Alumni Meeting Class Speaker
2018, Winner of International Pediatric Orthopedic Symposium Top Gun Surgical Simulation Competition
2018, International Pediatric Orthopedic Symposium Scholarship Recipient
2017, Hospital for Special Surgery Grand Rounds Presenter on Humanitarian Outreach
2015, Perelman School of Medicine Spencer Morris Prize Candidate
2015, Perelman School of Medicine Orthopedic Research Prize Recipient
2014, American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Orthopedics Young Investigator in Training Award
2014, University of Pennsylvania Beta Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha Inductee
2014, University of Pennsylvania Gold Humanism Honor Society Inductee
2011, Ruth Jackson Orthopedic Society Annual Meeting Medical Student Scholarship
2010, Perelman School of Medicine Truman G. Schnabel/Cordelia W. Hopeman Scholarship
2010, Perelman School of Medicine Dr. Henry Jordan Endowed Scholarship
2010, Magna Cum Laude, Princeton University
2010, Princeton University Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society
2010, Princeton Chemistry Department Award for Excellence in Inorganic Chemistry
2010, Princeton University Chemistry Outreach Program Service Certificate
Editorial and Academic Positions
Academic and Institutional Committees
2020-present, Providers of Pride (POP)
2020-present, Alliance of Minority Physicians (AMP)
Research Interests
Guided growth of the proximal femur in children with cerebral palsy with the goal of preventing hip dislocation and delaying hip reconstruction surgery Limb lengthening advances to correct congenital or acquired limb differences
Education & training
Graduate Degree
Master of Bioethics - University of Pennsylvania, PA
Medical Degree
MD - Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Residency
Orthopedic Surgery - Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY
Fellowship
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery - Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Limb Deformity - International Center for Limb Lengthening, Baltimore, MD
Publications
Publications
2023
Yang, Daniel MS; Kell, David BA; Syed, Akbar MD; Huang, Kevin BS; Sarkar, Sulagna MS; Goodbody, Christine M. MD, MBE; Williams, Brendan A. MD. Does Skeletal Maturity Predict the Pattern of Tibial Tubercle Avulsion Fracture? Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 43(7):p e561-e566, August 2023.
Ashebo, L., & Flynn, J. M. (2023). Building Diverse and Inclusive Teams in Orthopedic Surgery: Creating a Culture that Supports Diversity of Background and Thought. Journal of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, 5(S1).& Flynn, J. M. (2023).
2022
Goodbody C, Davidson R. Limb Length Discrepancy. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics Volume 1, 22nd Edition by Robert M. Kliegman, MD, Joseph St. Geme, MD, Nathan J Blum, MD, Robert C. Tasker, MA, MD, MBBS, Shawn L Ralston, MD, MA, MS and Matthew Deardorff, MD PhD. Anticipated April 2024.
Goodbody C, Davidson R. Arthrogryposis. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics Volume 1, 22nd Edition by Robert M. Kliegman, MD, Joseph St. Geme, MD, Nathan J Blum, MD, Robert C. Tasker, MA, MD, MBBS, Shawn L Ralston, MD, MA, MS and Matthew Deardorff, MD PhD. Anticipated April 2024.
Goodbody C, Winell J, Davidson R. The Foot and Toes. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics Volume 1, 22nd Edition by Robert M. Kliegman, MD, Joseph St. Geme, MD, Nathan J Blum, MD, Robert C. Tasker, MA, MD, MBBS, Shawn L Ralston, MD, MA, MS and Matthew Deardorff, MD PhD. Anticipated April 2024.
Guzek R, Goodbody CM, Jia L, Sabatini CS, Sankar WN, Williams BA, Shah AS. Implicit Racial Bias in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery. J Pediatr Orthop. 2022 Aug 1;42(7):393-399.
2021
Goodbody C, Buksbaum J, Harbison M, Fragomen, A. Rozbruch SR. Limb lengthening in Russell-Silver Syndrome: An update confirming safe and speedy healing. J Pediatr Orthop. 2021 May 13. Epub ahead of print.
Goodbody C, Spiegel DA. Baldwin K. Surgical Technique: Reconstruction with a Proximal Varus Derotational Osteotomy with Blade Plate Fixation and a Volume-Reducing Pelvic Osteotomy for Neuromuscular Hip Dysplasia. In: Nho SJ, Asheesh B, Salata MJ, Mather III RC, Kelly BT (eds). Hip Arthroscopy and Hip Joint Preservation Surgery. Springer, New York, NY 2021.
Goodbody C, Scher D. Resection of Calcaneonavicular Coalition. In: Flynn JM, Sankar WN. Operative Techniques in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Third Edition, Ch. 134. Wolters Kluwer 2022.
Goodbody C, Scher D. Excision of Talocalcaneal Coalition. In: Flynn JM, Sankar WN. Operative Techniques in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Third Edition, Ch. 135. Wolters Kluwer 2022.
Goodbody C, Dodwell E, Widmann R. Percutaneous Distal Femoral or Proximal Tibial Epiphysiodesis for Leg Length Discrepancy. In: Flynn JM, Sankar WN. Operative Techniques in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Third Edition, Ch. 62. Wolters Kluwer 2022.
Goodbody C, Dodwell E, Widmann R. Limb Lengthening Using the Ilizarov Method or a Monoplanar Fixator. In: Flynn JM, Sankar WN. Operative Techniques in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Third Edition, Ch. 65. Wolters Kluwer 2022.
San J, Goodbody C, Kumar K, DelPizzo K, Fabricant P, Wendel P. Retrospective study of the effect of opioid prescribing guidelines on prescribing practices in pediatric orthopedic sports medicine patients having knee surgery; a single institution’s experience. J Opioid Manag. 2021 Jul-Aug;17(4):284-288.
2020
Heath M, Aitchison A, Schlichte L, Goodbody C, Cordasco F, Fabricant P, Green D. Use Caution When Assessing Preoperative Leg-Length Discrepancy in Pediatric Patients With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2020;48(12):2948-2953.
Goodbody C., Tedesco L., Vosseller J.T., Scher D.M. Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgery for Patients with Cerebral Palsy. In: Nowicki P. (eds) Orthopedic Care of Patients with Cerebral Palsy. Springer, Cham. 2020.
2019
Swarup I, Goodbody C, Goto R, Sankar WN, Fabricant PD. Risk Factors for Contralateral Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort and Case-Control Studies. J Pediatr Orthop. 2019 Dec 10.
2018
Green D, Tuca M, Luderowski E, Gausden E, Goodbody CM, Konin G. A new, MRI-based classification system for tibial spine fractures changes clinical treatment recommendations when compared to Myers and Mckeever. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2018 Jun 30.
Swarup I, Goodbody CM, Gausden E, Mintz D, Scher D, Widmann R. Evaluating the use of an electronic inclinometer in correcting rotational disorders of the hip in children. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2018 Jun 26.
2017
Ruzbarsky JJ, Goodbody C, Dodwell E. Closing the growth plate: a review of indications and surgical options. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2017 Feb;29(1):80-86.
Goodbody CM, Kedem P, Thompson M, Do H, Mintz D, Widmann R, Dodwell E. Reliability and reproducibility of subject positioning with EOS low dose biplanar x-ray. HSS J. 2017 Oct;13(3):263-266.
Goodbody CM, Asztalos I, Sankar WN, Flynn JM. Presentation of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: the bigger the kid, the bigger the curve. J Pediatr Orthop. 2017 Jan;37(1):41-46.
2016
Goodbody CM, Asztalos I, Sankar WN, Flynn JM. It’s not just the big kids: both high and low BMI impact bracing success for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. J Child Orthop. 2016 Oct;10(5):395-404.
Goodbody CM, Lee RJ, Flynn JM, Sankar WN. Titanium elastic nailing for pediatric tibia fractures: do older, heavier kids do worse? J Pediatr Orthop. 2016 Jul-Aug;36(5):472-7.
2015
Magnan H, Goodbody CM, Riedel ER, Pratilas CA, Wexler LH, Chou AJ. Ifosfamide dose-intensification for patients with metastatic Ewing Sarcoma. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2015 Apr;62(4):594-7.
2014
Barrett KK, Skaggs DL, Sawyer JR, Andras L, Moisan A, Goodbody CM, Flynn JM. Supracondylar fractures with isolated anterior interosseous nerve injuries: are they urgent cases? J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2014 Nov 5;96(21):1793-7.
Nduaguba A, Goodbody CM, Sankar WN, Wells L. Core decompression surgery for avascular necrosis can delay femoral head collapse in patients with sickle cell disease: a case report. UPOJ. 2014 Jun;24:58-60.
Editorials, Reviews, Chapters
2015
Goodbody CM, Lee RJ, Ganley TJ. Caring for the athlete. The Pediatric Upper Extremity. Vol 3(XX):1621-1635. Springer 2015.
Goodbody CM, Winell J, Flynn JM. Open reduction of supracondylar fractures of the humerus. Operative Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery, Second Edition, Vol. IV, Ch. 4. Wolters Kluwer 2015.
Goodbody CM, Flynn JM. Flexible intramedullary nailing for femoral shaft fractures. Operative Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery, Second Edition, Vol. IV, Ch. 17. Wolters Kluwer 2015.
Goodbody CM, Flynn JM. Growing rod instrumentation for early-onset scoliosis. Operative Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery, Second Edition, Vol. IV, Ch. 73. Wolters Kluwer 2015.
Goodbody CM, Lee RJ, Ho-Fung VM, Ganley TJ. Discoid meniscus: overview, epidemiology, classification, assessment. Pediatric and Adolescent Knee Surgery, Section 4, Ch. 28. Wolters Kluver 2015.
Ganley TJ, Goodbody CM, Lawrence JT, Lee RJ. Elbow arthroscopy for Panner’s disease and osteochondritis dissecans. Operative Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery, Second Edition, Vol. IV, Ch. 24. Wolters Kluwer 2015.