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Wudbhav (Woody) N. Sankar, MD

Wudbhav N. Sankar, MD

Wudbhav (Woody) N. Sankar, MD

Wudbhav (Woody) N. Sankar, MD, is Chief of the Orthopedic Center and Director of the Child and Young Adult Hip Preservation Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). He specializes in treating hip conditions in infants, children, adolescents and young adults.

Areas of expertise: Acetabular dysplasia, Developmental dysplasia of the hip, Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Femoroacetabular impingement, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, Scoliosis, Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), Trauma and fractures, Young adult hip preservation, Spine disorders

Locations: Specialty Care, Virtua, Specialty Care, King of Prussia, Middleman Family Pavilion, Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care


215-590-1527

About Wudbhav (Woody) N. Sankar, MD

Wudbhav N. Sankar is Chief of the Orthopedic Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and an internationally recognized leader in pediatric orthopedic surgery. He serves as Director of the Young Adult Hip Preservation Program and heads up the Hip Disorders Program at CHOP — programs that care for infants, children and young adults with all types of hip conditions including hip dysplasia (DDH), femoroacetabular impingement, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, and slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

He is recognized as a worldwide expert in the area of hip pathology and has experience in the rarest and most complex of cases. For these reasons, he draws patients from across the United States as well as many foreign countries.

If your family has been told they need surgery and you would like an expert second opinion from Dr. Sankar, the CHOP Orthopedic Nurse Navigator can quickly arrange VIP access, and offer travel, lodging and insurance advice. CHOP’s state-of-the-art facilities, nationally recognized low-complication rates, special recovery pathways, and world-class anesthesia/nursing/therapy make it one of America’s top-ranked destinations for pediatric orthopedic surgery.

Since joining the faculty in 2009, Dr. Sankar has been committed to improving the care of patients with a variety of hip disorders, and has built one of the largest pediatric hip centers in the United States. As a leading expert in hip dysplasia, he has pioneered the use of non-traditional braces for infants that fail standard Pavlik harness therapy, developed advanced techniques for evaluating blood flow during and after surgery for dislocated hips, and has optimized care for young children by offering ultrasound within his own clinic (which improves medical decision-making and streamlines appointments). WATCH: In this video, Dr. Sankar explains infant hip dysplasia.

Dr. Sankar is one of a small group of surgeons in the country who perform complex hip procedures on adolescent and young adult patients, such as the Ganz periacetabular osteotomy, surgical dislocation of the hip, femoral head reductions, and head realignments following slipped epiphyses. 

He is the Associate Director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) and a member of several other multi-center research groups, including the International Perthes Study Group (IPSG), the Global Hip Dysplasia Registry (GHDR), the Hip Hope Network, and the Academic Network of Conservational Hip Outcomes Research (ANCHOR). 

His active areas of research include public health improvements in hip dysplasia, novel ultrasound techniques for infantile DDH, the optimal management of slipped epiphysis, and hip instability in trisomy 21.

Dr. Sankar is a graduate of Cornell University’s college of engineering and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed his orthopedic surgical training at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by two pediatric orthopedic fellowships at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Los Angeles. He then pursued advanced training in the area of adolescent and young adult hip preservation at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Sankar has published more than 170 peer-reviewed scientific articles, reviews or textbook chapters, and has written and edited two books.

He is happily married to his wonderful wife, and has three adolescent children. He enjoys distance running, gardening, and travel.

Titles

Chief, Orthopedic Center

Director, Young Adult Hip Preservation Program

Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Awards and Honors

2022, South Jersey Magazine's Top Physicians in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery
2019, Special Effort and Excellence Award, Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America
2012, Young investigator award, AAOS/ORS Femoroacetabular impingement research symposium          
2010, AAOS Clinician-Scientist Development Program
2010, Stuart L. Weinstein Award for best E-poster POSNA
2007, Forrest Whittaker Award
2007, Stanley Chung Resident Research Award
2006, AOA-OREF-Zimmer Resident Leader
2006, OREF-Orthopaedic Overseas traveling fellowship
2001, William G. Munns prize
2002, Alpha Omega Alpha
1998, Magna Cum Laude
1997, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society

Education & training

Undergraduate Degree

BS in Materials Science and Engineering - Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Medical Degree

MD - University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

Internship

Surgery - Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Residency

Orthopedic Surgery - Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Fellowship

Adolescent and Young Adult Hip Preservation, Boston Childrens Hospital, Boston, MA
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Los Angeles, CA
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Publications

Publications

2026

Gilbert SR, Laine JC, Martin BD, Sankar WN, Kim HKW. Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2026;34(4):e488-e497.

Bram JT, Jang SJ, Hall C, Kebeh M, Shareef O, DeFrancesco CJ, Laine JC, Sankar WN. Determination of Modified Waldenström Staging in Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease Using Deep Learning. J Pediatr Soc North Am. 2026;15:100334.

Kebeh M, Sultan LR, Hall CE, Yaya C, Morgan T, Back SJ, Sankar WN. Femoral Head Perfusion Varies Widely Following Surgical Reduction for Infantile Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Preliminary Findings from a Prospective Study of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2026. Epub ahead of print.

Silvestre J, Hosseinzadeh P, Sankar WN, Flynn JM. Defining Targets for Case Minimum Requirements During Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Accredited Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship Training. J Pediatr Orthop. 2026;46(3):191-197.

Gornitzky AL, Holman AE, Hall C, William M, Sankar WN, Zaltz I. Spinal Anesthesia: A Safe and Effective Alternative to General Anesthesia for Infantile DDH Surgery. J Pediatr Orthop. 2026;46(5):e448-e454.

Laungani D, Ullmann O, DeFrancesco CJ, Sarkar S, Talwar D, Sankar WN. Nationwide Epidemiological and Demographic Evolution of Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease: A 10-Year Analysis. J Pediatr Soc North Am. 2026;16:100394.

Ishag C, Warner T, Hailer YD, Charla JN, Alvandi L, Sankar WN, Laine JC, Kim HKW, Fornari ED, Novotny SA; International Perthes Study Group. Impact of Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease on Physical, Mental, and Social Health in Children Aged 6 to 11 Years at Diagnosis—An Assessment Using PROMIS. J Pediatr Orthop. 2026. Epub ahead of print.

Kuka CC, Hall CE, Bram JT, Sarkar S, DeFrancesco CJ, Sankar WN. To Wean or Not to Wean: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Pavlik Harness Weaning in Infantile Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. J Pediatr Orthop. 2026;46(5):315-319.

Schaeffer EK, Wang AWT, Hu J, Nguyen V, Sankar WN, et al. Femoral Nerve Palsy in Brace Treatment for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Incidence and Outcomes in a Prospective International Cohort. Bone Joint J. 2026;108-B(6):840-846.

2025

Cho RH, Sheffer BW, Shah AS, Glotzbecker MP, Schmitz MR, Heffernan MJ, Woiczik M, Dodwell ER, Hosseinzadeh P, Shore BJ, Sawyer JR, Sankar WN. Pediatric Orthopaedic Workforce in 2022: Current Workforce, Projections, and Trends in the United States. J Pediatr Soc North Am. 2025;13:100251.

Hong JX, Dravid A, Sankar WN, Sheth NP. Pediatric Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Single-Center Experience at Average 5.3-Year Follow-Up. J Arthroplasty. 2025;40(8S1):S229-S235.

Sankar WN, Anderson T, Novais E, Kim YJ, Millis MB, Sucato DJ, Podeszwa D, Zaltz I. Epiphyseal Morphology Following Successful Modified Dunn Procedure for SCFE. J Pediatr Orthop. 2025. Epub ahead of print.

VanEenenaam DP Jr, Hall C, Maranho DA, DeFrancesco CJ, Novais EN, Sankar WN. Development and Internal Validation of Machine Learning Algorithms for Predicting Subsequent Contralateral Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis in Patients With Unilateral Slips. J Pediatr Soc North Am. 2025;12:100208.

Lee RC, Syed AN, Bowen MA, Carrigan RB, Shah AS, Sankar WN, Ganley TJ, Lawrence JTR. Timing Matters: Challenges in Delayed Surgical Management of Pediatric Humeral Medial Epicondyle Fractures. J Pediatr Orthop. 2025. Epub ahead of print.

Kim AG, Hall CE, Sarkar S, DeFrancesco CJ, Sankar WN. Efficacy of a Graftless Salter Osteotomy in Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. J Pediatr Soc North Am. 2025;11:100188.

Kebeh M, Hall C, Madhuri V, Sankar WN. Idiopathic Chondrolysis of the Hip in Adolescents: Updated Evidence for Clinical Management. J Pediatr Soc North Am. 2025;11:100187.

Hall CE, VanEenenaam DP Jr, DeFrancesco CJ, Brown N, Baron HR, Sankar WN. The Value of Intra-Articular Corticosteroid Injection in Predicting Pain Relief Following Periacetabular Osteotomy. J Hip Preserv Surg. 2025;12(3):169-174.

Rosenbaum D, Patel V, Sankar WN, Arkadre A, Nguyen JC. Femur Osteoid Osteoma in Children: Are There Location-Dependent Differences in MRI Findings? Pediatr Radiol. 2025;55(3):520-529.

2024

Houlihan NV, Sucato DJ, Thornton T, Nepple JJ, Clohisy JC, Sankar WN. Short-Term Outcomes of Periacetabular Osteotomy Versus Periacetabular Osteotomy with Concomitant Femoral Osteochondroplasty: A Propensity-Matched Analysis. J Hip Preserv Surg. 2024;12(1):40-45.

VanEenenaam DP Jr, Cardin S, Yang D, O'Brien E, Muhly WT, Sankar WN. Comparison of Suprainguinal Fascia Iliaca Nerve Block and Epidural Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Periacetabular Osteotomy. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2024;32(24):1123-1129.

DeFrancesco CJ, VanEenenaam DP Jr, Hall CE, Desai VM, Orellana K, Sankar WN. Aspirations Dashed: Conventional Synovial Fluid Analysis Is Superior to Synovial Fluid and Blood Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratios in Diagnosing Pediatric Septic Arthritis of the Hip and Knee. J Pediatr Orthop. 2024;44(10):e938-e944.

Desai VM, Hall CE, Cardin S, DeFrancesco CJ, Sarkar S, Sankar WN. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Stiffness Following Open Reduction for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. J Pediatr Orthop. 2024;44(10):e908-e914.

Desai VM, DeFrancesco CJ, Cardin S, Hall CE, Sankar WN. Outcomes of Open Reduction for Hip Dislocations in Children with Connective Tissue Disorders. J Child Orthop. 2024;18(6):583-589.

Orellana KJ, Bram JT, Batley M, Novotny S, Shah H, Laine JC, Martin B, Schrader T, Kim H, Sankar WN. Predictors of Persistent Limp Following Proximal Femoral Varus Osteotomy for Perthes Disease. J Pediatr Orthop. 2024;44(7):e618-e624.

Chaclas N, Hall CE, Yum S, Seeley M, Sankar WN. Hip Dysplasia in Patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease: Unraveling an Underrecognized Condition. J Pediatr Soc North Am. 2024;8:100078.

Ellsworth BK, Lee JY, Batley MG, Sankar WN. Intraoperative Epiphyseal Perfusion Monitoring Does Not Reliably Predict Osteonecrosis Following Treatment of Unstable SCFE. J Pediatr Orthop. 2024;44(5):e400-e405.

Ellsworth BK, Lee JY, Sankar WN. Femoral Head Remodeling After Surgical Reduction of Developmental Hip Dislocations. J Pediatr Orthop. 2024;44(3):e211-e217.

Yen YM, Kim YJ, Ellis HB, Sink EL, Millis MB, Zaltz I, Sankar WN, Clohisy JC, Nepple JJ; ANCHOR Group. Risk Factors for Suboptimal Outcome of FAI Surgery in the Adolescent Patient. J Pediatr Orthop. 2024;44(3):141-146.

Sankar WN, Lee J, Chong D, Hailer YD, Agrizzi de Angeli LR, Yang S, Laine J, Kim HKW. Perfusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging Correlates with the Duration of Stages and Lateral Pillar Class in Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease. J Pediatr Soc North Am. 2024;6:100019.

Herrero C, Cerasani MN, Lowe D, Sankar WN, Castaneda P. Closed Reduction of Developmental Dislocation of the Hip with Application of a Waterproof Cast. J Pediatr Soc North Am. 2024;5(2):650.

England P, Schaeffer E, Price C, Mulpuri K, Sankar WN. Proximal Femoral Growth Alterations Can Be Seen Prior to Treatment of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: A Multicenter Cohort Study. J Pediatr Soc North Am. 2024;5(3):669.

Batley MG, Gornitzky AL, Sarkar S, Sankar WN. What Are the Psychosocial Effects of Pavlik Harness Treatment? A Prospective Study on Perceived Impact on Families and Maternal-Infant Bonding. J Pediatr Orthop. 2024;44(2):e109-e114.

2023

Batley MG, Lenart J, Sankar WN. Socioeconomic Deprivation and its Associations With Follow-up Compliance After In Situ Pinning of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis. J Pediatr Orthop. 2023 Jul 1;43(6):e421-e426. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002416. Epub 2023 Apr 17. PMID: 37072922.

Kiani SN, Gornitzky AL, Matheney TH, Schaeffer EK, Mulpuri K, Shah HH, Yihua G, Upasani V, Aroojis A, Krishnamoorthy V, Sankar WN; Global Hip Dysplasia Registry: A Prospective, Multicenter Study of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: What Can Patients Expect After Open Reduction? Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 2023 Notes: online ahead of print.

Westermann RW, Nepple JJ, Pascual-Garrido C, et al. The Impact of Age on Clinical Outcomes of Acetabular Microfracture During FAI Surgery. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2023;51(10):2559-2566. doi:10.1177/03635465231184398.

Heyer, J.H., Anari, J.B., Baldwin, K.D. et al. Rib-to-spine and rib-to-pelvis magnetically controlled growing rods: does the law of diminishing returns still apply? Spine Deform (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43390-023-00718-6.

Christina Herrero, Michele N. Cerasani, Dylan Lowe, Wudbhav N. Sankar, & Pablo Castañeda. (2023). Closed Reduction of Developmental Dislocation of the Hip with Application of a Waterproof Cast: Master’s Surgical Technique. Journal of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.55275/JPOSNA-2023-650.

Yang D, Lee J, Orellana K, Batley M, Syed AN, Sankar W. Traumatic hip dislocations in a pediatric cohort: The importance of advanced imaging. Journal of Children’s Orthopaedics. 2023;17(3):259-267. doi:10.1177/18632521231164990.

Ponton, E., Bone, J., Sankar, W. N., Price, C. T., Mulpuri, K., & Schaeffer, E. (2023, January). Predictors Of Avascular Necrosis of The Femoral Head Following Closed or Open Reduction in the Treatment of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. Two Year Update. In Journal of Investigative Medicine (Vol. 71, No. 1, pp. NP416-NP416). 1 Olivers Yard, 55 City Road, London EC1Y 1SP, England: Sage Publications LTD.

Weinstein SL, Casteñada PG, Sankar WN, Campbell HT, Badrinath R. Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip From Birth to Adolescence: Clear Indications and New Controversies. Instructional Course Lectures. 2023 ;72:659-672. PMID: 36534887.

2022

Schaeffer EK, Ponton E, Sankar WN, Kim HKW, Kelley SP, Cundy PJ, Price CT, Clarke NMP, Wedge JH, Mulpuri K; International Hip Dysplasia (IHD) Study Group: Interobserver and intraobserver reliability in the Salter classification of Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head in Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 42(1): e59-64, 2022.

Johnson MA, Gohel S, Nguyen JC, Sankar WN: MRI predictors of residual dysplasia in developmental dysplasia of the hip following open and closed reduction. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 42(4): 179-185, 2022.

Guzek R, Goodbody CM, Jia L, Sabatini CS, Sankar WN, Williams BA, Shah AS: Implicit Racial Bias in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 42, 2022.

Bram J, Pascual-Leone N, DeFrancesco C, and Sankar WN: An Analysis of Academic Background and Research Activity Among Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Division Chiefs and Fellowship Program Directors. Journal of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America 4(3), 2022.

2021

Tis JE, Laine JC, Sankar WN, Jo CH, Kim HKW; International Perthes Study Group: Reproducibility of Radiographic Measurements Made in the Active Stages of Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease: Evaluation of a Prognostic Indicator and an Interim Outcome Measure. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 41(2): 93-98, 2021.

Swarup I, Talwar D, Sankar WN: Part-time abduction bracing in infants with residual acetabular dysplasia: Does compliance monitoring support a dose-dependent relationship? Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 41(2): e125-e129, 2021.

Selberg CM, Bram JT, Carry P, Goldstein RY, Schrader T, Laine HKM, Sankar WN: Hip morphology in early-stage LCPD: Is there an argument for anatomic-specific containment. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 41: 344-351, 2021.

Nguyen JC, Back SJ, Barrera CA, Patel M, Nguyen MK, Hong S, Sankar WN: Developmental dysplasia of the hip: can contrast-enhanced MRI predict the development of avascular necrosis following surgery? Skeletal Radiology 50(2): 389-397, 2021.

Magee LC, Baghdadi S, Gohel S, Sankar WN: Complex Fracture-Dislocations of the Elbow in the Pediatric Population. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 41(6): e470-e474, 2021.

Maerz T, Nepple JJ, Bedi A, Zaltz I, Belzile É, Beaulé PE, Sink EL, Clohisy JC; ANCHOR Group: Sex differences in the clinical outcomes following surgical treatment of femoroacetabular impingement. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, American 103: 415-423, 2021.

Laine JC, Novotny SA, Tis JE, Sankar WN, Martin BD, Kelly DM, Gilbert SR, Shah H, Joseph B, Kim HKW; International Perthes Study Group: Demographics and Clinical Presentation of Early-Stage Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease: A Prospective, Multicenter, International Study. Journal of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 29(2): e85-e91, 2021.

Bram JT, Gohel S, Castañeda PG, Sankar WN.: Is There a Benefit to Weaning Pavlik Harness Treatment in Infantile DDH? Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 41(3): 143-148, 2021.

2020

Zhou W, Sankar WN, Zhang F, Li L, Zhang L, Zhao Q: Evolution of concentricity after closed reduction in developmental dysplasia of the hip. Bone and Joint Journal 102: 618-626, 2020.

Talathi NS, Trionfo A, Patel NM, Upasani VV, Matheney T, Mulpuri K, Sankar WN: Should I Plan to Open? Predicting the Need for Open Reduction in the Treatment of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 40(5): e329-e334, 2020.

Swarup I, Williams BA, Talwar D, Sankar WN: Rates of Contralateral SCFE in the United States: Analysis of the Pediatric Health Information System. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 40(7): e587-e591, 2020.

Swarup I, Shah R, Gohel S, Baldwin K, Sankar WN: Predicting subsequent contralateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis: an evidence-based approach. Journal of Children's Orthopaedics 14(2): 91-97, 2020.

Swarup I, Luhmann S, Woiczik M, Sankar WN: Eight Years of the Pediatric Orthopedic Fellowship Match: What Have we Learned? Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 40(2): e144-e148, 2020.

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. Journal of Pediatric Orthoapedics 40(6): e445-e553, 2020.

Siddiqi A, White PB, Sloan M, Fox D, Piuzzi NS, Sankar WN, Sheth NP: Total hip arthroplasty for developmental dysplasia of the hip vs osteoarthritis: a propensity matched pair analysis. Arthroplasty Today 22(6): 607-611, 2020.

Sankar WN, Zaltz I: Single-incision Extraperiosteal Triple Innominate Osteotomy: Outcomes of an Updated Technique. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 40: e1005-e1009, 2020.

Sankar WN, Lavalva SM, Mcguire MF, Jo C, Laine JC, Kim HKW; International Perthes Study Group: Does Early Proximal Femoral Varus Osteotomy Shorten the Duration of Fragmentation in Perthes Disease? Lessons From a Prospective Multicenter Cohort. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 40(5): e322-e328, 2020.

Meza BC, Nguyen JC, Jaremko JL, Sankar WN: Coronal Flexion Versus Coronal Neutral Sonographic Views in Infantile DDH: An Important Source of Variability. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 40(6): e440-e445, 2020.

Meza BC, Iacone D, Talwar D, Sankar WN, Shah AS: Socioeconomic deprivation and its adverse association with adolescent fracture care compliance. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Open Access 5, 2020.

Matsumoto H, Hyman JE, Shah HH, Sankar WN, Laine JC, Mehlman CT, Schrader T, Kelly DM, Rosenfeld SB, Janicki JA, Thacker MM, Trupia E, Mcguire MF, Kim HKW; International Perthes Study Group: Validation of Pediatric Self-Report Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Measures in Different Stages of Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 40(5): 235-240, 2020.

Laine JC, Novotny SA, Huhnstock S, Ries AJ, Tis JE, Sankar WN, Jo CH, Kim HKW; International Perthes Study Group: Reliability of the modified lateral pillar classification for Legg Calvé Perthes disease performed by a large group of international paediatric orthopedic surgeons. Journal of Children's Orthopaedics 14(6): 529-536, 2020.

Harper P, Joseph BM, Clarke NMP, Herrera-Soto J, Sankar WN, Schaeffer EK, Mulpuri K, Aarvold A; International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI): Even Experts Can Be Fooled: Reliability of Clinical Examination for Diagnosing Hip Dislocations in Newborns. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 40(8): 408-412, 2020.

Back SJ, Chauvin NA, Ntoulia A, Ho-Fung VM, Calle Toro JS, Sridharan A, Morgan TA, Kozak B, Darge K, Sankar WN: Intraoperative Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging of Femoral Head Perfusion in Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: A Feasibility Study. Journal of Ultrasound Medicine 39(2): 247-257, 2020.

Nepple JJ, Zaltz I, Larson CM, Beaulé PE, Kim YJ, Millis MB, Sierra RJ, Clohisy JC; ANCHOR Group: Surgical Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement: Hip Arthroscopy Versus Surgical Hip Dislocation: A Propensity-Matched Analysis. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, American volume 102(Suppl 2): 51-58, Nov 2020.

Books

2015

Flynn JM, Sankar WN eds: Operative Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery: Pediatrics. Wolters Kluwer Health, Philadelphia, 2nd Edition, 2015.

2011

Wiesel BB, Sankar WN, Delahay J, Wiesel S eds: Orthopaedic Surgery: Principles of Diagnosis and Management. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 1st Edition, 2011.

2005

Mehta S, Sankar WN, Born CT: Handbook of External Fixation. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 2005.

Editorials, Reviews, Chapters

2021

Sankar WN, Castaneda P, Joseph B: Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease and Other Conditions of the Hip (Chapter 23). Lovell and Winter's Pediatric Orthopaedics. Weinstein SL, Flynn JM, Crawford H (eds.). Wolters Kluwer, Philadelphia, 2021.

2019

Sankar WN, Winell JJ, Horn BD, Wells L: The Hip (Chapter 698). Nelson's Textbook of Pediatrics. Kliegman R, St Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM (eds.). Elsevier, Philadelphia, 21st edition, 2019.

Sankar WN, McCarthy JJ, Herman MJ: Pelvic and Acetabular Fractures (Chapter 22). Rockwood and Green: Fractures in Children. Flynn JM, Skaggs DL, Waters PM (eds.). Wolter Kluwer Health, Philadelphia, 2019.

Miller DJ, Blumberg TJ, Nelson SE, Sankar WN: Fracture healing in pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1: A case series and review of the literature. University of Pennsyvania Orthopaedic Journal 29: 128-130, June 2019.

2016

Hadley C, Wowkanech C, Eck B, Austin L, Sankar W, Tjoumakaris F: Morel-Lavallée Lesion: Presenting Etiology of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia in an Adolescent Athlete: A Case Report. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Case connector 6: e99, 2016.

Patient experience rating

(based on 368 submissions)

  • Clear Explanation
    4.9 of 5
  • Showed Concern
    4.9 of 5
  • Would recommend
    4.9 of 5
  • Discussion of Proposed Treatment
    4.9 of 5
Learn about the patient experience rating system

Comments

  • We love dr Shankar. He's very knowledgeable, kind and informative. We are so lucky to have him as our orthopedic at CHOP.

    5 of 5
    Jun 10, 2025
  • Dr. Sankar and his nurse Meg were wonderful and so informative. I really appreciate the time they took to really explain our daughter's hip issue and what her surgery/recovery would look like.

    5 of 5
    Jun 06, 2025
  • Dr. Sankar is so thorough in his exams. Every time we have an appointment he explains everything in such detail, but makes sure we understand what he is saying.

    5 of 5
    May 23, 2025
  • Dr. Sankar is kind and very informative.

    5 of 5
    May 20, 2025
  • We love Dr. Sankar. From the very first consultation he's been very professional and also very understanding of all the emotions that come with a child getting hip surgery. He allowed me space to cry during the initial appointment and was very kind but still explained in detail what the next few months would look like and what the procedure consisted of so my family could make Informed decisions, without being overwhelming. He and his team were available for questions anytime we had them and were always very reassuring. Dr. Sankar always asked my daughter before he touched her and made sure she felt safe/comfortable which I appreciated. It's also very evident he loves what he does and is very knowledgeable. We always felt heard, cared for, and supported by Dr. Sankar. If we ever have to do something hip related again we will be coming back to his office.

    5 of 5
    May 09, 2025
  • Dr. Sankar and his team are always extremely kind, knowledgeable and understanding

    5 of 5
    Apr 16, 2025
  • Dr. Sankar has a true gift for what he does. He was so understanding, sympathetic and genuine when he spoke to my daughter about her surgery. He related to her as an athlete. He clearly shared the benefits and risks of the surgery and really helped my daughter to feel at ease when she was devastated. He shared with her that his door is always open and she is welcome to come down and sit and talk with him if she has questions or is nervous. Never have we had such a positive experience with something that was very tough for our family. We know that we are absolutely at the right place with the right surgeon!

    5 of 5
    Mar 27, 2025
  • Though there was a delay starting the appointment due to the xray machine being backed up, they still took the time to talk and listen to us. We did not feel rushed talking about my son's issues.

    5 of 5
    Mar 19, 2025
  • Dr. Took all the time we needed for thorough exam and full explanation of diagnosis and treatment. Answered all of our questions. Did not feel rushed at all.

    5 of 5
    Mar 14, 2025
  • We had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Sankar. He was wonderful. Very kind and did not feel rushed at all.

    5 of 5
    Mar 12, 2025
  • Excellent as always! We feel so fortunate to have Dr. Sankar taking care of our daughter!

    5 of 5
    Feb 03, 2025
  • We love Dr Sankhar.

    5 of 5
    Jan 25, 2025
  • Dr. Sankar is the best!! We are very grateful to be under his care! Years ago, when my daughter would have been signed up for surgery as a baby, he took the time at the end of our appointment to listen to my concerns about her hip brace. He fitted her in a new one, I told him it looked very different from the positioning she had been in, and he gave us a month to see if it improved enough to avoid surgery. Instead of just dismissing what I was convinced of, he gave me the time to try a new brace. It worked! We have avoided surgery ever since. I can't thank him enough for listening to me and working with me. I think listening to a mom is one of the greatest skills of a doctor- we became a care team that day. I'm forever grateful to Dr. Sankar.

    4.6 of 5
    Jan 09, 2025
  • Dr. Sankar is fantastic and we're so happy to have him on our case.

    5 of 5
    Dec 18, 2024
  • We have already recommended Dr Sankar to friends who have an infant with hip dysplasia

    5 of 5
    Dec 01, 2024
  • Dr. Sankar is amazing and we are very lucky to have him so close to us.

    5 of 5
    Nov 20, 2024
  • Nurse and physician answered all my questions and gave appropriate easy to understand education. Reassured me on her condition and gave additional education about her condition

    5 of 5
    Nov 07, 2024
  • MD was very nice and knowledgeable.

    5 of 5
    Oct 31, 2024
  • Dr Sankar and Theresa RN were informative , diligent and caring

    5 of 5
    Oct 07, 2024
  • Dr Sankar is fantastic

    5 of 5
    Oct 04, 2024
  • Doctor and staff were excellent. Very patient with my son , kind , and very thorough

    5 of 5
    Sep 20, 2024
  • Dr. Sankar was great and put my mind at ease about my sons condition

    5 of 5
    Sep 19, 2024
  • Dr. Sankar is what I wish all doctors would be. He's warm, compassionate, clearly describing the situation and the treatment, addressing concerns and going above and beyond to try to put his patient at ease.

    5 of 5
    Sep 17, 2024
  • Dr. Sankar is extremely caring and takes the time to answer any questions I may have during the appointment. We are so lucky to have him!

    5 of 5
    Sep 09, 2024
  • Incredibly good at talking to my child and explaining things to him. Above and beyond medical care.

    5 of 5
    Sep 02, 2024
  • They answered all of my questions and my daughter's.

    5 of 5
    Aug 29, 2024
  • Doctor Sankar (and his admin assistant) was exceptional. I would recommend him and his team to any concerned parent/patient.

    5 of 5
    Aug 27, 2024
  • Dr. Sankar has taken excellent care of our daughter. He has very clearly explained every step of the way to recovery.

    5 of 5
    Aug 20, 2024
  • Dr. Sankar is fantastic. We travel about 1 hour to go see him because we value his opinion and expertise.

    5 of 5
    Aug 06, 2024
  • We LOVE Dr Sankar. He is a wonderful doctor who always takes his time to examine,explain and answer any and all of our questions.

    5 of 5
    Aug 06, 2024
  • At every visit, Dr. Sankar is able to provide us with a wealth of information in a way that is accessible to even our child, and suggests treatment options that consider who our child is as a developing human within a family unit. Additionally, Dr. Sankar is incredibly kind, always professional, and someone for our child to look up to.

    5 of 5
    Jul 18, 2024
  • Dr. Sankar was very accommodating and explained the treatment plan very well.

    5 of 5
    Jul 11, 2024
  • Dr. Sankar is the best of the best and it shows in his practice. He listens to concerns, answers any questions, and explains things in a manner in which is understandable to those of us not in the medical field.

    5 of 5
    Jun 28, 2024
  • Dr. Sankar was very comforting and informative, excellent bedside manner. Very knowledgeable and easy to talk to.

    5 of 5
    Jun 09, 2024
  • Love dr sankar! Wish more drs were like him!

    5 of 5
    Jun 05, 2024
  • Dr Sankur was very helpful and informative. He described the issue and the approach clearly.

    5 of 5
    May 18, 2024
  • The amount of time Dr. Sankar and his team spent with us was excellent and really exhibited how much he and his team care about their patients. Every team member was warm and friendly and great with kids.

    5 of 5
    Apr 25, 2024
  • Dr. Sankar is wonderful. Addressed our concerns, took time to examine our son and talk to him. He is wonderful, simply put

    5 of 5
    Mar 22, 2024
  • Dr. Sankar is wonderful and we are very grateful to have him as my sons doctor.

    5 of 5
    Mar 06, 2024
  • Dr Sankar is amazing. Complete and digestible information Is always provided. Great bedside manner. We absolutely love him!!

    5 of 5
    Mar 01, 2024
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About the Patient Experience Rating System

The Patient Experience Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown above from our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score. We are committed to true transparency. However, to ensure the comments are fair and correctly attributed, we review each one before posting to the website. We exclude entire comments that disclose patient’s protected health information, are off-topic, or include other confidential or inappropriate content. Comments will appear on provider bios only if providers have a minimum number of comments. Comments are shared internally for education purposes to ensure that we are doing our very best for the patients and families for whom we are privileged to care. The comments are submitted by patients and families and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not reflect the views of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

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