Care for Babies, Kids, and Teens

POA’s team of professionals will deliver the best possible care, regardless of the age and size of the patient. Our practice has long specialized in working with children of all ages from all over the world.

First and foremost, our practitioners spend much needed time with our young patients and their families to perform a thorough evaluation and establish a level of comfort and trust that’s necessary for a positive outcome. We want you to feel welcome and at home as soon as you walk in the door. It won’t be long before you will be greeted by our canine ambassador– Hudson, Cameron’s French Brittany Spaniel– who can be counted on to provide companionship and entertainment.

Hudson makes the fitting process more fun– and even enjoyable! We also have an open clinic floorplan where children are invited to play, run, or watch television between fittings.

Your Child’s Success is our Goal

We help our patients succeed in life. In addition to treating your child with superior prosthetic care, we will teach, coach, and cheer them on while providing them with the tools they need to achieve their goals. Several members of our staff are amputees themselves. Their success and experience provide an example to others that amputation is not a disability, but merely an inconvenience. In our experience, this type of “full circle” care results in our patients having the tools they need to live happy, healthy lives with confidence and a positive self-image.

Many of our young patients and their families have formed close friendships and keep in touch with each other. Some families even plan their prosthetic visits at the same time so they can get together. If you are interested in meeting with other children and their families, let us know, and one of our wonderful families will be more than happy to stop by.

The Pediatric Fitting Process

We practice in a relaxed, family-friendly manner, so most children are comfortable and at ease with the fitting process. First, we will perform an assessment of your child’s needs and answer any questions you might have. We will then talk with you about the different components which can be used to achieve your child’s goals. The children are included in the process as much as possible; it helps us discover where they need assistance to further accomplishments.

Your child will be measured and fit with a silicone liner. In most cases, because of their small size, the liner will be custom-made in our on-site silicone liner lab. Then we will take a cast of their residual limb to use as a mold for the test socket. Once the test socket has been fabricated and fit, we will attach the specially selected components (knee, foot, etc.) to the test socket and align the prosthesis. Then they will begin to walk!

As your child learns to balance and walk on his/her prosthesis, we will engage them in a variety of age-appropriate therapeutic games and exercises which encourage good walking habits while having fun. When they are ready, we will help them learn how to run, ride a bike, golf, surf, or anything else they are interested in learning to do.

We do not put limits on your child and encourage you to do the same. Children are much more adaptable than adults, and if there is something they want to do, they will usually find a way to do it!

What to Bring

Each time you come to the office, please bring the socks, liners, crutches, etc., that your child uses. It is also helpful to bring a pair of loose-fitting shorts. This allows us to easily take measurements or casts and make modifications as needed.