Michael Wade Shrader, MD

Orthopedics

Primary Office

Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware 1600 Rockland Road Wilmington, DE 19803 Appointment: (800) 416-4441

Other Offices

Get to Know Me

Dr. Wade Shrader is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, division chief of the Nemours Cerebral Palsy Center, and is on the board of directors, American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. He’s also been an invited lecturer, active researcher, and a reviewer, editor and contributor of medical journals and book chapters.

Why I Treat Children

I think children represent the center of hope in our families. I became a pediatric doctor to help nurture that hope in each family so that each child we care for can reach their absolute best potential. I love the engineering aspects of orthopedics. Doing orthopedics in children just seemed like the perfect fit for me. After my two sons were diagnosed with their cerebral palsy (CP), the first time I took care of a family of a child with CP, I knew that this was my purpose in life: to try to help families like mine.

What I'm Passionate About

I am passionate about being an advocate for improved health care and improved access to society for children and adults with disabilities.

How I Try to Make A Difference

I truly try to treat each child and each family how I want my children and my family treated. As a special needs parent myself, I like to let my patients’ families know that, so that I can help in some small way by saying “I know what you’re going through, and I’m going to do everything in my power to help you.” 

Education & Training

Fellowship

  • Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery - Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, 2005

Internship Residency

  • Orthopedic Surgery - Mayo Clinic College of Med and Science Program, 2004

Medical/Dental School

  • MD - University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, 1999

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Awards & Recognition

  • 2016 Achievement Award, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Mississippi State College of Engineering
  • 2015 Top Docs, Phoenix magazine
  • 2015 Nominated, Best Clinical Research Paper, Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) Annual Meeting
  • 2014 Traveling Fellowship, POSNA
  • 2014 Leadership Fellowship Program, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
  • 2013 Nominated, Arnold Award, Best Paper, American Academy for Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) Annual Meeting
  • 2012 Nominated, Highlighted Award Poster, AACPDM Annual Meeting
  • 2012 Best Poster, Pediatrics, AAOS Annual Meeting
  • 2011 Nominated, Award Poster, POSNA Annual Meeting
  • 2005 Scoliosis Research Award, T. Boone Pickens Foundation
  • 2004 Outstanding Clinical Achievement Award, Mayo Clinic
  • 2004 Joseph B. Janes Award, Mayo Clinic
  • 2003 John Insall Clinical Research Award, Knee Society
  • 2003 Hamlet Peterson Scientific Writing Award, Mayo Clinic

Insurance Accepted

  • Aetna Better Health PA Kids HMO
  • Aetna HMO
  • Aetna PPO/EPO/POS
  • Aetna PPO/POS/EPO
  • Amerihealth Caritas DE - PENNSYLVANIA SPECIALISTS ONLY
  • Amerihealth Caritas Delaware NJ
  • Carefirst MD Community Health Plan Mcaid
  • Cigna & Great West HMO/POS/EPO
  • Cigna & Great West PPO
  • Cigna/Great West HMO EPO POS
  • Cigna/Great West PPO
  • Delaware First Health
  • Delaware Medicaid/Diamond State
  • Delaware Medicare
  • Devon Health Services
  • Fidelis Care NJ Medicaid HMO
  • First Health PPO
  • First Health/Affordable PPO
  • Geisinger Health Plan Commercial
  • Global Medical Managment DE/PA
  • Global Medical Mangment NJ
  • Health Partners Medicaid/Kidz Partner HMO
  • Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware
  • Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware *PA Loc Contiguous to DE*
  • Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware *PA Loc NONContiguous to DE*
  • Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Pennsylvania
  • Highmark Medicaid Health Options
  • Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
  • Independance Blue Cross/Amerihealth/Keystone Health Plan
  • Insurance Administrators of America
  • INTEGRA Administrative Group (ClaimsBridge)
  • Keystone First Medicaid HMO
  • Maryland Medicaid
  • Multiplan PPO
  • New Jersey Medicaid
  • Olympus Managed Healthcare PPO DE/PA
  • Olympus Managed Healthcare PPO NJ
  • Pennsylvania Medicaid
  • Plan Vista/NPPN PPO
  • Preferred Healthcare PPO
  • Private Health Care Systems (PHCS)
  • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
  • Qualcare HMO/POS/PPO
  • Star Healthcare Network
  • Star Healthcare Network
  • Three Rivers Provider Network
  • Tricare/Humana Military Health Services/CHAMPVA
  • United Healthcare of the Mid-Atlantic
  • UPMC MCAID/CHIP PA DE
  • UPMC Medicaid
  • US Family Health Plan
  • Wellpoint Maryland Medcaid

  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Fracture Management
  • Hip Conditions
  • Scoliosis
  • Spinal Deformities

Research Activities

  • Family dynamics in cerebral palsy (CP)
  • Hip dysplasia and scoliosis in CP
  • Postoperative pain control and assessment in CP
  • Quality of life in CP

Medical Interests

  • Cerebral palsy
  • Family centered care
  • Neurodevelopmental disabilities
  • Quality improvement
  • Clinical research

  • Factors Associated With Short-Term Recovery Following Single-Event Multilevel Surgery for Children With Cerebral Palsy; Pediatric Physical Therapy; (2023).

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  • Identification of risk factors for reconstructive hip surgery after intrathecal baclofen therapy in children with cerebral palsy; Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica; (2023).

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  • Hip Displacement after Triradiate Cartilage Closure in Nonambulatory Cerebral Palsy: Who Needs Continued Radiographic Surveillance?; Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery; (2023).

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  • Hip Displacement Does Not Change After Pelvic Obliquity Correction During Spinal Fusion in Children With Cerebral Palsy; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2023).

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  • Femoral Head Deformity Associated with Hip Displacement in Nonambulatory Cerebral Palsy: Results at Skeletal Maturity; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2023).

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  • Does intrathecal baclofen therapy decrease the progression of hip displacement in young patients with cerebral palsy?; Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology; (2023).

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  • Collagenase treatment decreases muscle stiffness in cerebral palsy: A preclinical ex vivo biomechanical analysis of hip adductor muscle fiber bundles; Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology; (2023).

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  • Closed displaced femur fractures in children with nonambulatory cerebral palsy; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics Part B; (2023).

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  • Can the Shriners Hospital Upper Extremity Evaluation (SHUEE) Detect Change in Dynamic Position and Spontaneous Function of the Upper Limb in People with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy?; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2023).

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  • Transcranial electric motor evoked potential monitoring during scoliosis surgery in children with cerebral palsy and active seizure disorder: is it feasible and safe?; Spine Deformity; (2023).

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  • The effect of medial only versus medial and lateral hamstring lengthening on transverse gait parameters in cerebral palsy; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics Part B; (2023).

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  • Promoting peace of mind: The importance of wellness in children with disabilities and their families; Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology; (2023).

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  • Preoperative Biopsychosocial Assessment and Length of Stay in Orthopaedic Surgery Admissions of Youth with Cerebral Palsy; Behavioral Sciences; (2023).

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  • Anterior distal femoral hemiepiphysiodesis in children with cerebral palsy: Establishing surgical indications and techniques using the modified Delphi method and literature review; Journal of Children's Orthopaedics; (2023).

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  • Intrathecal baclofen therapy does not prevent hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy; Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology; (2023).

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  • Is Standing Function Improved after Orthopaedic Surgery in Children with Cerebral Palsy at GMFCS Levels III/IV?; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2023).

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  • Mortality after spinal fusion in children with cerebral palsy and cerebral-palsy-like conditions: A 30-year follow-up study; Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology; (2023).

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  • Orthopedic surgical outcomes that matter in children with cerebral palsy; Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology; (2023).

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  • Does the Addition of Intrathecal Baclofen Along with or After Soft-Tissue Hip Adductor Surgery Decrease the Need for Hip Reconstruction Compared with Soft-Tissue Surgery Alone for Children with Nonambulatory Cerebral Palsy?; Indian Journal of Orthopaedics; (2022).

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  • DNA Methylation Analysis Reveals Distinct Patterns in Satellite Cell–Derived Myogenic Progenitor Cells of Subjects with Spastic Cerebral Palsy; Journal of Personalized Medicine; (2022).

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  • Assessment of foot alignment and function for ambulatory children with cerebral palsy: Results of a modified Delphi technique consensus study; Journal of Children's Orthopaedics; (2022).

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  • Anterior distal femoral hemiepiphysiodesis in children with cerebral palsy: Establishing surgical indications and techniques using the modified Delphi method and literature review; Journal of Children's Orthopaedics; (2022).

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  • Distal femoral extension osteotomy and patellar tendon advancement or shortening in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy: A modified Delphi consensus study and literature review; Journal of Children's Orthopaedics; (2022).

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  • Residual Deformity and Outcome of Ambulatory Adults With Cerebral Palsy: A Long-term Longitudinal Assessment; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2022).

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  • Finding consensus for hamstring surgery in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy using the Delphi method; Journal of Children's Orthopaedics; (2022).

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  • No difference in postoperative complication rates or cardiopulmonary function for early versus late scoliosis correction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Spine Deformity; (2022).

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  • Hip surveillance for patients with cerebral palsy in the United States; Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine; (2022).

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  • Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Pelvic Rod/Screw Radiographic Lucency Following Scoliosis Surgery in Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Longitudinal Study; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2022).

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  • The modified Kocher criteria for septic hip: Does it apply to the knee?; Journal of Children's Orthopaedics; (2022).

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  • The influence of tone on proximal femoral and acetabular geometry in neuromuscular hip displacement: A comparison of cerebral palsy and spinal muscular atrophy; Journal of Children's Orthopaedics; (2022).

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  • Walking activity after multilevel orthopedic surgery in children with cerebral palsy; Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology; (2022).

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  • What Happens to Our Neuromuscular Patients in Adulthood: Pathway to Independence and Maximal Function; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2021).

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  • Distal rectus femoris surgery in children with cerebral palsy: Results of a delphi consensus project; Journal of Children's Orthopaedics; (2021).

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  • Mobility and gait in adults with cerebral palsy: Evaluating change from adolescence; Gait and Posture; (2021).

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  • Hip Displacement in MECP2 Disorders: Prevalence and Risk Factors; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2021).

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  • Factors associated with walking activity in adults with cerebral palsy; Gait and Posture; (2021).

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  • Evaluation of gait pattern and lower extremity kinematics of children with morquio syndrome (Mps iv); Diagnostics; (2021).

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  • Comparison of surgical outcomes for distal rectus femoris transfer and resection surgeries in children with cerebral palsy with stiff knee gait; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2021).

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  • Characteristics of medical professional liability claims in pediatric orthopedics; Journal of Patient Safety; (2021).

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  • The change in sagittal plane gait patterns from childhood to maturity in bilateral cerebral palsy; Gait and Posture; (2021).

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  • Orthopaedic Manifestations of Transverse Myelitis in Children; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2021).

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  • Well-Being of Ambulatory Adults With Cerebral Palsy: Education, Employment, and Physical Function of a Cohort Who Received Specialized Pediatric Care; Frontiers in Neurology; (2021).

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  • The impact of asymmetry on the radiographical outcomes following hip reconstruction in patients with cerebral palsy; Journal of Children's Orthopaedics; (2021).

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  • Surgical Treatment of Scoliosis Due to Cerebral Palsy; Cerebral Palsy: Second Edition; (2020).

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  • Success Rates for Reduction of Pediatric Distal Radius and Ulna Fractures by Emergency Physicians; Pediatric Emergency Care; (2020).

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  • Orthopedic Conditions in Adults with Cerebral Palsy; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America; (2020).

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  • Indications for gastrocsoleus lengthening in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy: A delphi consensus study; Journal of Children's Orthopaedics; (2020).

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  • Ethical concerns in telemedicine; Telemedicine in Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine: Development and Implementation in Practice; (2020).

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  • Establishing surgical indications for hamstring lengthening and femoral derotational osteotomy in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy; Journal of Children's Orthopaedics; (2020).

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  • Aging with Cerebral Palsy: Adult Musculoskeletal Issues; Cerebral Palsy: Second Edition; (2020).

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  • A case study in telemedicine: Cerebral palsy; Telemedicine in Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine: Development and Implementation in Practice; (2020).

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  • The 5-year outcome of the ponseti method in children with idiopathic clubfoot and arthrogryposis; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2020).

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  • Hip Surveillance in Children with Cerebral Palsy; Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; (2019).

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  • Perioperative management of patients with cerebral palsy undergoing scoliosis surgery: Survey of surgeon practices; Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine; (2019).

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  • Variation Among Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons When Diagnosing and Treating Pediatric and Adolescent Distal Radius Fractures; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2019).

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  • Variation among Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons When Treating Medial Epicondyle Fractures; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2019).

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  • Who Needs a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit After Posterior Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis?; Spine Deformity; (2018).

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  • Scoliosis in children with cerebral palsy; Cerebral Palsy: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Third Edition; (2018).

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  • Inter- and Intraobserver Reliability of Pelvic Obliquity Measurement Methods in Patients With Cerebral Palsy; Spine Deformity; (2018).

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  • Musculoskeletal coccidioidomycosis; Current Orthopaedic Practice; (2018).

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  • The Effect of Two Attending Surgeons on the Outcomes of Posterior Spine Fusion in Children With Cerebral Palsy; Spine Deformity; (2018).

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  • Hip dysplasia in children with cerebral palsy; Cerebral Palsy: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Third Edition; (2018).

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  • Collaborations with pediatric hospitalists: National surveys of pediatric surgeons and orthopedic surgeons; Journal of Hospital Medicine; (2018).

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  • The Effect of Two Attending Surgeons on Patients With Large-Curve Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion; Spine Deformity; (2017).

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  • Hip surveillance for children with cerebral palsy: A survey of the POSNA membership; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2017).

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  • An independent assessment of reliability of the melbourne cerebral palsy hip classification system; Journal of Children's Orthopaedics; (2017).

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  • Back pain in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Steroids are not always the culprit; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics Part B; (2016).

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  • Hip reconstruction is more painful than spine fusion in children with cerebral palsy; Journal of Children's Orthopaedics; (2015).

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  • Evaluation of Patient Satisfaction Surveys in Pediatric Orthopaedics; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2015).

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  • Adjunctive pain control methods lower narcotic use and pain scores for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing posterior spinal fusion; Spine Deformity; (2015).

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  • Evaluation of a novel method for determining transverse plane pelvic obliquity; Spine Deformity; (2014).

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  • Diagnosis and initial management of musculoskeletal coccidioidomycosis in children; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2014).

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  • Are we undermedicating patients with neuromuscular scoliosis after posterior spinal fusion?; Spine Deformity; (2014).

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  • Evaluation of dexmedetomidine and postoperative pain management in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Conclusions based on a retrospective study at a tertiary pediatric hospital; Pediatric Critical Care Medicine; (2014).

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  • Independent analysis of a clinical predictive algorithm to identify methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis in children; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2013).

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  • Role of total knee arthroplasty approaches in gait recovery through 6 months.; The journal of knee surgery; (2013).

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  • Missed fractures in paediatric trauma patients; Acta Orthopaedica Belgica; (2013).

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  • The spectrum of musculoskeletal problems in lipomyelomeningocele; Journal of Children's Orthopaedics; (2013).

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  • Differences between Standard and Minimally Invasive Parapatellar Surgical Approaches for Total Knee Arthroplasty in the Tasks of Sitting and Standing; Journal of Knee Surgery; (2012).

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  • Spine radiographs for neuromuscular scoliosis: The role of a seating device for dependent sitters; Techniques in Orthopaedics; (2012).

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  • Improving initial acetabular component stability in revision total hip arthroplasty. Calcium phosphate cement vs reverse reamed cancellous allograft; Journal of Arthroplasty; (2012).

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  • Total Hip Arthroplasty and Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty in the Very Young Patient; Orthopedic Clinics of North America; (2012).

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  • Pulmonary embolism following an ankle fracture in a 9-year-old boy: A case report; Acta Orthopaedica Belgica; (2012).

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  • Suspected nonaccidental trauma and femoral shaft fractures in children; Orthopedics; (2011).

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  • Periosteal entrapment in distal femoral physeal fractures : Harbinger for premature physeal arrest ?; Acta Orthopaedica Belgica; (2011).

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  • Bedside ultrasound in the diagnosis of pediatric clavicle fractures; Pediatric Emergency Care; (2011).

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  • Practice Parameter: Pharmacologic treatment of spasticity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (an evidence-based review): Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Practice Committee of the Child Neurology Society; Neurology; (2010).

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  • Case report: Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the lumbar spine in a child; Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research; (2010).

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  • Gait, hip strength and functional outcomes after a ganz periacetabular osteotomy for adolescent hip dysplasia; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; (2010).

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  • Pathologic femoral neck fractures in children.; American journal of orthopedics (Belle Mead, N.J.); (2009).

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  • Nonunion of fractures in pediatric patients: 15-Year experience at a level I trauma center; Orthopedics; (2009).

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  • Gait and stair function in total and resurfacing hip arthroplasty: A pilot study; Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research; (2009).

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  • Pediatric Supracondylar Fractures and Pediatric Physeal Elbow Fractures; Orthopedic Clinics of North America; (2008).

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  • Accuracy of emergency room physicians' interpretation of elbow fractures in children; Orthopedics; (2008).

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  • Biomechanical strength of the Peri-Loc® proximal tibial plate: A comparison of all-locked versus hybrid locked/nonlocked screw configurations; Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma; (2008).

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  • Femoral neck fractures in pediatric patients: 30 Years experience at a level 1 trauma center; Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research; (2007).

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  • Proximal Humerus and Humeral Shaft Fractures in Children; Hand Clinics; (2007).

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  • Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients With Renal Failure. A Comparison Between Transplant and Dialysis Patients; Journal of Arthroplasty; (2006).

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  • Acute triceps ruptures: Case report and retrospective chart review; Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery; (2006).

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  • Understanding proximal humerus fractures: Image analysis, classification, and treatment; Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery; (2005).

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  • Surgical dislocation with trochanteric osteotomy: A surgical approach for femoroacetabular impingement; Current Opinion in Orthopaedics; (2005).

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  • Full-thickness burn formation after the use of electrical stimulation for rehabilitation of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty; Journal of Arthroplasty; (2005).

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  • Effects of Knee Pain Relief in Osteoarthritis on Gait and Stair-Stepping; Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research; (2004).

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  • The Use of a Constrained Acetabular Component to Treat Instability After Total Hip Arthroplasty; Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery; (2003).

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  • Primary TKA in Patients with Lymphedema; Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research; (2003).

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