Limb Deformity and Extremity Preservation Program

Whether a child is born with abnormal limbs or has damaged limbs after an accident or due to disease, our physicians and health providers focus on preserving and restoring function in upper and lower extremities – arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet and toes. 

Our surgeons use advanced Orthopedic and Plastic Surgery techniques such as 3D computer-guided deformity correction and lengthening, vascularized bone grafting, and microneurovascular surgery to repair and reconstruct nerve and soft-tissue in a child’s extremities. Texas Children’s Musculoskeletal Radiologist work hand-in-hand with the surgeons to provide high resolution images with 3D reformatting and 3D-printed models of a child’s limbs to help plan the best surgical approach for each child.

After surgery, our patients work with experts in physical and occupational therapy to gain strength and learn to use their arms and legs in the best way possible. For some patients, the focus is on the ability to perform daily living tasks while for other patients, improving athletic performance is their main goal. Therapists may work with their patients to use 3D-modeled custom implants or personalized prosthetics.   

Texas Children’s Social Services team can also connect families to local resources for adaptive services and equipment for an improved quality of life when returning to daily activities.