Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of pediatric specialty hospitals, founded by the Shrine, where children under the age of 18 receive excellent medical care.

There are 18 orthopaedic Shriners Hospitals, three Shriners Hospitals dedicated to treating children with severe burns, and one Shriners Hospital that provides orthopedic, burn and spinal cord injury care. Shriners Hospitals are located throughout North America — 20 in the United States and one each in Mexico and Canada. These "Centers of Excellence" serve as major referral centers for children with complex orthopedic and burn problems.

All of the orthopedic hospitals are equipped and staffed to treat children with congenital orthopedic deformities, problems resulting from orthopedic injuries, and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Three of the orthopedic hospitals also have special programs dedicated to caring for children with spinal cord injuries.

The Shriners Hospitals treat children with acute, fresh burns; children needing plastic reconstructive or restorative surgery as a result of "healed" burns; children with severe scarring, resulting in contractures or interference with mobility of the limbs; and children with scarring and deformity of the face.

    ACCEPTABLE CASES

    • Scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
    • Back problems
    • Club feet
    • Dislocated hip
    • Hip dysphasia
    • Legg-Perthes disease
    • Leg length discrepancies
    • Amputation or deficiency of limbs
    • Fractures (non-emergency)
    • Orthopedic congenital deformities
    • Orthopedic sports injuries
    • Osteogenesis imperfecta
    • Rickets
    • Polio
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Pediatric and orthopedic problems related to:
    • cerebral palsy
    • spina bifida
    • Deformities due to burns
    • Scar revision
    • Reconstructive surgery
    • Cleft lip
    • Microtia
    • Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
    • Arthrogryposis
    • Genetics

    NON-ACCEPTABLE CASES

    • Epilepsy
    • Heart problems
    • Hemophilia
    • Eye and/or hearing problems
    • Kidney problems
    • Saddle-nose deformity
    • Severely retarded or brain damaged

Shriners Hospitals accept and treat children without regard to race, religion or relationship to a Shriner. Any child may be eligible for treatment at a Shriners Hospital if the child is under 18 and if, in the opinion of the hospital's chief of staff, the child has an orthopedic or burn condition that Shriners Hospitals can help.

If you know of a child Shriners Hospitals might be able to help,
please contact Mark VanDer Vere 325-2644 or a Shriner