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Primary Children's Hospital - Salt Lake City

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Spine Program

at Primary Children's Hospital

US News Award - Neurology

The Pediatric Spine Program is a partnership between the University of Utah School of Medicine and Primary Children’s Hospital that provides high-quality care for all pediatric spine-related conditions and concerns. The program offers team-based care from nationally and internationally recognized experts who include orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, rehabilitation physicians, physical therapists, nurse practitioners, nurses, pain management specialists and behavioral health specialists.

Primary Children’s Hospital ranks among the US News Best Children’s Hospitals in the United States. The hospital is nationally ranked for Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery and for Pediatric Orthopedic care.

Conditions we treat

  • Back Pain
  • Chiari I Malformation
  • Kyphosis
  • Scheuermann's Disease
  • Scoliosis
  • Spinal Compression
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Spondylolysis
  • Tethered Cord
Call (801) 662-1655PCHSpine@imail.org

Primary Children's Hospital

Discover what to expect during your visit to Primary Children's Hospital and explore our patient services. We're here to support you and your child, ensuring comfort and providing the care needed for a great experience throughout your stay.

Your visitPatient support

FAQ

Common questions about our spine program

After a referral is received by the Spine program, you will be contacted to be scheduled with the providers in Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) or Physical Therapy. The scheduler will provide information as to who the provider is you will see and at which location (if PT or Orthopedics). If your provider is requesting imaging prior to your appointment, this will also be explained and they will assist you in scheduling.

You may want to make a list of questions to ask your provider before the appointment, to ensure that all of your questions are answered.

  • Once you arrive to your appointment, you will be asked to complete paperwork about your medical and family history.
  • A medical assistant will measure your height and weight, and if necessary, our imaging specialists will take an X-Ray.
  • A provider will talk to you and your parents, look at X-Rays and/or other imaging, and perform a routine examination.
  • You and your provider will then review the next steps and make an individualized plan for your future care.

All X-Ray procedures take place at Primary Children's Salt Lake City hospital and are performed by pediatric imaging specialists. There is always a little bit of radiation exposure each time that an X-Ray is taken. Your providers recognize this and try to only get pictures that are necessary. The orthopedic department has also added a new X-ray machine to their office called an “EOS Imaging machine” that delivers a very low dose of radiation, about 7 times less than a normal X-Ray.

No. Based on a study that was completed by the National Health Institute (NHI), it was found that patients experienced the most optimal results with bracing, when the brace was worn 16-18 hours per day. Most kids chose to wear the brace and night and during school, which allows them to take it off to be active when out of school. However, you will need to decide what the best wearing schedule is for you!

Yes. Immediately after surgery, there are activity restrictions you will need to follow, in order to help your body heal and the fusion bone to be created. Once those restrictions are released, usually at 6 months after surgery, you can do almost any activity that someone without a spinal fusion can do.

The treatment course for scoliosis is based on how severe your curve is. This will be evaluated with your provider at each visit. They will be taking X-Rays with each visit to see if your curve is progressing or staying stable.

Scoliosis and how it affects you

How to refer a patient

Referrals can be submitted by email at PCHSpine@imail.org, by fax at 801-442-0857, or by phone at 801-662-1655.

Please include any imaging that has been completed. There is specific imaging preferred for the following conditions:

  • Scoliosis—PA and Lateral Plain Films of the full spine (scoliosis film)
  • Chiari—MRI of Brain or C-Spine showing the concern
  • Cervical Stenosis— MRI of C-Spine
  • Tethered Cord—MRI of L-Spine