Our Work
Conditions We Treat
- neurological problems: spina bifida, hydrocephalus, encephalocele, brain tumours;
- intestinal problems: anorectal malformations, Hirschsprung’s disease; intestinal anomalies;
- other intra-abdominal, abdominal wall and chest conditions;
- children’s tumors;
- urological problems: hypospadias, bladder exstrophy, urethral valves;
- ENT problems: cleft lip and palate, neck masses, cystic hygroma;
- burn and extremity reconstructive surgery.
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus is commonly referred to as "water on the brain." The so-called "water" is actually cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a clear liquid that looks like water. CSF provides nourishment to the brain, carries away debris, and protects the brain and spinal cord from injury. CSF is absorbed into the blood system where it is filtered and discarded by the body. The body makes almost a pint of new CSF per day and the amount of CSF is perfectly balanced. Hydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance of production and/or absorption. As a result, pressure is placed on the brain at the skull, causing neurological problems. Children with hydrocephalus need to have a shunt inserted to transport the excess CSF from near the point of obstruction to a re-absorption site, usually the abdomen. Having a shunt implanted is not a "one time" operation. Life expectancy of a shunt averages 10 years.
Spina Bifida
Spina bifida, the most common neural tube defect (NTD), is one of the most devastating of all birth defects. It results from the failure of the spine to close properly during the first month of pregnancy. In severe cases, the spinal cord protrudes through the back and may be covered by skin or a thin membrane. Surgery to close a newborn's back is generally performed within 24 hours after birth to minimize the risk of infection and to preserve existing function in the spinal cord.
Because of the paralysis resulting from the damage to the spinal cord, people born with spina bifida may need surgeries and other extensive medical care. The condition can also cause bowel and bladder complications. A large percentage of children born with spina bifida also have hydrocephalus. Most children born with spina bifida live into adulthood because of today's sophisticated medical techniques.
Children with spina bifida need to learn mobility skills, and can use crutches, braces, or wheelchairs can achieve more independence. With new techniques children can become independent in managing their bowel and bladder problems. Physical disabilities like spina bifida can have profound effects on the child's emotional and social development. It is important that health care professionals, teachers, and parents understand the child's physical capabilities and limitations. To promote personal growth, they should encourage children (within the limits of safety and health) to be independent, to participate in activities with their non-disabled peers and to assume responsibility for their own care.
Burn Contractures
A burn contracture is a deformity that occurs while the burned area heals with contracting scar tissue often creating an abnormal position and/or function. This usually occurs when one has a severe burn. Often contractures can be prevented by the early, effective care of the burn; this may include skin grafts, flaps, and/or physiotherapy.
Cleft Lips and Palates
A cleft lip is a separation of the two sides of the lip. Sometimes this includes the bone of the upper jaw. A cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth in which the two sides of the palate did not join together. Cleft lips and palates can be unilateral or bilateral and occur in 1 in 700 newborns. Every child is different. Some children may require more surgeries and others may require less. This all depends on the severity of their cleft and how the child heals after surgery is completed.
Club Feet
Clubfoot is a congenital foot condition, which affects approximately 1 out of every 1000 births. However, prevalence of this condition is twice as likely in males then females. The deformity can be mild or severe and it can affect one foot or both feet. As many as 50% of cases are bilateral (both feet are affected). Clubfoot affects all the joints, tendons and ligaments in the foot and is often referred to as Congenital Talipes EquinoVarus. When surgery is required, it is usually recommended when a child is six months old.
Hypospadias
Hypospadias is a birth defect most commonly found in boys, in which the urinary tract opening (meatus) is not at the tip of the penis. It is instead situated on the underside of the penis shaft. Bending of the penis may be associated with this and is known as Chordee. A boy with hypospadias may have to urinate sitting rather than standing. The condition is usually treated with surgery.
Syndactyly
Syndactyly refers to joined or "webbed" digits - in the hand, most often this refers to adjacent fingers which are grown together. Syndactyly is one of the most common variations on the basic growth pattern of the hand. Syndactyly occurs in the womb as a detour on the road to developing one thumb and four separate fingers on the hand. In the womb, the new hand starts out in the shape of a paddle, then splits into separate fingers. Sometimes the fingers don't split apart enough, and webbed fingers result: syndactyly. Sometimes a extra split forms and extra fingers result: polydactyly. The main treatment of syndactyly is surgery to separate the joined parts and more importantly to add skin to correct the fact that there usually is not enough skin to go around two complete fingers.
Bladder Exstrophy
Children born with this condition have the urinary bladder completely
opened to the skin - they are therefore unable to hold their urine at all.
Normally in developed countries this complex condition is repaired in the
first week of life, while in developing countries we often find school-age
children still not repaired. Such children become severely ostracized and
can't attend school because of their condition. The surgery is challenging,
and the options we offer include staged repair for younger children, and
urinary diversion (allowing the urine to pass together with the stool) for
older children. The second procedure, while very radical, allows children to
become completely dry and therefore resume normal social life.
Encephalocele
This rare condition occurs when the brain protrudes through an opening
in the skull, either in the back (occipital encephalocele) or in the front
(frontal / nasal encephalocele). The surgery especially for the anterior
encephaloceles is very challenging, and it is often complicated by leaks and
infections.
Neck Swelling
We treat a wide variety of neck swellings, including congenital
problems (from birth), infections and tumours.