Dr. Marisa Su with her husband
If you’ve ever taken your child to Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital Pediatric Specialty Center in Greenwich, you know it’s a wonderful resource to have so close by. Staffed by the top physicians in fields from endocrinology to cardiology, it boasts a pediatric-specific blood draw center and cheery, child-friendly waiting areas that are game-changers for families.
Marisa Su, MD, is a Yale Medicine pediatric orthopedic surgeon who sees patients at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital Pediatric Specialty Centers, including the one on West Putnam in Greenwich. One of the newest pediatric orthopedists with the Children’s Hospital, she is focused on working with newborn babies with hip dysplasia, from diagnosis to treatment. Read her full interview below:
Why did you choose to come to Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital?
I chose Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital because of the wonderful people who I get to work with every day. Everyone on the pediatric orthopedics team (from the front desk staff to the nurses you see during your visit) is working hard towards one goal – to provide the best and most compassionate care for a child.
What drew me to pediatrics was our patients. It is an unbelievable privilege to meet patients with an orthopedic injury and provide an intervention that allows them to return to being a kid. The relationships I form with my patients often span years, and I get to see them achieve and grow every time they come into the Pediatric Specialty Center for an appointment. I learn resilience, courage, and humor from my patients every day.
Love that! Can you please share a little bit about the ultrasound services that Greenwich Hospital offers to new parents?
Greenwich Hospital offers the full range of hip screening studies for children of all ages, including newborn hip ultrasound and radiographs (for older patients). Our sonographers are trained and experienced in infant hip ultrasounds. This is very important as ultrasound is highly operator dependent, and consistent imaging quality is crucial to help me make the right clinical decision. During a hip screening ultrasound, the sonographer places ultrasound gel on the outside of each hip and uses an ultrasound probe to view the ball and socket. The hips are then moved through a range of motion to assess stability.
Which newborns are screened?
Newborns are screened if there is evidence of hip instability on their newborn physical exam, history of breech position in utero, or a family history of hip dysplasia. Screening is one of the most important aspects of successful hip dysplasia treatment. Non-operative treatment is most successful when initiated prior to walking age, but because the condition is often silent and does not cause problems until the child begins to walk, infant hip screening is the cornerstone of timely diagnosis. Thankfully, screening for infants under 4 months of age is a hip ultrasound, a non-invasive study with no radiation.
What can hip dysplasia look like in infants?
Hip dysplasia is a spectrum of disease, ranging from a slightly shallow hip socket to a dislocated hip where the ball and socket are not in contact with each other. However, infants with hip dysplasia are often asymptomatic and the condition does not cause them pain. This condition does not cause them to limp or move differently until the child begins to walk, which is why screening is so important.
What is the treatment for babies diagnosed with hip dysplasia?
For babies diagnosed with hip dysplasia during infancy, treatment consists of bracing with a Pavlik harness or an abduction brace. The brace is worn over clothing, often for 23 hours per day. Most babies who are diagnosed early are successfully treated without requiring any surgical intervention.
Anything else you’d like to share?
No matter which diagnosis you are seeing me for, I encourage all my patient families to write down their questions and bring them to their appointment. I believe that the most important service I can provide is not a cast, brace, or surgery, but rather, education. My goal is to help you and your child learn about and understand your diagnosis and help you navigate through the treatment process.
If parents have concerns for their child, how can they get in touch?
You can make an appointment with me by either calling 877-YALE-MDS (877-925-3637), or online at https://www.ynhhs.org/make-an-appointment/orthopedics
