Pediatric Trauma Surgery

Traumatic pediatric emergencies happen every day. Proper care ensures a timely recovery and the best possible quality of life. When pediatric trauma surgery is necessary, Weill Cornell Medicine surgeons have the expertise and skill to start your child on the road to recovery.

Why Choose Weill Cornell Medicine

At Weill Cornell Medicine, you have access to a comprehensive pediatric trauma surgery program. In partnership with NewYork-Presbyterian, our program is nationally accredited and beloved by locals and those referred to us from the surrounding areas and beyond.

From the moment an injured child comes to us in need, a multidisciplinary team is in place and ready to take action. This team of pediatric critical care experts coordinates and provides complex care of pediatric traumatic injuries, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They also make sure you and your loved ones are kept in the loop throughout the process.

Some of the pediatric experts who make up our pediatric trauma team include:

• Anesthesiologists
• Critical care physicians
• Ear, nose and throat surgeons
• Emergency medicine physicians
• Neurosurgeons
• Ophthalmologists
• Orthopedic surgeons
• Plastic surgeons
• Urologic surgeons

Conditions We Treat

Pediatric surgery helps address many issues faced by newborns. 

Breathing and Swallowing Conditions

There are many causes of traumatic injuries, such as:

• Automobile accidents
• Falls
• Gun or knife violence
• Sports injuries

No matter the cause, Weill Cornell Medicine surgeons can help. A few conditions treated through pediatric trauma surgery include:

• Abdominal injuries, such as trauma to the liver or spleen
• Head and neck injuries, such as neck damage that makes breathing difficult or skull fractures
• Orthopedic injuries that may occur during sports practice or competition
• Thoracic (chest) injuries, which often come from automobile accidents, falls or violence

What to Expect

If your child needs pediatric trauma surgery, the unexpected has happened. You’re unsure what to do. By turning to Weill Cornell Medicine, you can take comfort that your child is in expert hands. Here is what will take place in the coming hours and days.

Before Surgery

Before heading to the operating room, your child’s care team performs diagnostic tests. These help the surgeon understand your child’s condition and develop a proper treatment plan. If your child comes to Weill Cornell Medicine on an ambulance or from another health facility, your child may already have a diagnosis.

Once the problem is identified, the team creates a treatment plan. For life- or limb-threatening injuries, the team immediately prepares your child for pediatric trauma surgery. Less urgent surgeries may take place the following day or later.

Immediately before surgery, your child receives anesthesia. This helps your child relax and not feel pain. General anesthesia helps your child remain unconscious throughout the procedure.

As soon as possible, a member of the team informs you of the treatment plan and the expected outcome. 

During Surgery

While surgery takes place, you remain in the waiting room. A member of the care team provides updates as appropriate.

Throughout the surgical intervention, your child remains sedated and carefully monitored by a pediatric anesthesiologist. If the trauma caused less, more or different damage than initially detected, the team modifies the treatment plan in real-time.

After Surgery

Following pediatric trauma surgery, your child begins recovery. Based on your child’s condition and ability to participate in rehabilitation, recovery can take days, weeks or longer.

• Following surgery, your child moves to pediatric intensive care or a recovery room. Team members continue to monitor your child and may provide medication to manage pain and prevent infection.
• Your child transfers to a patient room. There, your child begins walking, eating and drinking again as soon as possible.
• Your child returns home. This step occurs when your child regains enough strength and health to continue recovering at home. 
• Follow up with your child’s providers. The surgeon or other providers keep an eye on your child’s recovery. Your child may also need the services of a physical, occupational or speech therapist or other specialist for continued recovery.

Make an Appointment

To request an appointment with a pediatric surgeon, please fill out this form. A member of our team will then connect you with a surgeon to meet your child’s needs.

At Weill Cornell Medicine, our team of pediatric experts cares for children every day, providing advanced, compassionate pediatric trauma surgery.

Pediatric surgeons ready to serve your child’s needs include: