Neuromuscular Disorders

Neuromuscular disorders can affect a child's body in many ways. Muscle tightness and spasticity can interfere with the ability to walk and perform everyday tasks, for example. At the Orthopedic Clinic at Cook Children's, we're dedicated to caring for these impacts on muscles, bones and joints.

Our orthopedic specialists work closely with the rest of your child's medical team for cerebral palsy and other neuromuscular conditions. Together, we create a customized care plan that meets all of your child's needs and treatment goals.

How we treat neuromuscular disorders

When your child comes to us for orthopedic treatment related to a neuromuscular disorder, they receive team-based care. This approach helps us treat children with a range of needs, including those who have more than one condition related to cerebral palsy.

Given that your child may need to see a number of specialists, we strive to coordinate appointments and care. We work closely with our Neurology team to provide the best surgical or non-surgical options for each child. We want to make managing care as easy as possible for your family.

Our orthopedic care for neuromuscular disorders may consist of:

Gait analysis at our Motion Lab to analyze your child's movements and help determine the best treatments
Physical therapy to work on strengthening and stretching tight muscles. This treatment can reduce spasticity and allow joints to move correctly.
Bracing to help with positioning of feet, joints and the spine. Bracing may also allow your child to walk more easily.
Surgery to loosen or redirect tight muscles or correct bone alignment. Our orthopedic surgeons specialize in surgeries that can address multiple needs during one trip to the operating room.
Continued care throughout childhood. Our orthopedic experts are here to help your child as they grow. We continue to provide the care your child needs through their teens and into young adulthood.

Other neuromuscular conditions we treat

Children with other neuromuscular conditions may also need orthopedic care. Our orthopedic specialists work closely with your child's neuromuscular team to help manage all of their needs. We treat symptoms involving muscles, bones and joint to help your child move better and be more independent.

In addition to cerebral palsy, we provide orthopedic care for children with neuromuscular conditions that include:

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Congenital myasthenic syndrome
Congenital myopathy
Friedrech's ataxia
Metabolic myopathies
Mitochondrial myopathies
Muscular dystrophy
Myasthenia gravis
Myotonic dystrophy
Rett syndrome
Spina bifida
Spinal muscular atrophy

Get to know our team for neuromuscular care

Our pediatric orthopedic specialists are experts at treating children with neuromuscular disorders. We understand their unique needs and partner with the rest of their medical team to provide all needed care.

W. Taylor Dodgen, MD

Orthopedics

4.9 out of 5

139 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

Stephanie Goldstein, MD

Orthopedics

4.8 out of 5

84 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

Matthew Mayfield, MD

Orthopedics

4.9 out of 5

127 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

Advance practice providers

Alec Bove, MPAS, PA-C

Alec Bove graduated from Texas A&M University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. He attended graduate school at Harding University where he obtained his Master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies in 2023.

Growing up, Alec played a number of sports including basketball, football, and track. His various orthopedic injuries in school led him to develop a deep interest in Pediatric Orthopedics. During his clinical rotations in PA school, he had the opportunity to participate in multiple Pediatric Orthopedic rotations where his knowledge and passion for the field continued to grow. He finds great value in being able to relate to his patients because of his own personal experience with injuries.

Alec sees patients in the inpatient setting, outpatient setting, and assists in the operating room primarily with Dr. Goldstein. He was born and raised in Plano, TX but moved to Fort Worth in 2024 to join the Cook Children's Orthopedic department. When Alec is not at work he enjoys trying Fort Worth's newest restaurant, golfing with friends, or going for a run. He has completed multiple marathons over the years and hopes to one day complete a full Ironman triathlon!

aBritt

Alexandra Britt grew up in South Dakota where she attended undergrad at Dakota Wesleyan University and received her Master's in Physician Assistant studies from the University of South Dakota. She moved to Texas shortly after graduating from PA School. She worked in adult pain management for a couple years before coming to work in orthopedic surgery at Cook Children's in 2020. She works primarily with Dr. Mayfield and greatly enjoys helping children feel better.

When not at work, she likes spending time with her husband, friends, and dogs. She enjoys the outdoors, especially the warmth Texas has to offer, live music, and watching movies.

Brittne Craig

Brittne Craig received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Before joining Cook Children's Orthopedics, Brittne worked as a Registered Nurse in the Pediatric Emergency Department at Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock, Texas and in the Emergency Department at Baylor Scott & White in Grapevine, Texas. After working as a nurse for nearly 10 years, she decided to go back to school to obtain her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington. Brittne is certified as an Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and is a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.

Brittne works directly with Dr. W. Taylor Dodgen and provides clinical coverage at the Alliance and Dodson locations. Together, they specialize in complex child and adolescent hip conditions, cerebral palsy, myelodysplasia, clubfoot/foot deformities, and trauma/fracture care.

Brittne is a native Texan and grew up in the Grapevine area. She and her husband, Shelby, live in Fort Worth with their two daughters who are both active in cheerleading. In her free time, Brittne enjoys spending time with family and friends and attending/watching Texas Tech sporting events (Wreck 'em)!

If you'd like to schedule an appointment, refer a patient or speak with us, please call our main office at 682-885-4405. You can also reach out to one of our clinic locations.