Child and Adolescent Surgery

Paediatric Surgery

At Tays, we provide studies and treatment for nearly all surgical diseases in children and adolescents under 18 years old. The Paediatric and Adolescent Surgery Unit is responsible for non-urgent and emergency surgical treatment for the abdominal area, urinary tract, genitalia, lungs and musculoskeletal system. A paediatric surgeon is on call on all week days around the clock.

We collaborate with plastic surgeons and adult orthopaedists when treating children's severe burns, adolescents' severe accidents and bone cancers, for example. Paediatric arm surgery, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, eye, ear, nose and throat surgery and neurosurgery are performed by specialised physicians in the field.

At Tays, we treat the following, for example:

  • Intestinal structure anomalies in new-borns, such as bowel atresia
  • Hereditary urinary and genital organ abnormalities, such as ureteral obstructions and urethral hypospadias
  • Limb and joint abnormalities, for example: clubfeet, hereditary hip dislocation (luxation) and bone-cartilage disorders (osteochondrosis)
  • Back problems, for example, scoliosis
  • Limb fractures, such as fractures of the upper arm, lower arm, thigh and leg
  • joint injuries, such as injuries of the knee ligaments
  • cancers of soft tissues, such as kidney cancers (Wilms) and adrenal gland cancers
  • inflammatory bowel diseases, e.g. surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis
  • severe urination problems, e.g. urine bladder dysfunction related to a nervous disorder
  • Diseases treated with day surgeries, such as undescended testes, tight scarred foreskin (phimosis), inguinal hernias, removal of lumps, and knee endoscopies

Basic health care includes, for instance, paediatric basic tests for the abdominal area and musculoskeletal problems, as well as basic tests and treatment for constipation and wetting. Basic health care is also responsible for monitoring of water hernia, undescended testes, tight scarred foreskin and certain other conditions in accordance with agreed age criteria.

Small procedures performed in local anaesthesia, such as removal of small moles, are also suitable for basic health care. Basic health care is also responsible for the follow-up treatment and observation of patients who have been in specialised care by adhering to the written instructions. Scan consultation over the phone is also nearly always possible.

Tests and treatment at Tays

The Paediatric and Adolescent Surgery Unit includes an outpatient clinic and a ward. The Paediatric Surgical Outpatient Clinic receives nearly 1,800 patients annually by referral. There are almost 5,500 first visits and follow-up visits every year.

Over 300 day surgeries are performed each year, two thirds of which are performed at the Short-Stay Ward of Tays Central Hospital and the rest at Tays Valkeakoski Hospital.

Paediatric surgeries requiring ward treatment are performed only a Tays Central Hospital, approximately 1,600 each year. Children and adolescents are primarily anaesthetised for procedures. Half of the surgeries are done as emergency surgeries. Typical paediatric emergency surgeries include removal of an infected appendix, setting dislocated upper arm or lower arm bones and fixing upper and lower arm fractures.

Children coming to paediatric surgical treatment are placed in the Paediatric and Adolescent Surgery Unit. Exceptions are patients who come for neurological surgeries, who are placed in the Paediatric Intensive Care and Monitoring Ward, and paediatric patients suffering from an infectious disease, who are treated at the Paediatric Infections Unit.

After a cancer surgery, patients recover in the Paediatric and Adolescent Surgery Unit and are then transferred to follow-up care to the Paediatric Cancer Unit. Neonatal treatment and most neonatal surgeries are performed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Special expertise at Tays

Our special expertise includes paediatric and adolescent back surgery and knee surgery.

Persons in charge

Chief Physician of the Paediatric Surgery Unit Tuija Lahdes-Vasama
Deputy Chief Physician Anne Salonen