Inside Pediatrics Spring/Summer 2026

RISKS COMPARED TO ALTERNATIVES

LOOKING FORWARD Despite the success of the procedure, it’s not something the team pushes. Williams says they typically try conservative approaches first, such as braces—which don’t typically work well in these cases—or rehab. But he says it’s a good option if surgery is needed. Williams anticipates that they’ll learn more as they perform more of these procedures. With the hospital’s move to a new electronic health record system, the team is working on strategies to better track outcomes. “That’s one of the goals for this year—we’re planning on tracking patient-reported outcomes more effectively and becoming more involved in national registries to track procedural success and contribute to research more vastly in the U.S. and abroad,” he said. So far, the team and their patients have been pleased with the impact of the modified MPFL procedure. “We've been happy with the breadth of underlying conditions our modified procedure treats, with decreased complications, and with increasing capacity for returning to sports,” Williams said. ●

Another benefit is decreased risk. Though every surgery comes with risks, Williams says the modified MPFL procedure seems to carry fewer risks compared to conventional techniques, especially when it comes to issues with the growth plate. WIDE RANGE OF USES Part of what makes the procedure successful is its ability to treat patients whose kneecap issues stem from a variety of causes. For example, many children with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, and other congenital conditions are often predisposed to having kneecap problems. Williams and his team have successfully treated them with the modified MPFL procedure. It also works for patients with nail-patella syndrome and genitopatellar syndrome. The Children’s orthopedic team sees many of these types of cases because they serve the entire state of Alabama.

Children’s of Alabama by the Numbers

97 Residents

75 Categorical Pediatrics

4 Combined Pediatrics/ Genetics 3 Combined Medicine/ Neurology

15 Combined Medicine/ Pediatrics

75 Fellows

20

Fellowship Programs

for 2025–2026 Academic Year

96 . 49 % Pass Rate on First Attempt

301 Faculty

474 Publications

Top 35 in Research Funding

American Board of Pediatrics, 2016–2025

9

Inside Pediatrics | Children’s of Alabama