Craig Spurdle, MD, Chief – Orthopedic Surgery, Medical Director – Orthopedic, Sports Medicine, and Spine Institute, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital

Invest: sat down with Dr. Craig Spurdle, chief of the Orthopedic, Sports Medicine, and Spine Institute at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, to discuss multidisciplinary care, injury prevention initiatives, and how they are improving patient care. “Patients move seamlessly from diagnosis to treatment to rehab and prevention. It’s a continuum of care designed not just to heal injuries, but to optimize performance and reduce future risk,” Dr. Spurdle said.

What initially drew you to specialize in pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine, and how did your career path lead you here?

My path into pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine really began with my own background in sports. I grew up understanding firsthand the role athletics play in a young person’s development. That perspective stayed with me throughout my medical training. As I progressed, I became increasingly interested in how injuries affect growing athletes differently from adults, particularly when it comes to growth plates and long-term development. That naturally led me toward pediatric orthopedics.

What drew me to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital was its commitment to a truly specialized, pediatric-focused approach. This is an institution where sports medicine isn’t just adapted from adult care; it’s built specifically for children and adolescents. The opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary environment that prioritizes both recovery and long-term athlete health made it the ideal fit for me.

What specialized programs or services has the hospital developed to support young athletes from injury through full recovery?

At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, we’ve built a comprehensive ecosystem of programs to support young athletes at every stage of their recovery. This includes rapid-access sports injury clinics for timely diagnosis, as well as sport-specific rehabilitation programs tailored to the athlete’s age and activity. We offer return-to-play programs that follow structured, evidence-based protocols to ensure safe reintegration into sports.

Our injury prevention and performance programs include movement screenings and biomechanical assessments. We also provide concussion management programs with dedicated evaluation and recovery pathways. In addition, we have outreach clinics and community-based services that expand access to care. What makes our approach unique is how these programs are interconnected; patients move seamlessly from diagnosis to treatment to rehab and prevention. It’s a continuum of care designed not just to heal injuries, but to optimize performance and reduce future risk.

How does the hospital integrate multidisciplinary care into its sports medicine programs?

Multidisciplinary care is deeply embedded in everything we do. At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, and Spine Institute, orthopedic specialists work side by side with physical therapists to develop individualized rehabilitation plans that are both age-appropriate and sport-specific. We incorporate athletic trainers who help bridge the gap between clinical care and on-field performance.

Nutrition is another key component; our specialists guide young athletes on proper fueling, especially during growth and recovery phases. We also integrate mental health support, recognizing that injuries can take a psychological toll, particularly for competitive athletes. In some cases, sports psychologists are involved to help with motivation, confidence, and return-to-play readiness. Communication across all these disciplines is constant, ensuring that care plans are aligned and evolving with the patient’s progress. This collaborative approach allows us to treat the whole athlete, not just the injury.

Are there any innovative injury prevention initiatives the hospital is currently leading?

Injury prevention is one of our top priorities, and we’ve developed several innovative initiatives in this space. One of the key programs involves comprehensive movement and biomechanical screenings, where we assess how young athletes run, jump, and land to identify risk factors early. Based on these assessments, we create individualized training plans to correct imbalances.

We’re also heavily focused on education, providing workshops and resources for athletes, parents, and coaches about overuse injuries, proper training loads, and the risks of early specialization. Additionally, we promote structured warm-up programs that have been shown to significantly reduce injury rates. These initiatives are not confined to the hospital; we actively bring them into the community. Our philosophy is proactive: by identifying risks early and educating stakeholders, we can prevent many injuries before they occur.

How does the hospital partner with local schools, sports teams, or organizations?

Community partnership is essential to our mission. At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, we collaborate closely with local schools, youth sports leagues, and athletic organizations to promote safety and education. This includes providing access to athletic trainers, offering injury prevention workshops, and supporting coaches with evidence-based training guidelines.

We also participate in community events and health initiatives, where we educate families about recognizing injuries and seeking appropriate care. In some cases, we provide sideline coverage or consultation for teams, helping ensure that injuries are managed appropriately from the outset. These partnerships allow us to extend our reach beyond the hospital and create a network of support around young athletes. By working directly with the community, we’re able to influence not just treatment, but the overall culture of youth sports toward a safer, more informed approach.

Can you share examples of how the hospital is using new technologies or surgical techniques to improve patient care?

We’re continually integrating advanced technologies to enhance both diagnosis and treatment. At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, we use high-resolution imaging techniques that allow us to accurately assess injuries while minimizing radiation exposure, something that’s especially important in pediatric care. Surgically, we’ve adopted minimally invasive techniques that reduce tissue disruption, shorten recovery times, and improve outcomes.

In rehabilitation, motion analysis technology helps us evaluate movement patterns in detail, enabling more precise and effective therapy plans. We’ve also expanded our use of telemedicine, which allows for convenient follow-ups and ongoing monitoring of recovery. These technologies are carefully selected to align with our pediatric focus; they’re not just innovative, but appropriate for growing bodies. The result is a more efficient, accurate, and patient-centered approach to care.

Looking ahead, what strategic priorities does the hospital have for expanding or enhancing its sports medicine services?

Our strategic priorities center on access, innovation, and prevention. We aim to expand our reach through additional outreach clinics and community partnerships, ensuring more young athletes can access specialized care. We’re also investing in research and advanced technologies to continue improving outcomes and refining treatment protocols. Injury prevention will remain a major focus, particularly as we address the growing concern around overuse injuries and early specialization.

Another priority is strengthening our multidisciplinary model, further integrating services like mental health and performance training into our programs. Ultimately, our goal is to not only lead in clinical care, but also shape the broader landscape of youth sports health. At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, we’re committed to helping young athletes stay healthy, recover fully, and thrive in the long term.