Suzanne E Steinman, MD

Orthopedics, Hand and Upper Extremity, Cerebral Palsy Program, Fracture Program, Skeletal Health Program

On staff since April 2011

Academic Title: Clinical Associate Professor

"I believe that childhood should be spent on the playground. It is my philosophy to help children get back on the playground as quickly and safely as possible, performing to the best of their abilities."

• Biography

  Suzanne E. Steinman, MD is a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon at the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department at the Seattle Children's Hospital. Additionally, Dr. Steinman is an Associate Professor at the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Her residency in the orthopedic surgery was completed at the University of California in San Diego. She also completed two fellowships, one in pediatric orthopedic surgery, and another one in pediatric hand and upper extremity surgery, both finished at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, Texas. Her special interests include pediatric upper extremity, encompassing congenital differences, neuromuscular disorders, and trauma. She is the Seattle Children's Hospital site PI for the CoULD (Congenital Upper Limb Difference Registry) 

  Dr. Steinman is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America, American Association for Hand Surgery, Washington State Orthopedic Association, and Washington State Medical Association. Suzanne Steinman, MD was raised in Tacoma, and is very happy to be back home in the Pacific Northwest. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, and also with their two dogs. In her free time she likes being outdoors skiing, scuba diving, hiking, and doing yoga. She is also fond of spending time with her family, especially with her two nieces, who all live in the Western Washington.
• Patient Testimonials
  • Gavin Bothell 07.23.22

    Kind, patient, highly skilled surgeon. Absolutely top-notch care for my daughter's bilateral trigger thumb.

  • Amanda Spokane, Wa 08.17.16

    Dr. Steinman was brought on to the ever growing panel of specialist to help manage my daughters progressive needs after she was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease. The disease progressively attacks my daughters whole body; bones, muscles, organs, tendons, ect. One main area that causes Adisyn the most trouble is her hands. Her fingers are permanently curved and worsening over time. Adisyn has had troubles opening doors, holding pencils, buttoning her buttons and most any everyday task that involves fine motor skills. Dr. Steinman first performed carpal tunnel surgery and then a year or so later she went in and did tendon release surgery on several of my daughters fingers on both hands. Which left her in casts from elbow to finger tips, only leaving her thumbs free. With both surgeries Dr. Steinman warmly greeted us and made us feel safe and educated during the whole process. Adisyn has a Build a Bear she carries around everywhere with her, even back to the operating room. Adisyn and Build a Bear both came out of surgery with matching purple casts with pink strips. Recovery from surgery was about 6 weeks in casts and then occupational surgery after casts came off. Since having her casts taken off Adi is no longer in pain and has gained a lot of strength and new range of motion. As a mother it is such a blessing to be able to watch my daughter live more independently. She is now able to hold a pencil to write with out getting tired and she can do her own buttons and I am no longer having to open doors for her. With out Dr. Steinman's intervention these are all abilities that Adisyn would have lost over time. We are eternally grateful for Dr. Steinman giving this independence back to my daughter. I'm confident moving forward with the process of the disease knowing we have Dr. Steinman on our team.

  • Angela Kirkland, WA 07.30.14

    Dr. Steinman saw our five year old daughter for a finger fracture and was wonderful. She was kind, understanding and made us feel comfortable about the cast, and light sedation for the finger reduction. I'm so glad there are MD's like her out there!

  • Ellen Sammamish 02.18.13

    Thank you, Dr. Steinman, for doing surgery and cast for my 5-year-old son's fracture of arm (gross displacement). Although the itch during the first week was difficult, the rest of the healing process is so smooth. So sweet to see my Aaron hug his bear to sleep every night. (The bear was given to Aaron in the emergency ward.) You even wrapped the bear's arm just like my Aaron's arm during the surgery. The injury is much more bearable because of your great and professional care ! And thank you to Stephanie, who bring so much ease in removing the cast, re-casting.. My Aaron became the coolest boy in class with his cast of rainbow colors ! Thank you so much !

  • Heather international 01.23.12

    Our 11 month old daughter is a patient of Dr. Steinman's. Vivika has bilateral DDH. We are so thankful for the treatment, information and support we have had from Dr. Steinman. It is so reassuring. We have been nothing but impressed by her and the entire Children's staff. She, and her nurse Emily, have been so responsive and caring throughout he whole process. What a blessing!

  • Rico Seattle,Wash. 09.22.11

    We have just received the best care imaginable from this surgery team. Our Son Hayden had fractured his femur, and Dr Steinman place two rods down thru the center and Hayden stands a great chance of leading a normal childhood...in twelve weeks or so:-)

  • Julie Bellevue, WA 08.17.11

    When my daughter fractured her arm, we were lucky to have Dr. Steinman as our Doctor. It was the first time we have had any broken bones or had either of our children go thru surgery. Dr. Steinman did a great job explaining the procedures and process. My 5 year old daughter and I both appreciated her positive and pleasant manner. Thank you to her and the team at Children's.

  Recommend Suzanne E Steinman, MD
• Awards and Honors

  Award Name	Award Description	Awarded By	Award Date
  T. Boone Pickens Annual Fellows Award for Excellence in Orthopedic Research	One-Stage Treatment of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Older Children – 20 year Follow-up		June 2009
  One-Stage Treatment of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Older Children 20 year Follow-up		T.Boone Pickens Annual Fellows Award for Excellence in Orthopedic Research	June 2009
  Best Resident Research Presentation	Mechanical Properties of Spastic Muscle Cells and their Correlation with Clinical Severity in Children with Cerebral Palsy	UCSD	May 2004

• Publications

  Manuscripts in Refereed Journals

  • Bellaire L, Vuillermin C, Steinman S, Truong W, Bae D, Wallace D, Ho C
    Traumatic Physeal Arrests at the Wrist- Current Concept Review
    JPOSNA, 2021 May - 2021 May : 3(2)
  • Van de Velde SK, Cola K, Bompadre V, Steinman SE
    Seasonal Variation in Parental Satisfaction With Pediatric Orthopaedics.
    33417390 Journal of pediatric orthopedics, 2021 Mar 1 : 41(3)e296-e300
  • Folchert M, Breuner C, Steinman S
    Impact of Biofeedback in the Treatment of Nonspecific Persistent Wrist and Forearm Pain in Adolescents.
    33223344 The Journal of hand surgery, 2021 Feb. : 46(2)152.e1-152.e6
  • Steinman S
    Surgical Treatment of Trigger Thumb and Trigger Finger
    JPOSNA, 2021 Feb. : 3(1)
  • Wall LB, Wright M, Samora J, Bae DS, Steinman S, Goldfarb CA, CoULD Study Group.
    Social Deprivation and Congenital Upper Extremity Differences-An Assessment Using PROMIS.
    33097335 The Journal of hand surgery, 2020 Oct. : 46(2)114-118
  • Forman M, Canizares MF, Bohn D, James MA, Samora J, Steinman S, Wall LB, Bauer AS, CoULD Study Group.
    Association of Radial Longitudinal Deficiency and Thumb Hypoplasia: An Update Using the CoULD Registry.
    33086350 The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume, 2020 Oct 21 : 102(20)1815-1822
  • Adidharma W, Lewis SP, Liu Y, Osorio MB, Steinman SE, Tse RW
    Shoulder Release and Tendon Transfer following Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy: Gains, Losses, and Midline Function.
    32740582 Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 2020 Aug. : 146(2)321-331
  • Acosta AM, Li YJ, Bompadre V, Mortimer A, Trask M, Steinman SE
    The Utility of the Early Postoperative Follow-up and Radiographs After Operative Treatment of Supracondylar Humerus Fractures in Children.
    31368922 Journal of pediatric orthopedics, 2020 June : 40(5)218-222
  • Acosta AM, Steinman SE, White KK
    Orthopaedic Manifestations in Turner Syndrome.
    31567543 The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2019 Dec 1 : 27(23)e1021-e1028
  • Gibly R, Shoemaker T, Bompadre V, Steinman S
    Understanding the Spectrum of Pediatric Mechanical Finger and Hand Trauma Seeking Acute Care
    J Child Orthop, 2018 Dec 1
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30607210/
  • Williams AK, Cotter RA, Bompadre V, Goldberg MJ, Steinman SS
    Patient Safety Checklists: Do They Improve Patient Safety for Supracondylar Humerus Fractures?
    Journal of pediatric orthopedics, 2017 Feb 23
  • Telleria JJ, Bompadre V, Steinman S
    Laboratory predictors for risk of revision surgery in pediatric septic arthritis.
    Journal of children's orthopaedics, 2016 Jun 1 : 10(3)247-54
  • Blumberg TJ, Bremjit P, Bompadre V, Steinman S
    Forearm Fixation is Not Necessary in the Treatment of Pediatric Floating Elbow.
    Journal of pediatric orthopedics, 2016 May 19
  • Iorio M, Menashe S, Iyer R, Lewis S, Steinman S, Whitlock K, Tse R
    Glenohumeral Dysplasia Following Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy: Presentation and Predictive Features During Infancy
    The Journal of hand surgery, 2015 Dec 1 : 40((12))2345-2351
  • Steinman S, Oishi S, Mills J, Bush P, Wheeler L, Ezaki M
    Volar Ligament Release and Distal Radial Dome Osteotomy for the Correction of Madelung Deformity: Long-Term Follow-up.
    The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume, 2013 Jul 3 : 95(13)1198-204
  • Steinman S, Richards BS, Faulks S, Kaipus K
    A comparison of Two Nonoperative Methods of Idiopathic Clubfoot Correction: The Ponset Method and The French Functional (Physiotherapy) Method: Surgical Technique.
    The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume, 2009 Oct 1 : 299-312
  • White KK, Steinman S, Mubarak SJ
    Cervical stenosis and spastic quadriparesis in Morquio disease (MPS IV) with twenty-six-year follow-up: A Case Report
    The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume, 2009 Feb 1 : 438-42
  • Parent S, Wedemeyer M, Mahar AT, Anderson M, Faro F, Steinman S, Lalonde F, Newton P
    Displaced olecranon fractures in children: a biomechanical analysis of fixation methods.
    Journal of pediatric orthopedics, 2008 Mar 1 : 147-51
  • Goodwin R, Mahar AT, Oka R, Steinman S, Newton PO
    Biomechanical evaluation of retrograde intramedullary stabilization for femoral fractures: the effect of fracture level.
    18209606 Journal of pediatric orthopedics, 2007 Dec 1 : 873-6
  • Steinman S, Bastrom TP, Newton PO, Mubarak SJ
    Beware of ulnar nerve entrapment in flexion-type supracondylar humerus fractures.
    19308492 Journal of children's orthopaedics, 2007 Sep 1 : 177-80
  • Foran JR, Steinman S, Barash I, Chambers HG, Lieber RL
    Structural and mechanical alterations in spastic skeletal muscle.
    16174321 Developmental medicine and child neurology, 2005 Oct 1 : 713-7
  • Lieber RL, Steinman S, Barash I, Chambers HG
    Structural and functional changes in spastic skeletal muscle.
    Muscle and Nerve, 2004 May 1 : 29(5)615-27

  Book Chapters

  • Steinman S, Dales M
    Pediatric Forearm, Wrist and Hand Trauma
    OKU 13 Chapter 54, Parvizi and McIntosh, 2020
  • Acosta A, Steinman S
    The Jammed Finger: Upper Extremity Injuries in the Young Athlete
    Contemporary Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine, 2019
  • Steinman S
    Seymour Fracture
    Pediatric Orthopedic Trauma Case Atlas, 2017

  Manuscripts Submitted

  • Peek K, Ho C, Lindberg A, Miller M, Schmale G, Steinman S
    Poor Outcomes of Pediatric Acute Compartment Syndrome in the Setting of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Multicenter Case Series
    JBJS, 2021 July
  • Blumberg TJ, Bremjit P, Bompadre V, Steinman S
    Operative management of pediatric floating elbow: is forearm fixation necessary?
    J of Peds Ortho, Accepted f

  Published Abstracts

  • Dua K, O’Hara NN, Bauer AS, Cornwall R, Ho CA, Kozin SH, Little KJ, Oishi S, Shah A, Steinman SE, Wyrick TO, Zlotolow DA, Abzug JM
    Variation Among Pediatric Hand Surgeons When Diagnosing and Treating Distal Radius Fractures.
    2017 European Pediatric Orthopaedic Society/ Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America Combined Annual Meeting, Barcelona, Spain, 2017 May 1

  Other Publications

  • Steinman S, Robertson WO
    Activated Charcoal: The Great Myth
    King County Toxicology Journal, 2003 Jan 1

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• Presentations

  Presentations Title	Event	Location	Date
  Pediatric Acute Hand Injuries Evaluation and Treatment	Seattle Childrens Hospital Emergency Department Grand Rounds	Seattle, WA	Jan. 2021
  Chronic Wrist and Forearm Pain in Adolescents: Novel Treatment Methods	Seattle Children’s Hospital 9th Annual Pediatric Orthopedic Visiting Professorship	Seattle, WA	June 2019
  Give Them the Finger - Initial Management and Hand and Finger Trauma	Lynn Staheli Annual Conference	Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle WA	May 2018
  Results of Biofeedback in the Treatment of Chronic Wrist and Forearm Pain in Adolescents	Pediatric Hand Study Group (PHSG) Meeting	Columbus, OH	April 2018
  A Zebra in the NICU Congenital Pseudoarthrosis of the Radius	7th Annual Pediatric Orthopedic Visiting Professorship	Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA	May 2016
  DDH for Primary Care-panel discussion	Lynn Staheli Annual Conference	Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA	Jan. 2016
  Madelung Deformity Hand Subspecialty Day, Congenital/Acquired Panel	Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) Annual Meeting	Atlanta, GA	May 2015
  CP in the upper extremity: They have arms...seriously	Seattle Childrens Hospital Rehab Medicine Grand Rounds	Seattle, WA	March 2015
  First Year Experience of an Upper Limb Registry at Seattle Children's Hospital: Lessons Learned	Pediatric Hand Study Group (PHSG) Meeting	Shriner's Hospital for Children, St. Louis, MO	Feb. 2015
  Hand-Wrist-Elbow Cases; and Upper Extremity Splinting	Lynn Staheli Annual Conference	Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA	Jan. 2015
  Pediatric Upper Extremity Surgery: Madelung Deformity panel	American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH)	Boston, MA	Sept. 2014
  Common Pediatric Hand Problems: Yours, Mine, Ours	Seattle Childrens Hospital Pediatric Grand Rounds	Seattle, WA	June 2014
  Use of Ultrasound to Assess Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in the MPS Population	Seattle Childrens Hospital 5th Annual Pediatric Orthopedic Visiting Professorship	Seattle, WA	May 2014
  Have You Seen Me?	Pediatric Hand Study Group (PHSG) Meeting	Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA	April 2014
  CMT and the Pediatric Thumb	Pediatric Hand Study Group (PHSG) Meeting	Shriners Hospital for Children, Sacramento, CA	Feb. 2013
  The Upper Extremity: When to Wait, When to Call the Orthopedist, When to Wake Her Up in the Middle	Lynn Staheli Visiting Professorship	Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA	Jan. 2013
  Volar Ligament Release and Distal Radius Dome Osteotomy for the Correction of Madelungs Deformity: Long-term Follow-up	Lynn Staheli Visiting Professorship	Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA	Jan. 2013
  Volar Ligament Release and Distal Radius Dome Osteotomy for the Correction of Madelungs Deformity: Long-term Follow-up	Brandon Carrell Visiting Professorship	Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Dallas, TX	April 2011
  Yours, Mine, Ours: Common Pediatric Hand Problems	7th Annual Pediatric Specialty Update for the Primary Care Physician	Swedish Hospital, Seattle, WA	Jan. 2011
  CP in the Upper Extremity: They Have Arms…..Seriously	Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children	Dallas, TX	June 2009
  One-Stage Treatment of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Older Children – 20 year Follow-up	Brandon Carrell Visiting Professorship	Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Dallas, TX	May 2009

• Research Funding

  Grant Title	Grantor	Amount	Award Date
  Seattle Children’s Hospital Faculty Research Support Fund			Jan. 2021 - Sept. 2021
  Seattle Children’s Hospital Academic Enrichment Fund Grant			Oct. 2013 - Sept. 2015