CNC                                    POPC

CNC

The Children's Neuromuscular Center has been in existence (formerly named Pediatric Orthopedic Center) since 1990. It was formed to provide a unified service in the Summit (NJ) area for a very large patient population that formerly received services divided between multiple and distant sites.

To maintain continuity of care of  complex patients who typically carried multiple diagnoses, the POC was established. That center quickly established itself as a center of excellence serving a very large geographic area. Various hospitals utilized and still utilize the services of CNC, which has strived to stay out of the fray of ever changing institutional affiliations which afflict our current health care dynamics.

To that end it has its own endowments for research and mission. The staff work with professionals from many hospitals within and outside of  New Jersey including spinal surgeons from NYC and hand specialists, for example.

We also have specialized ENT surgery, and a surgeon who developed - for us - an operation to alleviate the problem of drooling (sialorrhea). We have followed this population very carefully as the treatment is unique and permanent.

The members of POPC serve as the core of CNC. There are several additional players in CNC of which two are most frequent in patient contact.

In Memory

Mr. Robert Frank  a third generation orthotist in a family of orthotists, he, of course, made braces. A good man. A family man.

However, his role in CNC was to evaluate bracing needs in general even when not the patient's own orthotist. Instrumental in the implementation of new and highly individualized braces, designed by CNC & POPC, he also helped us to modify braces made elsewhere to solve problems that to others seemed insoluble. From his hand CNC has a long list of unique braces which are more suited to some of the very difficult and unusual problems which we see.

Included in that list is an array of very effective spinal braces.  The cantilever brace, the only effective brace for a difficult kind of kyphosis was from his hands. The floppy braces for sensory disorders were taken through many variants to adapt to the many specifics of difficult situations. Always willing to try something new if the old didn't serve.

Big guy. Big hands. Big heart. Bobby, heartbroken, we miss you.