Johan von Heideken

I am an Associate Professor (Docent) of Orthopedics at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and an associate consultant in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital. I am team leader for Orthopedic Surgery and Treatment – Johan von Heideken’s team, within Movement, Activity and Health – Eva Broström’s research group. I completed my medical degree and PhD at Karolinska Institutet, followed by postdoctoral and visiting research appointments in Sweden, the USA and Uruguay.

My research area is pediatric orthopedics, with a focus on treatment outcomes, epidemiology and long-term function after orthopedic conditions that begin in childhood. I study conditions such as cerebral palsy, pediatric fractures, hip disorders and knee injuries, and I am particularly interested in how orthopedic treatments affect mobility, complications, quality of life and function over time. My research aims to improve the evidence base for treatment decisions in pediatric orthopedics and to better understand how childhood musculoskeletal conditions influence health and function into adulthood. I use clinical studies, gait analysis, patient-reported outcome measures and large national data registries, including CPUP and the Swedish Patient Registry. Much of my work is multidisciplinary and builds on collaboration with clinicians, physiotherapists, epidemiologists and researchers in Sweden and internationally. By combining clinical pediatric orthopedic expertise with epidemiology and outcome research, I hope to contribute to more individualized care and better long-term outcomes for children and young people with orthopedic and neuromuscular conditions.

I have broad teaching experience in pediatric orthopedics at Karolinska Institutet and in clinical specialist training. I have coordinated and planned courses in pediatric orthopedic surgery for residents in orthopedic surgery, and have contributed to pediatric orthopedic education in the medical programme. I have also taught physiotherapy students at Northeastern University in the USA and participated in online learning activities at Karolinska Institutet. I have supervised PhD students as co-supervisor, including one completed PhD project and one ongoing project in orthopedic surgery in cerebral palsy.