In The News

Dr. Nelson Davino, one of 5 pediatric orthopedic surgeons in greater Houston area, finds great rewards working with children.
By Cheryl Skinner

"Dr. Davino is truly a miracle worker," says Carolyn Reed, grandmother of Preston McBride and Associate Publisher of the Fort Bend Business Journal. Dr. Nelson Davino, who is one of only five practicing pediatric surgeons in the entire Houston area that boasts 370 regular orthopedic surgeons, discounts the statement. "No, Preston is the miracle worker. I did the surgery and he did the rest," Dr. Davino modestly retorts.

And, such is his attitude. Dr. Davino is energetic, enthusiastic and totally enthralled with the young patients he strives to make whole through intricate surgical procedures at Richmond Bone & Joint Clinic in Richmond. "I love what I do and I've been doing this for 26 years, but it doesn't seem like it. It is very rewarding and I think it is better than treating adults because you can watch them (patients) grow. Injuries an adult would not recover from, a child will bounce back from," Davino says with a passion that only a dedicated professional can understand.

Such was the case with young Preston McBride, who will turn 9 this month. Critically injured in an automobile accident in July of last year, near Austin, Preston suffered massive head and body injuries. Preston is the grandson of Carolyn Reed and for days she hovered over the beloved child as he fought to stay alive. Preston was happily looking forward to Camp Champions in Marble Falls and his parents were driving on Highway 71 and Bee Caves Road when their vehicle hydroplaned and crashed. The accident left all three injured but Preston's injuries were massive.

Massive head injuries, a broken femur (thigh bone), "belly injuries", and a broken left tibia bone in his left leg were some of the life-threatening injuries the child fought to overcome. "His little legs were just crushed and his other injuries were devastating," Carolyn recalls. Preston underwent three leg surgeries in the Austin hospital where he was being treated and then the family heard of Dr. Davino and the outstanding surgery he performs. "When he was stable enough, we had him transferred so that Dr. Davino could work on his injuries. What he did was miraculous," Carolyn says.

Dr. Davino says when Preston first was seen, he had finally been stabilized enough to deal with the broken bones in his legs. Initially, doctors in Austin, where he was transported after the wreck, had to work to stabilize him due to the head injuries. The rest of the injuries were treated to some extent, but the primary goal was to save his life and the closed head wound threatened the child's life. Dr. Davino said the swelling in Preston's leg was so extensive that physicians had to treat his injuries and relieve the swelling. Had the swelling not been relieved the tissue would have died and amputation could have been the only recourse to save the child's life.