Published: May 1, 2026
Families in Kentucky and Indiana seeking specialized spine care for their children now have a centralized location and expertise close to home.
Norton Children’s and Norton Leatherman Spine have established Norton Children’s Leatherman Spine, a dedicated practice serving children with spine disorders at two Louisville locations: downtown on Gray Street and in the East End off Breckenridge Lane.
The practice brings together pediatric orthopedic and spine surgeons with training and experience in caring for conditions including scoliosis, kyphosis, congenital spine deformities, spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis.
In 2025, more than 3,100 children received care for scoliosis through Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s. Scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity in children, affecting an estimated 2% to 3% of adolescents. Establishing Norton Children’s Leatherman Spine will provide families with more access to spine care in the region.
“Children with spine disorders deserve care from pediatric specialists who understand their unique needs and in a centralized setting,” said Steven D. Glassman, M.D., orthopedic spine surgeon and medical director of Norton Leatherman Spine. “By bringing the right team together, we can offer the full range of options and guide families through every step of the process.”
Norton Children’s Leatherman Spine offers a full range of surgical and nonsurgical options, recognizing that many spinal conditions are effectively managed without surgery.
The practice name honors Kenton D. Leatherman, M.D., widely known for his groundbreaking work on repairing scoliosis. Dr. Leatherman founded the Children’s Hospital Department of Orthopedics and performed the first scoliosis surgery in Kentucky in the 1950s. He later pioneered the use of several technological advances in the United States aimed at treating patients with spinal deformities. He also established the region’s first scoliosis clinic, which grew into today’s Norton Leatherman Spine, home to one of the most acclaimed spine programs in the country.