Introduction
Nicholas Fletcher, MD, is a board-certified Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, where he serves as Medical Director of the Spine Program. He is also a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine.
Dr. Fletcher’s clinical expertise focuses on pediatric spine and hip conditions. He provides comprehensive care for children with spinal deformities such as scoliosis, kyphosis and spondylolisthesis. He offers both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options, including Mehta casting, bracing, posterior spinal fusion, as well as advanced growth-friendly techniques such as magnetic expandable growing rods (MAGEC) and vertebral body tethering (VBT). Dr. Fletcher is also among a select group of surgeons in the Southeast with expertise in the Ganz (periacetabular) osteotomy (PAO) for hip dysplasia.
As an active researcher, Dr. Fletcher has led the Emory University Orthopaedic Harrison Foundation Center for Pediatric Orthopaedic Research since 2011. His work centers on improving outcomes after pediatric spine surgery and advancing the understanding of spinal alignment in children. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, and his research has received numerous honors, including Best Paper Awards from the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) and from the Safety in Spine Summit.
Dr. Fletcher is also very involved with several orthopedic organizations. He serves POSNA as Chair of the Quality, Safety and Value Spine Committee, is the chairman of the 2023 POSNA annual meeting, and has held numerous positions within the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS). He is a current member of the Harms Study Group, which focuses on scoliosis care, as well as the Children’s Spine Study Group and CORTICES Pediatric Trauma Study Group. Dr. Fletcher is also a regular speaker at the SRS, POSNA and International Pediatric Orthopaedic Symposium annual meetings, and has given numerous national and international presentations.
Dr. Fletcher is deeply involved in national and international orthopedic organizations. He has served as a Senior Board Member-at-Large for POSNA, chaired the 2023 POSNA Annual Meeting, and holds multiple leadership roles within the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), including the Educational Program Chair for the 2026 Annual Meeting. He is also an active member of the Harms Study Group, the largest international collaborative focused on pediatric spinal deformity. He is a frequent invited speaker at SRS, POSNA, and the International Pediatric Orthopaedic Symposium, among other national and international meetings.
Committed to education and mentorship, Dr. Fletcher served as Associate Program Director of the Emory Orthopaedic Residency Program until 2022 and previously directed the Emory Pediatric Orthopaedic Fellowship Program. His teaching excellence has been recognized with the George E. Wright Faculty Member of the Year Award (2015) from the Emory University Department of Orthopaedics and the 2025 Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Orthopedic Faculty of the Year Award.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Fletcher enjoys playing tennis and lacrosse and spending time with his wife and children.
Learn more about Dr. Fletcher by watching his introduction video.
Focus of Practice
- Spinal care, including scoliosis, kyphosis, spondylolisthesis and disc herniaitons
- Complex hip problems and hip dysplasia
- Neuromuscular disease, such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida
Areas of Interest
- Spinal disorders, including scoliosis, kyphosis, spina bifida, spondylosis and spondylolisthesis
- Complex hip problems and hip dysplasia
- Neuromuscular disorders, such as cerebral palsy
- Limb lengthening and reconstruction
- Fractures, traumatic injuries and foot disorders, including clubfoot, flat foot and high arched (cavus) foot
Locations
Childrens Physician Group - Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
Center for Advanced Pediatrics, 2174 North Druid Hills Road NE 2nd Flr Atlanta, GA 30329 Get Directions 404-255-1933Childrens Physician Group - Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
Childrens at Hamilton Mill, 2069 Teron Trace Suite 200 Dacula, GA 30019 Get Directions 404-255-1933Research & Publications
Safe delivery of high-quality, postoperative care following spinal surgery, development of spinal instrumentation and advancement of spinal technology, development of a minimally invasive approach to surgical hip reconstruction in children with hip dysplasia and neuromuscular conditions, blood loss management during spinal surgery, postoperative recovery following spinal surgery, growth arrest following distal femoral fractures
In the News
Nicholas D. Fletcher, MD, explains the importance of backpack safety and how to avoid injury
Nicholas D. Fletcher, MD, a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, highlights the importance of backpack safety and provides parents with advice on how to help their child select, load and wear a backpack to avoid pain or injury.
CNN