Dr. John Blanco specializes in the treatment of pediatric and adolescent spinal deformity (including casting, bracing, growth-sparing surgical correction, and formal instrumentation and fusion), clubfeet, fracture management, limb deformity correction, hip conditions, and foot deformities.
A native New Yorker who was born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, Dr. Blanco attended Archbishop Molloy High School and New York University before enrolling at Cornell University Medical College in 1978. After completing his residency training in orthopedic surgery at New York Medical College in 1988, he spent an additional year of specialty training as a pediatric orthopedics and scoliosis fellow at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas, Texas.
Beginning his career at The University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Dr. Blanco was eventually promoted to Associate Professor of Orthopaedics and Pediatrics and was later named Chief of the Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics. In 2003, he relocated to the Atlanta Scottish Rite Hospital, where he served as Director of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Fellowship, as well as the Director of Resident Education. In 2008, he returned to New York City to join the expanding Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics at Hospital for Special Surgery.
Dr. Blanco has published numerous articles on a variety of topics including scoliosis, pediatric fracture management, slipped capitol femoral epiphysis and cerebral palsy. He has authored several chapters in textbooks that have been published by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and has also lectured extensively on a multitude of topics in the field of pediatric orthopaedics. He is also active in the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America and the Scoliosis Research Society.
In addition to his Manhattan office at Hospital for Special Surgery, Dr. Blanco also sees patients at the HSS Long Island Outpatient Center in Uniondale.
Pediatric & adolescent spinal deformity
Neuromuscular spinal deformity
Fractures in children
Pediatric foot & ankle conditions
Limb deformity including leg length inequality and genu varus/valgus
Non-operative and operative treatment of spinal deformities in children and adolescents
Mehta casting for early onset scoliosis
Bracing for scoliosis including Rigo, Providence and Boston TLSO
Surgical correction of scoliosis and kyphosis including MAGEC growth sparing techniques
Clubfoot correction including Ponseti treatment
Pediatric operative and non-operative fracture management
Flatfoot and cavus foot correction
Limb deformity correction and limb lengthening
Friendliness/courtesy of the care provider
4.9(71)Skill of physician
5.0(72)If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit. We will work with you and your insurance to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Financial assistance may be available for patients in need.
Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, Hospital for Special Surgery
Associate Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College
Associate Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (Trauma Committee Chair 1999-2000)
Scoliosis Research Society (Fellowship Committee Chair 2002-2003)
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, 1991
University of Virginia Dean’s Award for Clinical Excellence, 1997
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Annual Attending Teaching Award, 1994 & 2003
Medical: Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY, 1978-1982
Internship: General Surgery, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, 1982-1983
Residency: New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, 1983-1988
Fellowship: Pediatric Orthopaedics & Scoliosis, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, Dallas, Texas, 1988-1989
English
Patient Information
Brochures
- Your Pathway to Recovery: A Patient's Guide to Spine Surgery
- Guide to Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery
- Guide to Pediatric External Fixators
Forms
- Patient Registration (pdf)
- SRS-22 Patient Survey (pdf)
Directions and HSS Visitor Information
Videos
Video Guide to Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery
Spine Care Institute at Hospital for Special Surgery
Spine Animations
Reviewer, Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics
For all publications, please see the PubMed listing.
Blanco JS. "Osteogenesis Imperfecta." in Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: Pediatrics, 1st Edition. editor: B. Stephens Richards, published by The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Chicago, Illinois. 1996.
Blanco JS. "Osteogenesis Imperfecta." in Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: Pediatrics, 2nd Edition. editor: Paul Sponseller, published by The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Chicago, Illinois. 2002.
Blanco JS. "Myelomeningocele." in Orthopaedic Knowledge Update VII, published by The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Chicago, Illinois. 2002.
Blanco JS, Abel MF. "Back Pain in Children" and "Scoliosis." in Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: Pediatrics, 3rd Edition. editor MF Abel, published by The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Chicago, Illinois. 2006.
HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.
As of May 11, 2024, Dr. Blanco reported no relationships with the healthcare industry.
HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS.
Pediatric Orthopedic and Spine Surgeon
