About
Renowned for his innovative techniques and thoughtful patient care, Dr. Arun Hariharan is deeply committed to nurturing lasting relationships with families, guiding them through every step of their child’s recovery journey with genuine empathy and understanding. His unwavering dedication to continuous improvement and academic excellence ensures that families in West Palm Beach not only receive expert medical care but are also comforted by the knowledge that their child’s well-being is the central focus of his practice.
Orthopedic Surgeon in West Palm Beach
Dr. Arun Hariharan
Dr. Hariharan, a board-certified and double fellowship-trained pediatric orthopedic surgeon, joined the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute in October 2022. Dr. Hariharan is dedicated to providing comprehensive care for children with spine-related conditions, hip dysplasia, and pediatric fractures.
His extensive experience spans the full spectrum of pediatric orthopedics, with a specialized focus on complex spinal deformities, early detection and treatment of hip dysplasia, and advanced techniques in managing childhood fractures. Dr. Hariharan’s passion for improving outcomes through personalized care makes him a trusted expert for families seeking exceptional orthopedic care for their children.
Background
Dr. Arun Hariharan attended medical school at the University of Michigan and completed his orthopedic residency at the University of Maryland. He further pursued his passion for pediatric orthopedics through a fellowship at the Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, specializing in pediatric orthopedic surgery. To refine his expertise in advanced spine surgery techniques, he trained at Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand, completing a dedicated pediatric spine fellowship.
Dr. Hariharan is an accomplished researcher, having authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and presented at national conferences. He is a member of the Harms Study Group (HSG)/Setting Scoliosis Straight, a prestigious collaborative focused on advancing spinal deformity care. Notably, he received the prestigious Russel A. Hibbs Best Clinical Research Paper Award and the Louis A. Goldstein Best Clinical Research Poster Paper Award at the Spine Research Society Meeting in 2020.
Dr. Hariharan treats the full spectrum of pediatric orthopedic conditions, including fractures, with a particular focus on complex spinal conditions such as scoliosis, kyphosis, and spondylolisthesis. He also specializes in managing hip dysplasia, spina bifida, and skeletal dysplasias, as well as offering tailored care for children with Prader-Willi Syndrome. His surgical expertise extends to advanced procedures like Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT), halo traction, and growth-friendly techniques, including MAGEC rods.
A firm advocate of evidence-based medicine and cutting-edge technology, Dr. Hariharan is committed to providing the most up-to-date and effective care for his patients. He takes pride in tailoring treatments to each child’s unique needs, ensuring optimal outcomes.
Outside of work, Dr. Hariharan cherishes time with his wife, their two sons, and their dogs. He is an avid fan of Michigan Football and Basketball.
Education & Training
Undergraduate
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Residency
- University of Maryland/R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center,
Baltimore, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Medical School
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
Fellowship
- Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Nemours/A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE
- Pediatric Spine Surgery Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
Assistant Professor
- FAU School of Medicine
Professional Affiliations
- American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
- Scoliosis Research Society
- Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America
- Florida Orthopedic Society
- Harms Study Group
Awards
- Palm Beach Top Doctor 2022, 2023, 2024






Dr. Arun Hariharan's Areas of Interest
- Growth plate injuries and disorders
- Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)
- Leg length discrepancy
- Osteochondritis dissecans
- Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE)
- Perthes disease
- Pediatric flatfoot
- Tarsal coalition
- Pediatric sports injuries, including overuse injuries
- Patellar dislocation and instability
- Pediatric trigger finger and trigger thumb
- Kyphosis, including Scheuermann’s disease
- Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis
- Spina bifida
- Tethered spinal cord syndrome
- Congenital spine anomalies
- Early onset scoliosis
- Juvenile scoliosis
- Adolescent scoliosis
- Young adult scoliosis
- Cervical spine disorders, including atlantoaxial instability
- Vertebral body tethering
- Prader Willi Syndrome
- Down Syndrome
- Cri-du-Chat Syndrome
- MAGEC rods
- Cerebral palsy: spasticity management, orthopedic interventions
- Muscular dystrophies
- Spinal muscular atrophy
- Charcot Marie Tooth
- Myelomeningocele (a form of spina bifida)
- Hereditary sensory and motor neuropathies
- Upper and lower extremity fractures, including complex periarticular injuries
- Growth plate fractures and their complications
- Polytrauma management
- Non-accidental trauma (child abuse)
- Compartment syndrome in children
- Sports-related injuries and concussions
- Achondroplasia and other forms of dwarfism
- Osteogenesis imperfecta Marfan syndrome
- Fibrous dysplasia
- Metabolic bone diseases affecting children (e.g., rickets, osteopetrosis)
- Mucopolysaccharidoses (e.g., Hurler syndrome)
- Diastrophic dysplasia
- Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita
- Pediatric bone and joint infections (osteomyelitis, septic arthritis)
- Benign bone tumors and cysts (e.g., unicameral bone cyst, osteochondroma)
Media
- Becker’s Spine: Setting the Tone: The Music Spine Surgeons Listen to in the OR
- Becker’s Spine | 10 Spine Surgeons to Know
- Becker’s Spine | How spine surgeons overcome steep learning curves
- Becker’s Spine | 4 Orthopedic Surgeon Share Biggest Career Surprises
- The Ortho Show Podcast: Guest on Dr. Sigman’s Podcast
- AMCSI: Moving the Curve – Modern Approaches to Spinal Care in Arthrogryposis
- ESPN Radio: Dr. Arun Hariharan joins ESPN WestPalm 106.3 FM Radio to talk scoliosis, and an ailment Usain Bolt had
- The Schroth Boss Podcast – Treating the Child not the Diagnosis
- Posture Correction Dojo – Advances in Scoliosis Recovery and Postural Transformation
Publications
- Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology: Mortality after spinal fusion in children with cerebral palsy and cerebral-palsy-like conditions: A 30-year follow-up study
- Spine Deformity: Definitive fusions are better than growing rod procedures for juvenile patients with cerebral palsy and scoliosis: a prospective comparative cohort study
- Spine Deformity: Complications following surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a 10-year prospective follow-up study
- Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics: Orthopaedic Manifestations of Transverse Myelitis in Children
- JBJS Case Connector: A Metaphyseal Corner Fracture that Wasn’t: A Case Report of Osteitis from Congenital Syphilis
- The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Cost Analysis of Treating Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures in Community Hospitals Compared With a Tertiary Care Hospital
- American Journal of Surgery: Motivations and impact of international rotations in low- and middle-income countries for orthopaedic surgery residents: Are we on the same page?
- Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics: Transphyseal humeral separations: What can we learn? a retrospective, multicenter review of surgically treated patients over a 25-year period
- Surgical Technology International: Outcomes of Revision Joint Arthroplasty Due to Metal Allergy and Hypersensitivity: A Systematic Review
- Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics: Utility of Postoperative Antibiotics after Percutaneous Pinning of Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures
- Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy: Branching patterns and localization of the common fibular (peroneal) nerve: an anatomical basis for planning safe surgical approaches
- Prostate: The role of Pax2 in mouse prostate development
- Hariharan AR, Bryan T, Nugraha HK, Feldman DS, Vorhies JS, Louer C, Newton PO, Shah SA, Shufflebarger HL, Fletcher ND, Lonner B, Kelly MP. Impact of Surgical Upper Lumbar Changes on Unfused Lower Lumbar Segments in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. Spine. Accepted November 28, 2024. [In press].
- Nugraha HK, Hariharan AR, Huser AJ, Feldman DS. Diagnosis and Management of Orthopaedic Conditions Associated With Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathies. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2024 Nov 19. PMID: 39602626.
- Nugraha HK, Hariharan AR, Huser AJ, Feldman DS, Asadi-Moghaddam K. Do Not Forget the Spine MRI in Children With Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita: High Prevalence of Tethered Spinal Cord and Preliminary Clinical Findings Following Detethering. J Pediatr Orthop. 2024 Oct 9. PMID: 39380182.
- Huser AJ, Nugraha HK, Hariharan AR, Ziegler SE, Feldman DS. Peroneal Nerve Decompression in Patients with Multiple Hereditary Exostoses: Indications, Complications, and Recurrence. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2024 Jul 17;106(14):1277-1285. PMID: 38662808
- Hariharan AR, Nugraha HK, Huser AJ, Feldman DS. Surgery for Spinal Stenosis in Achondroplasia: Causes of Reoperation and Reduction of Risks. J Pediatr Orthop. 2024 Aug 1;44(7):448-455. PMID: 38595075
- Hariharan AR, Nugraha HK, Ho CA, Bauer A, Mehlman CT, Sponseller PD, O’Hara NN, Abzug JM. Transphyseal Humeral Separations: An Often-Missed Fracture. Children (Basel). 2023 Oct 23;10(10):1716. PMID: 37892379