Seventy-five children, 15 of whom had granulomatous and 60 ulcerative colitis, were treated by a multidisciplinary team at the University of Michigan Medical Center between 1961 and 1970. The overall mortality was 9%. Fifty-three of these children underwent colectomy. Forty-one had ulcerative and 12 granulomatous colitis. Indications for operation included toxic dilatation of the colon, massive melena, and impaired growth. Impaired growth, as measured by height and weight, were responsible for colectomy in 17 children with ulcerative and six children with granulomatous colitis. Postoperatively, the height and weight distribution of the 37 surviving children with ulcerative colitis returned almost to normal. Three of 12 children with granulomatous colitis failed to develop an improved pattern of growth after operation.