- Acute Pediatric Injuries
- Adolescent Sports Injuries
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Adolescents
- Pediatric Fractures of the Shoulder
What is Pediatric Orthopedics?
Pediatric Orthopedics is a field of medicine that provides care for problems that affect the muscles, tendons, joints, and bones of children and adolescents. It is also sometimes called Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery.
Orthopedic problems in children are different from that of adults as the bones in children are constantly growing and have very different muscle, joint, and bone makeup. Hence, children are often referred to a pediatric orthopedist by their pediatrician to diagnose and address orthopedic issues in children. A pediatric orthopedist is a physician who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal (bone, joint, or muscle) conditions in children ranging from infants to teenagers.
What Does a Pediatric Orthopedist Do?
Pediatric orthopedists, also referred to as pediatric orthopedic surgeons, are specially trained to interact with children about their orthopedic issues. Not only do children have different physical ailments, but they also process them differently. Hence, pediatric orthopedists can work with your child to design a customized treatment plan to resolve a specific issue that is troubling your child and get your child back in action. Pediatric orthopedists employ surgical and non-surgical methods to treat your child’s problem. They can carry out surgery when required, but they also bestow other types of treatments, such as casts or limb braces.
What Type of Training Do Pediatric Orthopedists Have?
Pediatric orthopedists choose to make the care of children the primary focus of their medical practice. They learn the exclusive nature of surgical and medical care of children from both real-world experience and advanced training in practice.
Pediatric orthopedists are physicians who have completed the following training and education:
- Graduated from an authorized medical school (usually 4 years)
- Completed an authorized orthopedic surgery residency program (usually 5 years)
- Finished additional subspecialty training in pediatric orthopedics and/or pediatric spinal deformity (usually 1 year)
What Types of Problems Do Pediatric Orthopedics Treat?
The scope of Pediatric Orthopedics is quite broad. They diagnose, treat, and manage a complete range of musculoskeletal issues in children, including:
- Spine and limb deformities noticed at birth or later in life, such as scoliosis, clubfoot, limb length discrepancy in the arms or legs
- Hip dysplasia or developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)
- Gait abnormalities, such as limping
- Fractured or broken bones
- Torn ligaments, such as rotator cuff tears and anterior cruciate ligament injuries
- Bursitis and tendinitis
- Muscle, joint, and bone infections
- Ankle or foot surgeries
- Nerve issues
- Sports injuries
- Abnormalities in the growing process
Pediatric orthopedists may work with physicians from other specialties as part of a medical-surgical team to treat complicated conditions such as:
- Spina bifida
- Muscular dystrophy
- Juvenile arthritis
- Cerebral palsy
- Bone tumors, including bone cancer
Summary
Children are not just small adults – emotionally, mentally, or physically. They cannot often answer medical questions or be cooperative and patient during a medical exam or always express what is troubling them. They may also feel anxious or frightened from just being in a doctor's office or hospital. Hence, creating a non-threatening and comfortable environment for children begins with the clinical space, and most pediatric orthopedists' offices are decorated and arranged with children in mind. This may include:
- Child-friendly decor
- Toys, videos, and reading materials
- Specially designed equipment
Additionally, pediatric orthopedists are trained to examine and treat children in a way that helps them to stay calm and cooperative.
If your pediatrician recommends that your child see a pediatric orthopedist, you can be rest assured that she or he has the widest array of treatment choices, the most comprehensive and extensive training, and considerable expertise in dealing with children and in treating children’s orthopedic conditions.
