What Is Pediatric Orthopedics?
Pediatric orthopedics is a specialty of medicine that focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders in children. It covers a wide range of conditions, from simple fractures to complex deformity corrections, as well as development and growth problems. Treatment may involve surgery, physical therapy, braces, or other interventions.Â
What Is a Pediatric Orthopedic Specialist?
A pediatric orthopedic specialist is a doctor who specializes in treating health conditions related to the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, muscles and ligaments, in children. They diagnose and treat musculoskeletal issues such as sports injuries, scoliosis, foot deformities, cerebral palsy, and other developmental abnormalities.
Pediatric orthopedic specialists also perform reconstructive surgery after trauma or broken bones have occurred. They perform preventative care such as physicals for athletes and teach proper exercise for bone strength.Â
Pediatric orthopedic specialists can also help with pain management where necessary.
What Training Does a Pediatric Orthopedic Specialist Have?
A pediatric orthopedic specialist has extensive training and experience in diagnosing, treating, and managing musculoskeletal issues in children. This includes a broad range of conditions, from congenital deformities to traumatic injuries.Â
In order to work in this specialized field, these doctors must have completed a four-year residency program that focuses on the anatomy and development of the musculoskeletal system in children.Â
Additionally, after completing their medical degree, pediatric orthopedic specialists must undergo rigorous additional training specific to the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal issues in children. This training covers topics such as deformity correction surgeries, complex trauma management, pediatric sports medicine, and managing pediatric spine conditions.Â
Pediatric orthopedic specialists with advanced training can also specialize further in areas such as scoliosis or limb amputations.
Why See a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon?
A pediatric orthopedic surgeon has specific training in treating conditions that affect a child’s musculoskeletal system.
The conditions a child may deal with differ from those that an adult experiences. A child’s body is still growing, so the response to injury, deformity, and infection differs from an adult’s.Â
A pediatric orthopedic surgeon can help treat the following conditions:
- Clubfoot
- Congenital hip dislocation
- Sprains and fractures
- Developmental dysplasia of the hip
- Osgood-Schlatter disease
- Osteochondritis dissecans
- Spinal deformities, such as scoliosis and kyphosis
- Leg length discrepancies
- Slipped capital femoral epiphysis
- Blount’s disease
What to Expect at Your Appointment with a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon
Your appointment with a pediatric orthopedic surgeon will be an opportunity to discuss the symptoms your child is experiencing. It will also allow the surgeon to evaluate the condition and its severity in order to make a tailored treatment approach.Â
Your appointment will begin by considering your child’s medical history from birth, development, and family history. With your help, the doctor will want to know the type and duration of the symptoms your child is experiencing.
Next, the surgeon will perform a physical exam. They may ask your child to perform certain activities in order to evaluate the condition, such as walking, playing, or handling objects. Your help as a parent will be greatly appreciated to help the child feel comfortable and cooperate with the surgeon’s instructions.
Your visit may also include imaging testing if there are any doubts over the extent of the condition. This may include the use of X-rays or MRI scans. Your child may also need to do a blood test.
Your child may also be fitted with a brace or cast, depending on the condition.