Description

PEDIATRIC ORTHOPEDICS Pediatric orthopedics is the branch of medicine that deals with injuries and musculoskeletal conditions in children and teens. It is also sometimes known as pediatric orthopedic surgery. The most common issues that children experience are foot deformities, gait disturbances, and hip dysplasia, among others. What Is a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon? A pediatric orthopedist is the best-trained and most experienced doctor to properly evaluate and treat musculoskeletal (bone, joint, or muscle) problems in a child who is still growing. This includes newborn babies through teenagers. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons often work in specialty pediatric hospitals to ensure that children with multiple medical problems receive the multidisciplinary care from different pediatric specialists that they need to thrive. What types of problems do pediatric orthopedic surgeons treat? A child's musculoskeletal problems are different than those of an adult. Because children are still growing, the body's response to an injury, infection, or deformity may be quite different than that of a fully-grown person. Sometimes, what is thought to be a problem in a child is just a variation of growth that will go away on its own with time. A good example of this is intoeingin a toddler. There are many problems that are unique to the growing body and are not found in adults. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons diagnose, treat, and manage the full range of musculoskeletal problems in children, including: • Limb and spine deformities noted at birth or later in life (clubfoot, scoliosis, limb length differences in the legs or arms) • Gait abnormalities (limping) • Broken bones • Torn ligaments (anterior cruciate ligament injuries, rotator cuff tears, etc.) • Tendinitis and bursitis • Bone, joint, and muscle infections Pediatric orthopaedic surgeons may work with doctors from other specialties as part of a medical-surgical team to treat complicated conditions such as: • Bone tumors, including bone cancer • Cerebral palsy • Juvenile arthritis • Muscular dystrophy • Spina bifida

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