Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery: What it is and how it helps
Pediatric orthopaedic surgery is a type of treatment for pediatric patients that have any type of bone or musculoskeletal disorder. The many disorders include fractures, hypospadias, torticollis, congenital dislocation of the hip, and clubfoot. In general, the field of orthopedics deals with any condition characterized by problems in muscles or bones. Although orthopaedic surgeons focus on the musculoskeletal system, sometimes other systems have an impact on their patients as well.
What is pediatric orthopaedic surgery?
Pediatric orthopaedic
surgery is a branch of orthopaedics that deals with children's musculoskeletal
system. It is the treatment of congenital defects, trauma, infections, tumors,
bone deformities and other conditions related to the musculoskeletal system in
children.
Specific treatment
methods for each condition are dependent upon the age of the child and his or
her specific symptoms. The goal of pediatric orthopaedic surgery is to restore
normal function to patients by repairing damaged areas of the body. This can be
achieved through a variety of different treatments including corrective
surgery, physical therapy, bracing or casting.
Pediatric orthopaedic surgery has evolved
significantly over the last several decades. Advancements in technology have
helped doctors diagnose injuries at an earlier stage and treat them more
effectively than ever before. According to one study, within the last 30 years
doctors have been able to reduce major complications associated with surgical
procedures by about 50 percent.
The problem with growing pains
Growing pains are a
common problem for children between the ages of 4 to 12. They can be a source
of great anxiety for parents, who want to make sure their kids are healthy.
Growing pains happen
when your child's growing faster than his muscles and bones can keep up. The
result is pain in the legs. Many kids get them, but most go away on their own
within a few weeks or months. In some cases, your doctor might recommend
exercises or other treatments to help ease pain and speed recovery from growing
pains.
Growing pains can affect any part of your child's
legs and feet, and sometimes arms and hands as well. Most often, they happen at
night when your child is sleeping: Your child will wake up crying and
complaining of leg pain. Sometimes she'll say her legs feel hot or swollen,
even though they don't look swollen to you.
How Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery helps
Pediatric orthopaedic
surgery helps children with skeletal problems. By focusing on the child's
health and development, pediatric surgeons can help kids with congenital or
developmental problems avoid further injuries and get back to living life to
the fullest.
The primary objective
of pediatric orthopaedic surgery is to prevent disability. Children's bones are
soft, so the goal of treatment is to prevent fractures and other skeletal
problems. To do this, pediatric orthopaedic surgeons typically perform one of
the following procedures:
Correct congenital
deformities (birth defects) that affect bone growth (such as clubfoot)
Install internal
fixation devices into bone to hold it in place while it heals (such as internal
rods or plates)
Repair broken bones
after an injury has occurred (such as fractures, dislocations and breaks)
Replace missing bones (such as joints, limbs or
digits) with man-made prosthetics.
What's involved in the treatment
Pediatric orthopaedic
surgery is a specialized field of medicine that treats the musculoskeletal
system of children who have birth defects, deformities or other issues with
their bones or joints. It's a sub-field of pediatrics, but it might also be
treated by orthopedic surgeons who specialize in adult issues.
The types of
conditions treated by pediatric orthopedic surgeons include:
Clubfoot – A common
congenital condition that causes a child's feet to turn inward and upward or
downward and inward, with the result being that the foot resembles a club
Congenital hip
dislocation – This occurs when the hip joint fails to form properly during
development in the womb, resulting in a leg bone being pulled out of place.
The treatment for these issues varies depending on
the needs of the patient. For example, if your child has clubfoot, doctors
might recommend casting or surgical intervention. If they're having issues with
their hips, they might recommend surgery. The type of treatment used will
depend on your child's individual situation.
How does Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery help children with special needs?
Pediatric orthopedic surgery is important to these children because it helps them walk, run, play sports and avoid pain. It can also help children resume normal socialization with their peers. The goal of pediatric orthopedic surgeon is to provide young patients with functional mobility to enhance their quality of life now and in the future. For example, if your child has musculoskeletal problems such as hip dysplasia or clubfoot, pediatric orthopedic surgery may be able to correct them so that your child can walk normally. This can help prevent or reverse problems that would otherwise develop as he or she grows older, such as knee arthritis or back pain. The procedure for treating these conditions can vary depending on the individual childs unique needs. For example, some children may need both open surgery (done using a large incision) and endoscopic techniques (using small incisions).
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