How Does A Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon Provide Specialty Care for Children?
When health issues arise in children, a doctor needs to be consulted who is especially trained in pediatrics. This is due to the fact that children's physiology is different from that of adults, and as they are gradually developing, their organs are also in the growing stage. The specialty in medical field that deals with the heath conditions of infants, children, and adolescents is known as pediatrics. A doctor who specializes in this area is called a pediatrician.
Here, we are going to focus on the medical specialist known as pediatric orthopaedic surgeon.
An Introduction to Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon
A pediatric orthopedic surgeon is a medical specialist, who offers medical care to children with musculoskeletal problems, which include ailments of the bones, back, joints, or muscles. They provide treatment to infants, teenagers, and everything in-between. They can also treat children with health issues such as spine curvatures, limb deformities, broken bones, limping, or infection in the bone or joints.
Training Undergone by Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeons
Pediatric orthopedic surgeons focus on the treatment and diagnosis of children. For children's health care, a unique procedure of medical and operative care needs to be learned through advanced training. So future pediatric orthopedic surgeons undergo the following training and education:
Graduation from a recognized medical school for a duration of four years
Completion of a five-year orthopedic surgery residency program
A one-year additional sub-specialty training in orthopedics and spinal deformity in children
Which Health Conditions do Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeons Deal With?
The musculoskeletal issues of a child are distinct from that of an adult. As children are at the growing stage, the way their bodies respond to injuries, deformities, and infection may differ from the way that an adult's body reacts.
Some heath problems in children are simply an alteration experienced during growth which get rectified with time. For example, intoeing condition in an infant, which is common in childhood but is usually outgrown naturally as the child grows older. Children experience health issues with regards to their bones and joints, which typically occur during the period of development, and are not seen in adults. Moreover, the treatment and evaluation procedures followed for children are quite dissimilar than that of adults for similar heath issues.
The complicated pediatric problems in children are skillfully treated by a skilled medical and surgical team. The diagnosis, treatment, and management done by pediatric orthopedic surgeons for musculoskeletal problems of children have been mentioned below.
Malformation of the spine and limb, like Scoliosis, Clubfoot, Limb length differences, etc.
Scoliosis – This is a condition in which the spine of a child curves sideways, that usually occurs during the growing stage just before puberty. In case of mild scoliosis, pediatric orthopedics suggest a close monitoring with X-rays, to examine whether the curve is getting worse or not. Children suffering from this ailment may sometimes require the use of a brace to prevent the curve from getting worse. Whereas some children need surgery to keep the curvature of the spine under control, and also to straighten it in extreme cases of scoliosis.
Clubfoot – This is one of the most common congenital foot deformities seen in infants, in which the foot is turned inward. In a few cases, the defect is so severe that the bottom of the foot faces sideways or upward. If left untreated, it may impair a child's normal movement well into adulthood. While treating this condition, nonsurgical methods are also employed that include a combination of stretching, bracing, and casting.
Limb Length Discrepancy – This occurs due to the difference between the lengths of the legs and the arms. For many such deformities, the functions of the limbs are not affected. However, sometimes, injury or illness causes a difference in size that develops over time. For some children with limb length differences, the deformation can be adjusted by wearing a lift in one shoe. Whereas a child with extreme difference in the length of his or her limbs may have to undergo surgery to elongate the defective leg.
Broken Bones – Also known as fractures, this is one of the frequently occurring injuries in children. At their delicate age, their bones have a different quality and density, almost like fresh wood, which is soft in comparison to the older varieties, which are more brittle and dried-out. At their growing age, children need distinct treatment and evaluation that is different from that offered to adults. Treatment is done by the pediatric orthopedic surgeons with casting or splinting for broken hands, wrists, and fingers. Sometimes, there is the need for manual manipulation by a doctor to set or reduce the bone. Furthermore, in case of severe fractures, a surgeon may need to place metal plate, pins, screws, or rods to set the bone in the right position when it is getting healed.
Gait Abnormalities (limping) – Gait refers to the way a person walks. Abnormalities in a person's gait, such as limping, is caused when there is malfunction in the physiological system that controls the posture of a person. Generally, this occurs because of illness, genetic factors, injury, or abnormalities in the legs or feet. For children, pediatric orthopedic surgeons conduct a surgery or suggest physical therapy to help return the gait to normal. The specialist may also suggest the use of assistant devices, such as leg braces, crutches, walkers, and canes in case of long-term gait abnormalities.
Infection and Tumors in the Bone or Joint – Bone infection, called osteomyelitis, and joint infection, known as septic arthritis, start when the bacteria carrying the disease goes inside the body, after a trauma or a surgery. It is spread in the bones and joints through the bloodstream. Children who are affected by these infections, may face problems in walking as a result of intense pain in the legs.
When abnormal and uncontrollable multiplication of cells occurs in the leg bones, arm or rib bones, then it is called bone tumor. When this bone tumor is malignant, it is known as sarcoma. Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma are the most commonly occurring malignancies of bone tissues in children. Osteosarcoma is caused in bones around the knee, whereas Ewing's sarcoma affects bones of the thigh, pelvis, ribs, or upper arms. Both the malignancies can be treated with the help of surgery and chemotherapy with multi-agencies. The tumor is removed through a special surgical procedure.
When it is about the health issues of children, then it should be remembered that the earlier the treatment is done, the better. It will help resolve the health conditions of your little ones as quickly as possible and save them from having to face long-term adversity. For any kind of musculoskeletal problems affecting your children, consult a reputed pediatric orthopedic surgeon immediately and give your child a healthy life.
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