About Pediatric Orthopedics

Pediatric orthopaedic surgeons diagnose, treat, and manage childrens musculoskeletal problems, such as: Limb and spine deformities noted at birth or later in life (clubfoot, scoliosis, limb length differences) Gait abnormalities (limping) Broken bones. Bone or joint infections and tumors. A childs musculoskeletal problems are different from those of an adult. Because children are still growing, the bodys response to injuries, infections, and deformities may be quite different than what would be seen in a full-grown person. Sometimes, what is thought to be a problem in a child is just a variation of growth that will resolve with time. A good example of this is intoeing in a toddler. Some of the problems children have with their bones and joints that are due to growth do not even occur in adults. And, the evaluation and treatment of a child is usually quite different than for an adult -- even for the same problem.