There’s a difference between general orthopedics and pediatric orthopedics. A general Orthopaedic Surgery treats adult patients.
A Paediatric Orthopaedic surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes in orthopaedic treatment of paediatric and adolescent population (0-18yrs). They undergo special training in Paediatric Orthopaedic surgery for 3-4 years after completing their masters in Orthopaedic surgery. They deal with all kind of congenital, developmental issues in kids apart from routine orthopaedic related problems.
Children are NOT simply little adults.
Even with the similar injuries adult and children’s bodies often show different response. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons are specifically trained to evaluate and treat children and adolescents.
It is important to understand children’s bones are substantially different from adults. Infants have skeleton made of cartilage that later matures into calcified bone during the early years of development. In fact, during the first few weeks of life, ultrasounds are frequently used to examine children’s bones instead of x-rays. Children have softer structure than adults thus causing their bones to fracture or break in different ways than adult bones do. The biggest difference is the presence of growth plates in children’s bones. This greatly changes the ways doctors treat and care for injuries as well as bone and joint disorders in children.
While all children go through a certain consistency in the pattern of growth and development, there are subtle variations in each child. Making a distinction between what is abnormal and what is just a growth variation needs knowledge, clinical skills and experience.
A substantial proportion of office Pediatric Orthopedic practice involves Shifting developmental pathologies from such growth variations and treating them appropriately.
We understand that sometimes circumstances prevent you from keeping your scheduled appointment. If that happens, please notify our office in advance, as soon as possible. Our scheduling coordinators will do their best to promptly reschedule your appointment.
Most common condition treated by Paediatric Orthopaedic surgeon are mentioned below (to name few conditions)
Osteogenesis imperfecta, Club foot, DDH, Perthes disease, Bone and soft tissue infection, Deformity, Metabolic bone condition, Cerebral palsy, Other neurological condition, Congenital and Genetic anomalies, Gait abnormality, Bone and soft tissue tumor.