Pediatric orthopedic specialists are doctors who have the ability to diagnose and treat disorders of the bones, joints, muscles, and connective tissue in children and adolescents. Bone abnormalities can occur due to injury or certain diseases.
Bone is an organ that has many functions, ranging from supporting body shape and posture, protecting organs, to supporting body movement. Therefore, bone disorders will certainly interfere with daily activities and have an impact on health.
Bone abnormalities in children and adolescents can be caused by various things, such as genetic disorders or bone injuries. In this case, pediatric orthopedic specialists have competence in determining the cause of bone abnormalities in children or adolescents and providing appropriate treatment.
Diseases Orthopedic Pediatricians Can Treat
The following are some conditions that an orthopedic pediatrician can treat:
- Injuries to bones, muscles, and ligaments in children, such as fractures
- Osteomyelitis or infection of the bone and surrounding tissue
- Spinal deformities, such as kyphosis, scoliosis, torticollis and spondylolisthesis
- Tumors or bone cancers in children, such as osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma
- Genetic disorders of the bones and muscles, such as osteogenesis imperfecta, polydactyly, and stone man's disease
- Congenital birth defects, such as spina bifida
- Compartment syndrome
- Bone growth disorders, eg Blount's disease and dwarfism
- Leg deformities, such as Blunt's disease, x foot, and o . foot
- Hip dysplasia
- Rickets
A Line of Actions that Pediatric Orthopedic Doctors Can Do
In determining the diagnosis of disorders of bone, muscle, and connective tissue in children and adolescents, pediatric orthopedic specialists can perform a physical examination and various supporting examinations which include:
- Blood and urine test
- Biopsy of bone or muscle tissue
- arthroscopy
- Radiological examinations, such as X-rays, MRI, CT scans, and ultrasound
After determining the diagnosis, the pediatric orthopedic specialist will perform treatment according to the cause and severity of the patient's condition. The treatment can be in the form of:
Administration of drugs
Pediatric orthopedic specialists can provide various kinds of drugs to treat disorders or diseases that occur in children's bones and muscles.
These drugs are NSAID painkillers to reduce pain and inflammation, antibiotics to treat infections in the bones and muscles, and chemotherapy to treat tumors and bone cancer.
Doctors can also prescribe supplements, such as calcium and vitamin D to strengthen the child's bones.
Operation
In addition to drugs, pediatric orthopedic specialists will also generally perform surgery or surgery to treat various problems with the child's bones and muscles. The operation can be performed with general surgery or arthroscopy.
Various bone, joint, and muscle disorders in children that can be treated with surgery include hip dysplasia, osteomyelitis, polydactyly, bone tumors or cancer, spina bifida, to severe bone and muscle injuries.
Physiotherapy
To improve and improve the ability to move, pediatric orthopedic specialists can also advise patients to undergo physiotherapy. In certain cases, such as a broken bone, the doctor may also perform a splint and a cast to restore the condition of the bone.
In practice, pediatric orthopedic specialists will work closely with other doctors, such as pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, orthopedic doctors, to medical rehabilitation specialists.
The Right Time to Consult a Pediatric Orthopedic Doctor
Children or adolescents who experience disorders of the bones and muscles will often be referred by a general practitioner or pediatrician for treatment to a pediatric orthopedic specialist.
In addition, you can also immediately take your child to a pediatric orthopedic specialist, if he experiences the following symptoms or health problems:
- Injuries, such as broken bones
- Difficulty walking or limping
- Children seem shorter than their peers
- The child's posture looks abnormal, for example hunched over
- Child's spine looks crooked
- Bones and muscles appear swollen, painful, and red due to infection or inflammation
- Growing lumps in the bone or surrounding tissue, for example due to tumors or bone cancer in children
Things to Prepare Before Consulting a Pediatric Orthopedic Doctor
Before consulting with a pediatric orthopedic specialist, you are advised to prepare the following things to make the treatment easier and more precise:
- Make notes regarding the complaints and symptoms suffered by the child along with the health history and development of the child while in the womb.
- Bring the results of the child's previous examinations, such as blood tests, CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasound, if any.
- Bring any medicines (medical or herbal) and supplements that your child is currently taking.
- Make a list of questions about the treatment options your doctor recommends, the success rate, side effects or risks, and the estimated cost.
If your child has conditions or symptoms caused by disorders of the bones, muscles, joints, or connective tissue, you can consult a pediatric orthopedic specialist so that your child can undergo an examination and get the right treatment.
