Orthopedic care is crucial to the well-being of your children, ensuring that they overcome musculoskeletal challenges and achieve their full potential for growth, mobility, and overall quality of life.
pediatric Venice physicians offer extensive detection and treatment of a wide range of orthopedic conditions. The team has expertise in compassionate, customized care and strives to develop the best treatment plan for your childs individual condition.
What is pediatric orthopedics?
Pediatric orthopedics is a subspeciality that deals with the health and medical care of infants, children, and adolescents from birth up to the age of 18 for conditions related to the muscles, joints, bones, ligaments, and cartilage.
What are the common pediatric orthopedic conditions?
Children in their growing years are the most active and aggressive, thus susceptible to injuries and falls. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), injuries from falls account for 8,000 pediatric visits per day in the United States.
Orthopedic problems in children are common; some are congenital and developmental, while some are acquired. Common orthopedic conditions among children include:
- Sprains and bruises
- Fractures
- Ligament tears
- Cuts and lacerations
- Congenital deformities
- Septic arthritis
- Perthes disease
What are the diagnostic criteria for pediatric orthopedic conditions?
A thorough diagnostic evaluation is necessary since children cannot explain the exact cause and location of the symptoms. As parents, you must ensure to inform the doctor about your childs medical history about any past injury or surgery and to rule out other medical conditions. This helps the doctor determine the further course of action.
Furthermore, your doctor will advise the following diagnostic tests to help them identify the cause, location, and extent of the damage. These include:
- X-rays
- MRIs
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Nerve Conduction Study (NCS)
How can pediatric orthopedic conditions be managed?
The musculoskeletal structures in children are still developing; thus, they exhibit excellent healing and tissue repair abilities. Your childs doctor can offer a wide range of safe and effective treatments, depending on the childs condition and the severity of the symptoms.
The treatment modalities include:
- A protective cast, brace, or splint
- Prescription pain medications
- Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles and improve mobility
- Antibiotics to treat infections
Congenital deformities and severe injuries may require invasive surgical intervention or minimally invasive procedures.
Bottom line
If your child is injured, keep calm and do not panic. Your child may get more distressed if they sense your panic. Attend to them immediately or seek medical help when needed. Your childs orthopedic physician can cater to their injuries with a wide range of treatments.
However, do not restrict your child from physical activities since it is all a part of growing and learning.