What is a Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon?
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento bone injury attorney. At times, children may seem like just “small adults,” especially when they make smart remarks or show a maturity that is beyond their years. However, when it comes to medicine, children could not be more different from adults, which is why specialized areas of medicine under the blanket field of “pediatrics” exist just to treat children of all ages.
Helping Children with Musculoskeletal Injuries
One of these areas is pediatric orthopaedics, which involves helping children with musculoskeletal problems (relating to the bones, joints and muscles). Pediatric orthopaedic surgeons are responsible for treating kids who have injuries or conditions relating to this area, and they have specialized knowledge and training to help them do the best job possible. Treatments range from specialized surgical procedures to general bone health and prevention. Additionally, a pediatric orthopedist may be part of a specialized team to treat certain conditions.
Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons
Pediatric orthopaedic surgeons treat children from infancy to adolescence, in a wide range of problems that can include genetic disorders, traumatic injuries, illnesses and other issues. They are needed because children are still growing, and thus will respond differently to injuries, infections and treatments than an adult would.
Snapshot of the Job
A pediatric orthopaedic surgeon’s job is twofold: address the medical problem that a child is experiencing, and work with the child themselves to better understand what is going on. This is different from treating adults because children often can’t (or won’t) express how they are feeling, and thus it’s up to the pediatric orthopaedic surgeon to determine what is going on by asking the child specific questions tailored to their level of understanding. These medical professionals also specialize in calming down the families of children (who are understandably anxious), as well as in keeping children comfortable and entertained in their offices.
Surgery
There are several different reasons that this type of surgeon might be needed. For example, in many children, limb and spine deformities are noted at birth or later in life, all of which a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon can help treat. Another big example is for infections and tumors that develop in children’s’ bones, as well as broken bones (which often result from common problems like tripping and falling). Just like you would for an adult, you want to make sure that the pediatric orthopedist is knowledgeable and skilled in treating your child’s problems. While this will not be a big deal for everyday fractures, it may be the case for diseases of the spine or other less common conditions.
Car Accidents
These medical professionals can be extremely useful after a car accident. They can help treat breaks and fractures resulting from the impact. Because kids are still growing, it is crucial for a medical professional to be specifically trained to treat young children and help them recover with the least amount of pain as possible. Setting bones properly is so much more important at this age than it is for adults. A pediatric orthopedist is especially important if there are fractures in a growth plate or other parts of your growing child.
Sacramento Pediatric Bone Injury Attorneys
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento bone injury attorney. If you, or someone you care about has suffered a fractured bone in an accident because of someone else’s negligence, please call me today at (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly advice. Or, call me toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
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Image Attribution: Edward A Smith, Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
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