A pediatric orthopedic surgeon is a doctor that is trained and experienced in treating musculoskeletal problems in children and teenagers. Musculoskeletal problems are disorders...

A pediatric orthopedic surgeon is a doctor that is trained and experienced in treating musculoskeletal problems in children and teenagers. Musculoskeletal problems are disorders and injuries of the bones, muscles, or joints. Pediatric orthopedics is a specialization of general orthopedics. Many orthopedists would specialize in particular fields, but specialization would consume more time and money. General orthopedists may handle kids and teens, but pediatric orthopedists have advanced education and background in dealing with children and adolescents with musculoskeletal disorders and injuries.

Pediatric orthopedists are doctors who have finished pediatric orthopedics, but finishing this course is an arduous and expensive journey. One needs to go to medical school and study four years of medicine. Then the graduate should go through orthopedic surgery residency program, which eats about 5 years of their lifetime. After that they have to go through subspecialty training in pediatric orthopedics for one year. All the education exposes the physician to the ins and outs of pediatric orthopedics, wherein approaches are a little different from those in general orthopedics. Growing children have bodies that respond to injuries and disorders a bit differently than adults.

A pediatric orthopedic understands that children have yet to developed bones and muscles, and they have movements that are a result of their developing bodies. One example of this movement is the intoeing of toddlers, which in most cases is normal and should not be cause for worry. However, kids can suffer from real problems that require the expertise of a specialist. Evaluation of disorders in children is done differently from evaluation done in adults. Even if a child suffers from seemingly the same problem as an adult does, the former will require a different specialist.

Dealing with pediatric problems may require a medical team. Pediatric orthopedists can perform diagnosis, treatment, and management of bone and joint disorders in children. Some of the problems that fall under the specialization of a pediatric orthopedist are scoliosis, gait abnormalities, fractures, and bone tumors. There are several types of injuries and disorders that should be brought to a pediatric orthopedist抯 attention. In many cases, a parent would have to take their child to a pediatrician, who in turn will direct them to a specialist.

The common misconception is that people think children are small adults, but they are not, psychologically and physically. Children are unlike adults when it comes to speaking about what they feel, which is important during medical checkups. To complicate things, children often dislike medical examinations. You probably have seen kids crying inside clinics. This is why they need special attention. Pediatric orthopedists know how to handle children and their mistrust towards adults other than their parents.

If you visit a pediatric orthopedic clinic, you will see that it is designed for kids. So, you could see toys, cartoon videos, and colorful setup to make kids feel comfortable. Regular clinics can frighten a kid.

Looking for a pediatric orthopedist can be difficult, especially if you are looking for one in town. One way is to go to your pediatrician or GP, who should be able to identify pediatric orthopedic surgeons in town. Another way is to look for pediatric orthopedists in town on the internet.