Why does a child need an orthopaedic specialist?

A child’s musculoskeletal problems are different from those of an adult. Because children are still growing, their body’s response to injuries, infections, and deformities may be quite different than what it would be seen in a full-grown person. Sometimes, what is thought to be a problem is just a variation of growth that will resolve with time. Many of the problems children have with their bones and joints do not even occur in adults. And, for the same problem that an adult might have, the evaluation and treatment is usually quite different for a child. Children with complex paediatric problems such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida are best managed by a combined medical-surgical team approach.

Children are not just small adults. They cannot always say what is bothering them, or answer medical questions, or be patient and cooperative during a medical examination. Paediatric orthopaedic surgeons know how to examine and treat children in a way to help them be relaxed and cooperative. They appreciate the worry that goes with having a child with a musculoskeletal problem and they have experience in communicating with anxious family members.