Because a child’s musculoskeletal problems are drastically different than those of an adult, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon must adjust their approach to account for how a child’s body will respond to deformity, infection, or injury.
Common conditions pediatric orthopedic surgeons treat include:
- Arm and leg deformities
- Bone, joint, and muscle infections
- Broken bones
- Deformities of the musculoskeletal system due to metabolic and neuromuscular disease
- Foot deformities (flat foot, high instep)
- Gait (limping)
- Hip dysplasia
- Spinal deformities
- Tendinitis and bursitis
- Torn ligaments
- Walking alterations (lower limb length difference)
Pediatric orthopedic surgeons may also work as part of a multidisciplinary team to treat complicated surgical conditions like:
- Bone tumors, including bone cancer
- Cerebral palsy
- Juvenile arthritis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Spina bifida
