Who is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon?
A pediatric orthopedic surgeon is a doctor of medicine (MD) who specializes in diagnosing and treating ailments and injuries of the musculoskeletal system in children. The musculoskeletal system includes the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, joints, and soft tissues. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons treat children of all ages, from newborns to late teenagers. Besides providing surgical treatments, orthopedic surgeons also order blood tests, MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays. They also offer non-surgical treatment options such as medication, exercise, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. Learning about the best pediatric orthopedic surgeon in your locality is advisable.
What training do orthopedic surgeons receive?
Pediatric orthopedics is a subspecialty of orthopedic surgery. Orthopedic surgeons generally complete over ten years of rigorous training, including four years of medical school and five years in an orthopedic residency program. After residency, some orthopedic surgeons may study for an additional year to subspecialize in one of the following:
- Sports medicine: It is a specialty of orthopedic surgery focused on treating sports injuries. It helps active people recover and perform better. Specialists diagnose, treat, and prevent injuries. Common issues include sprains, fractures, and strains. Treatments include rehab, medication, or surgery. Sports orthopedic surgeons work with athletes and non-athletes alike. They aim to restore strength, function, and mobility.
- Spine surgery: As an orthopedic surgery specialty, spine surgery aims to restore function and quality of life. Orthopedic spine surgeons focus on treating spinal conditions causing pain and other issues. These include spinal deformity, spinal infections, trauma, spine tumors, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis. Surgery is advised and performed only when other treatments fail. It can help enhance movement and reduce pain.
- Knee replacement and reconstruction: Knee replacement and reconstruction entails the treatment of damaged knee joints. It is also called knee arthroplasty or total knee replacement. Orthopedic surgeons replace worn bone and cartilage with metal and plastic parts. It helps relieve pain and restore movement. This surgery is mostly performed in cases of severe arthritis or injury. Recovery includes physical therapy.
- Orthopedic oncology (bone tumors): Orthopedic oncology treats bone tumors. It is a specialty of orthopedic surgery. Tumors can be benign or cancerous. They may weaken bones and cause pain. Some tumors make bones more likely to break. Common types of primary bone tumors or cancer are multiple myeloma, osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma. Treatment aims to remove tumors and restore function.
- Orthopedic trauma: Orthopedic trauma denotes a severe skeletal or muscular system injury caused by an external force like car accident or a fall. Although this type of injury or damage is not always life-threatening, it can be life-changing. Orthopedic surgeons specialized in this specialty are specifically trained to provide the required treatment for such injuries.
- Pediatric orthopedic surgery: As mentioned above, a pediatric orthopaedist is a trained and experienced doctor who can evaluate and treat musculoskeletal problems in young patients.
They also take an examination conducted by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) to become board-certified surgeons.
Pediatric orthopedic surgeons may work in multiple medical settings, including medical institutions, children's hospitals, community hospitals, and university medical centers. Their office design is usually child-centric, equipped with toys, videos, reading materials, and child-friendly decor.
What conditions do pediatric orthopedic surgeons treat?
Children's bodies in their developmental stages are likely to respond to an injury, disease, deformity, or infection differently than a fully grown adult. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons treat various conditions using techniques and equipment designed specifically for children. Some commonly treated conditions include:
- Muscular dystrophy: A progressive degenerative condition found in children and adults. Muscular dystrophy is an incurable disease that causes weakness plus loss of muscle mass in the body. There are two types of genetic diseases: Duchenne and Becker. Early childhood symptoms include delayed growth, muscle pain, stiffness, shuffling gait, and trouble in running and jumping.
- Spina bifida: A rare congenital disability that occurs at birth when the neural tube (structure in the embryo that becomes a child's brain and spinal cord) does not develop appropriately during pregnancy. This underdevelopment results in the improper formation of the spine and spinal cord. Treatment for spina bifida can require prenatal surgery, wherein a surgeon surgically opens a uterus to repair the baby's spinal cord.
- Fractures: Complete breakages in the bone that occur when force is applied. The treatment of a fracture depends on the child's age, symptoms, and severity. Common indications of a fracture include pain, swelling, heating up, bruising, redness, or visible bone deformity. Fractures require surgery wherein a surgeon places rods, metals, or pins inside or outside to set the bone back into its correct position.
- Tendinitis: The inflammation of the tendons, i.e., the connective tissues between the bones and muscles. Tendinitis can occur almost anywhere in the body, including the base of the thumb, shoulders, elbows, knees, hips, and Achilles tendon. Repetitive physical activity such as playing sports, poor posture, and rheumatoid arthritis or gout can cause tendinitis. Surgery is typically not required in tendinitis except in very severe cases.
How to maintain kids' orthopedic health
Having strong bones, i.e., high bone density, can prevent you from making frequent trips to a pediatric orthopedic surgeon near you. Although there are no strict guidelines for enhancing bone strength in children, several strategies can promote better bone health during a child's growth years. Implementing the following recommendations may improve your child's bone density, which is crucial as 90% of bone growth occurs before age 20.
- Diet and nutrition: What your child eats impacts their bone health. Encourage your children to consume plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens, beans, and soy. It's also important to limit soda intake, as the phosphates in soda can hinder calcium absorption in the bones. Ensure your child gets the recommended daily amounts of key nutrients for bone health, including calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin C. Keep an eye on weight gain, as childhood obesity is a rising issue in the United States, and set an excellent example with healthy eating habits. Serve portions appropriate for your child's age and avoid junk food, fast food, heavily processed foods, sugary juices, sports drinks, and candy. Instead of using food as a reward for good behavior, choose a fun activity to enjoy together.
- Stay active: Promoting regular physical activity is essential for improving bone density. Encourage your children to participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. This can be casual and recreational but should be vigorous enough to elevate the heart rate and induce sweating. Reduce the time spent on TV and computer activities by setting specific daily limits on these sedentary pursuits. Some sun exposure, especially early or late in the day without sunscreen, can be beneficial as the body synthesizes vitamin D from sunlight, which is crucial for calcium absorption. However, it is important to balance this with the risk of overexposure, which can lead to skin cancer, skin damage, and wrinkling.
What to expect during a visit to a pediatric orthopedic surgeon?
When scheduling your initial appointment with a pediatric orthopedist, bring all necessary medical records and insurance information. During this visit, you and your child can discuss your child's symptoms and medical history with the pediatric orthopedist. It is advisable to have your child wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.
Pediatric orthopedists actively work to establish a connection with children, often employing distinct communication approaches compared to regular orthopedists. They will engage with your child, address their condition, and conduct a physical examination. Depending on the circumstances, they may request diagnostic tests like an MRI or X-ray to better understand the issue.
Once the doctor has arrived at a diagnosis, they will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan and schedule any additional procedures if necessary. Depending on your child's condition and diagnosis, treatment options may encompass casts, braces, physical therapy, or surgery.
Additionally, it is crucial to consider any lifestyle considerations specific to your child's age or any long-term concerns associated with a pediatric orthopedic condition, particularly when evaluating treatment choices. To ensure that your child receives the best quality of care, you might want to contemplate the following questions:
- What are the possible risks linked to the recommended treatment?
Once you have collected information about the available treatment choices for your child's condition, it's vital to understand the associated risks thoroughly. This awareness will enable you to decide about your child's care.
- What type of rehabilitation will my child require?
If your child has undergone an injury or has a medical condition necessitating treatment, including surgery, it's essential to ascertain the rehabilitation needed to support a successful recovery.
- Are there activity restrictions for the child, and if so, what are they, and for how long?
- Will the condition impact future growth and development? Is there a likelihood of long-term issues or the need for additional treatment?
Children are actively undergoing growth and development, so their body's response to an injury, deformity, or infection may differ from an adult's. Your orthopedist will dedicate time to explain whether treatment or allowing the issue to remain untreated could affect your child's future health. They will also explore suitable strategies for addressing any potential lasting consequences.
Find the best pediatric orthopedic surgeon near you in New York
Orthopedic care for children is vastly different from adult orthopedic care and, therefore, requires a pediatric specialist's attention. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons can help manage your child's injuries and disorders and design a treatment plan to prevent long-term disability. They can also assess whether your child needs surgery or non-surgical treatment for their condition.
You don't need to search too far to find the best pediatric orthopedic surgeon for your children. You can do so with some help from Zocdoc right from the comfort of your own home. To find pediatric orthopedic surgeons in your area, visit the Zocdoc website and enter your child's symptoms or condition, location, and insurance plan. You can also view a surgeon's profile to see which insurance carriers and plans they accept.
If your insurance plan isn't listed on Zocdoc, you can upload a photo of your medical insurance card, and the Zocdoc system will scan and identify your likely plan. This feature is available exclusively for medical insurance cards and does not support vision or dental cards. If you encounter any difficulties while uploading your card, the Zocdoc service team is ready to assist you.
Zocdoc provides users with the convenience of booking a virtual or in-person appointment. You can schedule a visit on the same day, 24 hours in advance, before 10 am, after 5 pm, or even on the weekends, depending upon your chosen provider's availability. To check a doctor's availability, click "Book Online" and "View All Availability" to see appointment dates and times.
To help you make a quick decision, Zocdoc also provides each specialist's medical background, including clinical experience, specialties, certifications, licensures, awards, and accreditations. Additionally, you can also read through honest and verified patient reviews for the best providers in New York. FAQs listed on each surgeon's profile mention common reasons patients see them, office location, distance, general waiting time, hospital affiliations, spoken languages, and whether they accept new patients. If you have any issues with the process, you can refer to the patient help center.
All thanks to Zocdoc, finding the best pediatric orthopedic surgeon near you is now easier! All bookings on Zocdoc are fast, free, and secure!
Prevalence of pediatric orthopedic disorders, disabilities, and injuries in New York
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) underlines that there were roughly 73,299 active physicians in New York in 2018. The incidence of active general surgeons per 100,000 population is 10.2. Of the total physician workforce, an estimated 1,148 surgeons specialized in orthopedic surgery.
Data collected by the Information and Reporting Services (IRS) in 2021 showed that approximately 486,418 school-going children and youth in New York had some form of disability. Roughly 1,468 had an orthopedic impairment. Children between 6 and 11 accounted for the majority (over 700 cases) of orthopedic disabilities. Students aged 14-17 accounted for over 300 cases of orthopedic impairment. However, data collected from previous years, i.e., from 1996 to 2020, indicates a steady decline in the number of instances of orthopedic disabilities in school-age students.
Data collated in a 2013 New York State Department of Health report showed that, of pediatric emergency room visits, approximately 2.2% occurred for an upper limb fracture. Children aged 10-14 had the highest cases (4.6%). Fractures of the upper limb made up the fifth most common primary diagnosis for the same age group. Some standard procedures performed in pediatric emergency room visits were for fractures and dislocations. Nearly 32.1% of the total ER visits were due to falls. A record of pediatric inpatient discharges shows that some of the most frequent primary procedures are internal fixation (connecting or fixing of fractured bones) of the humerus and femur and spinal fusion.
According to the Spina Bifida Association, an estimated 2.06 babies are born with Spina bifida per 10,000 births in New York. Over 4,000 people in New York are living with Spina bifida.
Sources
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons[1]
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons[2]
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons[3]
American Academy of Pediatrics
WebMD
Johns Hopkins Medicine[1]
Johns Hopkins Medicine[2]
Johns Hopkins Medicine[3]
Mayo Clinic[1]
Mayo Clinic[2]
Mayo Clinic[3]
Children's National Hospital
Stanford Medicine Children's Health
Association of American Medical Colleges
New York State Education Department
New York State Department of Health
Spina Bifida Association
WebMD
Verywell Health
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Cleveland Clinic
Florida Medical Clinic
