Act now, so your child can move easier.

Watching your child grow and develop is one of the true pleasures of being a parent. But genetic issues and accidents may affect their bones and joints in unexpected ways, causing pain, slowing their growth and even stealing some of their newfound independence. With the right treatment under children’s orthopedic doctors, many of these issues may be corrected before they become bigger problems, helping you get your child back on a pain-free developmental track.

The way children’s bones grow has a significant impact on their quality of life as they get older. If they have scoliosis that curves their spine or a deformity in one of their legs, it can prevent them from playing sports or even walking properly. A child’s orthopedic health is only as good as the care they receive. That’s why you want your child to have access to experienced pediatric orthopedic surgeons across West Palm Beach, so they benefit from specialized children’s orthopedic care.

Pediatric Orthopedic Specialists

Pediatric orthopedic specialists focus on musculoskeletal (including bones, joints, the back and muscles) problems in children who are still growing, including newborns through teenagers, because the response to injury, infection or deformity in the musculoskeletal system of a growing child differs from that of an adult. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons work in specialty children’s orthopedic hospitals such as Palm Beach Children’s Hospital to ensure children with multiple medical conditions receive the multidisciplinary care they need from different pediatric specialists.

Pediatric orthopedic surgeons treat various conditions of a growing child’s musculoskeletal system, including:

• Limb and spine deformities noted at birth or later in life (clubfoot, scoliosis, limb length differences in the legs or arms)
• Gait abnormalities (limping)
• Broken bones
• Torn ligaments (anterior cruciate ligament injuries, rotator cuff tears)
• Tendinitis and bursitis
• Bone, joint and muscle infections 

Pediatric orthopedic surgeons also work with other pediatric specialists to treat complicated conditions such as:

• Bone tumors (including bone cancer)
• Cerebral palsy
• Juvenile arthritis 
• Muscular dystrophy
• Spina bifida

Scoliosis in Children

Scoliosis is a condition where the spine forms a curved line instead of a straight line. In some cases, the spine also rotates or twists like a corkscrew. While the spine can have small curves, having a curve that gets worse can be a risk for damaged joints and may cause arthritis. Large curves can also cause pain, and severe curves may cause lung problems.

Several types of scoliosis can affect children and adolescents, but the most common type is idiopathic scoliosis. While idiopathic scoliosis can affect toddlers and young children, this condition commonly occurs during puberty and girls are more likely to develop it than boys.

Scoliosis Causes
The cause of idiopathic scoliosis is still unknown, but research shows that it may be genetic. Other scoliosis causes, in general, include carrying a heavy backpack, bad posture and playing sports.

Symptoms of scoliosis
Scoliosis may be easy to see because it causes the body to tilt on one side, making one shoulder higher or causing one of the shoulder blades to stick out more than the other. However, often, scoliosis is not obvious. This is why healthcare providers include a scoliosis exam as part of the regular checkup. Some states also have school-based screening programs for scoliosis.

Scoliosis treatment
Scoliosis treatment may not be required in mild cases, but regular checkups are recommended to ensure the curve does not get worse. Keeping an eye on scoliosis in growing children is important because scoliosis is more likely to worsen while the bones are still growing. If this is the case, the pediatric orthopedic doctor may recommend wearing a brace until the bones stop growing. Pediatric orthopedic surgery might be necessary for severe cases of scoliosis, but rest assured, our pediatric orthopedic surgeons across West Palm Beach will consider nonsurgical treatments first before scoliosis surgery.

Pediatric Orthopedics at Palm Beach Children’s Hospital

If your child comes home from practice limping from a fall, you may need to see a specialist. Or you may also have questions about your child’s development and need to find the right doctor to answer those questions.

You may ask the following questions to your pediatric orthopedic doctor to help you learn more about your child’s condition as well as the treatment options recommended along with these conditions:

• Does this condition require a doctor with specialty training?
• Is it safe for my child to exercise, run and jump?
• Is there anything that my child should avoid doing?
• Will this condition cause my child any long-term problems?

When emergencies occur, you want the best treatment possible for your child as fast as you can get it. Palm Beach Children’s Hospital can help provide your family access to some of the best emergency care treatment around, explicitly designed for the needs of children. Learn more about Palm Beach Children’s Hospital emergency care here.

If your child’s condition isn’t life-threatening, you can schedule your visit online. That way, you can stay in the familiar surroundings of your home. Talk to one of our orthopedic specialists if you’ve got questions about your child’s orthopedic development.