Pediatric orthopedics is a field of medicine that performs a serious task - identifying and correcting congenital and acquired developmental disorders of the bone and muscle systems in children.
The most common orthopedic diseases in children are:
- developmental disorders of the hip joints,
- clubfoot,
- congenital torticollis,
- flat-valgus foot positioning,
- scoliosis,
- congenital hip dislocation,
- posture disorders,
- flat feet.
The first orthopedic examination in Israel occurs immediately after the child's birth. At that time, the doctor can rule out or identify congenital pathologies in skeletal development that may lead to serious consequences later on. If no developmental deviations are detected at birth, the child still undergoes preventive examinations by a doctor in the early years of life. As the child grows and begins attending kindergarten and school, they spend a lot of time sitting and moving less, which can collectively lead to posture disorders. Therefore, orthopedic monitoring is required for both preschool and school-aged children.
It is essential to bring your child for a consultation with an orthopedic doctor in Israel if you notice any of the following signs of disease:
- changes in posture, position, or shape of any part of the body;
- walking or prolonged staying in one position causes pain;
- the child is lagging in physical development, has difficulty performing ordinary daily movements, and is clumsy.
In young children:
- the head of an infant is turned to the side and pressed against the shoulder,
- the child curls their toes, cannot bear weight on their foot, or twists their leg.
Diagnosis of developmental deviations in bones and joints in children should be conducted at the earliest age possible – this will facilitate the treatment process. Today, modern advancements in medicine in Israel allow for the application of new techniques in treatment that are effective and do not harm the child. The older the child becomes, the more challenging the recovery process will be. If all possible conservative treatment methods do not yield results, only then may surgical intervention be performed. After surgery, the child needs to periodically undergo conservative rehabilitation treatment courses to prevent recurrence of the condition.
Possible development of orthopedic pathologies in children can be avoided by paying close attention to their health, teaching them to maintain good posture, instilling a positive attitude towards sports, and regularly undergoing examinations by an orthopedic specialist.