The Role of Orthopedics in Child Development

Dear Colleagues,

The origin of the word orthopaedics comes from the Greek words for “straightening the child.” The earliest orthopedics and orthopedic centers dealt primarily with deformities of the spine feet (clubfeet), and lower extremities (rickets and congenital hip dysplasia). Modern day orthopedics has a much wider base and represents a gradual union of the practitioners of childhood deformity correction, the reduction of fractures, management of extremity, and replacement of arthritic joints.

Orthopaedics in the 21st century consists of a series of subspecialties: hand, lower extremity trauma, upper extremity injury, spine surgery, pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine, and joint replacement. Frequently, a given practitioner may subspecialize in several areas such as pediatrics and sports medicine.

The area of pediatric sports medicine is one of the most recent areas of specialized expertise in musculoskeletal medicine. This encompasses sports trauma to the young athlete, the exercise physiology of the sport’s active child, and the prevention of injury to young athletes.

The interaction disciplines of child development and pediatric orthopedics are fertile areas for translational study. It is known that growth, and in particular the growth spurt, can be a risk factor for musculoskeletal injury. In addition, injuries to the growth plate of the upper or lower extremity can result in a loss of linear bone growth or angular deformity, adversely affecting the child's growth and development.

The role of organized sports exercise in the physical and psychological development of the child is receiving increased attention. Close collaboration of the multiple disciplines and practices addressing the safety and efficacy of childhood exercise and the resulting growth maturation of the whole child is an important goal for all practitioners dealing with the growing child.

Dr. Lyle J. Micheli
Dr. Dai Sugimoto
Guest Editors

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