With developments in pediatric orthopedics, children can now be treated for bone and health defects, allowing them to live a normal and independent life.
Dr. Ratnav Ratan is a Delhi-based pediatric orthopedic surgeon who can diagnose, treat, and even manage youngsters’ bone, muscle, and joint problems. He can treat scoliosis, clubfoot, limb length disparities, gait problems, bone or joint infections, and malignancies, among other limb and spine deformities. He is a pediatric orthopaedist since he has medical and surgical expertise to treat children with such problems.
If your child has a bone, joint, or muscle problem, visit Dr. Ratnav to find the best treatment for them. Let’s start with a basic grasp of juvenile orthopedic issues and their therapies to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment:
Deformities of the Clubfoot
The infant’s feet curve inward at birth, indicating clubfoot abnormalities. The bottoms of the feet will be facing upward or sideways. They must be addressed as soon as possible after delivery, or the baby will not walk normally. With prompt and appropriate therapy, the infant will be able to walk normally and participate in various physical activities as they grow older.
Treatment
The pediatric orthopedist will use nonsurgical treatments such as stretching, casting, and bracing shortly after birth. After non-surgical procedures have failed to repair the deformity, the orthopedist will recommend surgical options. Adjusting the tendons, ligaments, and joints in the foot and ankle are among the surgical alternatives.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy patients are unable to control their muscular movement and coordination. Cerebral palsy is caused by impairment to the brain regions that control movement and coordination.
This harm can occur before, during, or after birth and throughout the first year of life. According to Dr. Ratnav Ratan, the best pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Gurgaon, signs of cerebral palsy include delays in sitting, rolling over, crawling, or even walking.
Treatment
Cerebral palsy is a condition that necessitates a thorough approach to treatment. For better mobility, the pediatric orthopaedist will recommend surgery to rectify the position of the child’s arms or legs or the curvature of the spine. Orthopedics, physical therapy, speech therapy, psychology, behavioral therapy, and other treatments may be used.
The goal is to increase muscle strength and coordination while also improving balance. Braces, splints, and casts may be used, as well as Botox injections, muscle relaxants, and drugs to avoid joint stiffness and seizures.
Legs bowed, and knees knocked.
The feet contact each other with bowed legs (genu varum), but the knees do not. This is a hereditary disorder that a nutritional deficiency can also cause.
The knees contact but the ankles do not in the knock knees (genu valgum) condition. These issues can affect both toddlers and teenagers. As children get older, they usually outgrow these issues.
Treatment
A pediatric orthopedist should evaluate the condition. If the child has been diagnosed with Blount’s disease, a brace or surgery to protect the shinbone area is recommended.
If the kid has rickets, surgery to correct bowed legs, such as assisted growth and tibial osteotomy, may be required. Both of these procedures are done on the shinbone to improve leg alignment.
Infection of the Musculoskeletal System
Infections involving the joints, bones, and muscles, such as an abscess in the soft tissue, muscle, or bones, are referred to as musculoskeletal infections.
Other infections include osteomyelitis, a bone infection, and myositis, a bacterial infection of the muscle. Septic arthritis is an infection of the joint, whereas pyomyositis is a muscle abscess. Bacteria cause the majority of illnesses.
Treatment
Antibiotics are the primary therapeutic option. Septic arthritis may necessitate surgical excision of the affected tissue as well as the abscess. The pediatric orthopedist will test bone samples and fluids to determine whether antibiotics should treat the infection. Treatment for bone infections takes about 4 to 6 weeks, whereas therapy for joint and muscle infections takes three weeks.
Treatment for Flat Feet
Flatfoot is a relatively minor ailment. It is also observed in infants. As these children grow and walk, the arches of their feet form. Only if the child complains of painful feet should they see a doctor. When adolescent children complain of pain around the bottom of their feet, they should see a pediatric orthopedist.
Treatment
Stretching exercises for the heel cord and shoe inserts for more significant support are part of the first treatment. If the pain does not go away, surgical treatment is recommended. By extending the tight tendons, the goal will be to produce an arch and relieve discomfort. One foot will be operated on at a time by the surgeon.
Thumb Trigger
Trigger thumb is a condition in which the thumb feels as though it is locking or catching as it is moved. This illness, known as stenosing tenosynovitis, can affect digits other than the thumb in some cases. It can also induce stiffness and pain.
Treatment
Nonsurgical treatment will be recommended by the pediatric orthopedist, which will involve not using the finger, wearing a splint at night to keep the finger straight, and exercising the finger to minimize stiffness and improve range of motion. To treat pain and inflammation, the surgeon may prescribe medications and steroid injections. Only surgery is recommended to prevent pervasive stiffness. Tenolysis, or trigger finger release, is the name of the surgical operation.
Treatment for Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a spine ailment in which the spine slopes sideways into an S or C shape. It affects the spine’s middle and lower sections. It affects youngsters as young as 10 years old and gets worse as they get older. The majority of scoliosis cases have no known cause.
Treatment
Treatment is determined mainly by the severity of scoliosis and the child’s overall health. If the infant is still developing, the orthopedic surgeon may start bracing to maintain the spine and prevent further curving. When the curve in the spine does not improve after bracing, and the curve measures 45 degrees, surgery for scoliosis is recommended.
Hand with Radial Club
Radial dysplasia, often known as radial club hand, is a disorder in which the radial bone is short or missing at birth. According to Dr. Ratnav Ratan, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Gurgaon, the ailment causes the thumb side of the hand and wrist to curve inwards more towards the forearm. A child with this condition has a shorter forearm than a typical child. The length of the radius and the twisting of the wrist are used to grade this condition. Radial club hand is a complication of bacterial syndrome that occurs during pregnancy.
Treatment
Exercises, wearing a splint, or surgery to position the thumb or wrist correctly are all options for radial club hand treatment. Parents should seek counseling and support to adjust to a lifestyle that is appropriate for children with this illness.