Pediatric Orthopedics: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview
Pediatric Orthopedics is the medical subspecialty focused on musculoskeletal problems in infants, children, and adolescents. It is a clinical **concept** that includes evaluation and management of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and the spine during growth. It is commonly used in outpatient clinics, emergency settings, inpatient consult services, and perioperative care. Its distinguishing feature is that diagnosis and treatment are interpreted through the lens of open growth plates and ongoing skeletal development.