General

Abstract

So you have decided to read a book on pediatric orthopaedics — or are at least considering this as an option. You probably do not fully realize the risks involved in making such a decision. Perhaps you have already browsed through this book and noted the many schematic illustrations of impressive operations or x-rays of dreadful conditions and successful treatments. But such illustrations only relate to a small part of your work. As we all know, the term orthopaedics derives from the Greek words orthos (oϱθoζ) = straight and pais (παιζ) = child, or paideuein (παιδɛιɛν) = to educate, or train, children. A pediatric orthopaedist would thus be considered a “straight-trainer„. But when we actually try to quantify the work of the pediatric orthopaedist the following picture emerges:

• 1. Orthopaedic counseling : Explaining to the parents that the child is ”straight“ enough, that the condition is harmless and will not have any consequences in later life: 70%

• 2. Conservative treatment : ”Straight-training“ by non-invasive means (physical therapy, plaster casts, orthoses): 20%

• 3. Surgical treatment: ”Straight-training“ by surgical means, the actual hands-on practice of the ”orthopaedic surgeon“: 10%