Orthopedic examination in infancy
Time passes remarkably quickly in terms of child development and without anyone realizing it, the infant acquires the necessary motor stages and now passes into the toddler age which is defined as approximately between 2-5 years.
As a rule, a person walks between 9-19 months with an average of around a year.
He may or may not crawl without this being pathological. The time of walking is genetically predetermined without underestimating the encouragement from the parents by providing the appropriate space and time for this. However, the so-called walker is not recommended because it forces the skeleton into an early stance before the child is mature for it, while it is responsible for injuries.
After this period of time and if the child does not walk, a neurological and developmental investigation is recommended.
Many children start walking with the so-called idiopathic tiptoeing. This definitely stops by the age of 3. If it persists, it also requires a general evaluation of the child as well as physical therapy.
During infancy, there is a normal elimination of the arch of the foot, i.e. flat feet. Without adopting the strictness of the past, if it persists after 4 years, the use of orthopedic footwear with special specifications for better support and development is discussed. To the very frequent question of parents about the right children’s shoe, we answer that it should be a boot with a stable sole and an arch on the inner inner side, preferably leather.
The axis of the lower extremities is also subject to constant changes at this age. From raibogonia where the knees are distant to blaisogonia where they converge.
Again, at the age limit of 3-4 years, the permanent axis will have formed, so earlier we simply observe the development. Permanent severe radiculopathy requires close monitoring because it can develop into Blount disease, where the treatment is surgical, later, in late childhood. The same applies when the otherwise benign deformation of the shaft causes aesthetic and functional problems, in which case the solution is again surgical. Shoes or splints have no place here.
Children of course in infancy can suffer many types of injuries and injuries as well as fractures that sometimes have a different treatment but are usually conservative and relatively short.
A common condition is painful pronation that occurs with a sharp pull of the upper limb. The child hurts and does not raise the arm. Because the upper end of the radius has moved out of place, the restoration is done with a special reduction manipulation only by a doctor.
Infancy is very interesting from an orthopedic point of view because the child’s body is subject to constant changes, but also because nature restores many of the problems without intervention.
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