The Specialized Field of a Pediatric Podiatrist

A pediatric podiatrist is a podiatric physician who specializes in the management of pediatric foot and ankle deformities. They can also get into careers that are even further specialized, such as pediatric foot and ankle surgeon or pediatric orthopedic foot specialist.

These pediatric specialists assess and manage pediatric congenital deformities (birth defects), acquired pediatric deformities, postoperative complications, fractures, lacerations, infections, and non-traumatic pediatric trauma problems, including sports injuries to the feet and ankles.

Specialties Pediatric Podiatrists Frequently Collaborate With

Pediatric podiatrists work closely with other disciplines such as general pediatrics, orthopedics (when dealing with lower limb developmental problems), neurology (when dealing with nerve impingement syndromes), radiology x-ray/CT/MRI imaging (when needed for diagnosis and therapy planning), pediatric podiatry physical/occupational therapists (when managing pediatric foot and ankle deformities and acquired pediatric foot problems), pediatric orthotics, pediatric prosthetics, pediatric urology, etc.

Deeper Specialties Within Pediatric Podiatry

A pediatric pedorthist is someone who performs pedorthic interventions on pediatric patients with lower limb disability or dysfunction to improve mobility in the daily activities of life, including walking, running, jumping, and other locomotion activities. Pediatric pedorthists are trained in the fitting of custom-designed and pre-fabricated pediatric footwear to treat lower limb disability or dysfunction, including neuromuscular foot disorders (spina bifida). Pediatric patients can have issues ranging from severely disabling lower limb problems causing them difficulty doing as little as walking across their bedroom floor to pediatric patients with milder ambulatory issues.

The pediatric foot and ankle surgical specialist is a pediatric physician who specializes in pediatric foot deformities and pediatric lower limb trauma problems, including fractures, lacerations (cuts), infections, and non-traumatic sports injuries. Pediatric foot surgeries are performed with the primary goal of improving or restoring the child’s/pediatric patient’s quality of life with minimal discomfort, optimal growth potential, and the maximum function that can be achieved from the available tissues (such as bones) after surgery.

Pediatric orthopedic surgeons work closely with other pediatric specialists such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric neurosurgeons, pediatric plastic surgeons, pediatric physiatrists, pediatric rheumatologists when dealing with complex acquired conditions and genetic syndromes.

An orthotist/prosthetist is a pediatric physical therapist whose goal is to provide pediatric patients with prescription pediatric orthoses and pediatric prostheses for mobility problems, reducing accidents, and achieving optimum function in activities of daily living (ADLs). Prosthetics devices are used by pediatric patients due to amputation, congenital limb differences, or neurological deficits such as stroke. Orthotic devices are used by pediatric patients with ambulatory problems such as club foot or other lower limb deformities.

Whether you are consulting a pediatric podiatrist or thinking of becoming one, hopefully, this information has given you a broader perspective of all the specialty covers.