MDR 845: Pediatric Orthopedics Elective

The student will participate in the comprehensive management of musculoskeletal conditions and traumatic injuries in the pediatric population. Clinical responsibilities will include obtaining an age-appropriate, condition-specific history; performing a focused pediatric orthopedic physical examination; and contributing to the management of trauma and deformities through both conservative and surgical approaches. In the operating room, the student will assist in surgical procedures relevant to pediatric orthopedics, including fracture fixation, guided growth procedures, deformity correction, and spine surgery when applicable. The student will also gain hands-on experience in setting up traction, performing closed reductions, and applying casts or orthoses, with particular attention to pediatric-specific considerations such as growth plate preservation, anesthesia safety, and postoperative care. Outside the operating room, the student will participate in outpatient clinics and the emergency room, developing skills in patient interviews, physical examinations, diagnostic evaluation, and management of common pediatric orthopedic conditions, including both traumatic injuries and neuromuscular pathologies.