CME expires May 31, 2028

Improve patient care and advance your clinical skills in orthopaedics.

The Pediatric Orthopaedic Care Series provides a detailed and thorough guide for physician assistants and allied health professionals specializing in orthopaedic care. The Pediatric Orthopaedic Care Series explores pediatric orthopaedics, focusing on the clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and management of musculoskeletal conditions in children. The material emphasizes the crucial principle that children are not just small adults, underscoring the unique anatomic, physiologic, and developmental factors that influence pediatric orthopaedic disorders. The course reviews the evaluation of growth-related conditions, injury patterns, congenital deformities, and overuse injuries that frequently arise in the active pediatric population.

Immerse yourself in expert-led modules and technique videos from Essentials of Musculoskeletal Care, ed 6, each of which was carefully selected to enhance your knowledge of pediatric anatomy, diagnostic modalities, and treatment options. Complement your learning with targeted readings from the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS), access to the latest research via links to PubMed, and select AAOS videos.

This series offers a focused, comprehensive guide on the management of pediatric conditions, from common injuries to complex pathology. It is the perfect tool for healthcare professionals looking to improve patient care and advance their clinical skills in orthopaedics. Join us to deepen your knowledge and stay at the forefront of pediatric orthopaedics.

Editors

Marlene DeMaio, MD, FAAOS

Matthew Colman, MD, FAAOS

Learning Objectives

• Describe the unique considerations associated with pediatric musculoskeletal disorders, emphasizing growth plate physiology and remodeling potential.
• Differentiate common developmental lower limb deformities (genu varum, genu valgum, femoral torsion) from pathologic conditions requiring management.
• Assess pediatric patients with diverse skin tones, identifying key indicators of inflammation, bruising, and vascular abnormalities beyond skin color changes.
• Perform and interpret specialized physical examinations, including hip internal/external rotation, limb-length discrepancy measurement, and gait analysis.
• Identify and manage pediatric neuromuscular disorders, such as cerebral palsy, and examine their effects on musculoskeletal development and joint stability.
• Diagnose and manage physeal fractures based on the Salter-Harris classification system and review associated long-term risks for growth arrest and deformity.
• Implement imaging and clinical evaluation protocols to detect child abuse based on injury patterns, including metaphyseal corner fractures and posterior rib fractures.
• Apply current guidelines for concussion evaluation and management in pediatric athletes using tools such as the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 and appropriate return-to-play protocols.
• Recognize and manage overuse injuries, such as Little Leaguer's elbow, in young athletes, with an emphasis on prevention, management, and pitch-count guidelines.
• Evaluate and manage common pediatric fractures of the tibia, femur, and distal forearm, using age-specific treatment techniques and predicting remodeling outcomes.
• Identify differential diagnoses for limping in children based on age, integrating the patient history, physical examination findings, and appropriate imaging studies.
• Counsel families and young athletes on appropriate sports participation, emphasizing readiness stages, overuse injury prevention, and long-term musculoskeletal health.

Earn up to 20 AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits™.