Orthopedic impairment is defined as a child’s disability relating to a bone, joint, or muscle, that is severe enough to directly affect the child’s educational performance. It can be caused by many different factors including genetic abnormalities, disorders such as cerebral palsy, or an injury that has caused a missing limb or has impaired a muscle.
The extent to which a child’s education is affected can vary greatly, depending on the level of impairment. Many children with an orthopedic impairment do still have normal cognitive abilities, so these children require mainstream education wherever possible and in the least restrictive environment as appropriate.
Causes of Orthopedic Impairment
Some of the main reasons why children have orthopedic impairments include the following:
Orthopedic disorders include defects or disorders of the bones and muscles, such as a limb deficiency. A child may be missing part or all of a limb due to trauma, disease, or a birth disorder such as clubfoot.
Clubfoot is a fairly common birth defect in which a baby is born with their foot or feet pointing downward and inward, with the soles of the feet facing inward toward one another, due to shortened tendons. In about 50% of all cases of clubfoot, both feet are affected. Early treatment for clubfoot is recommended before the baby is walking.
A neuromotor impairment involves the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). The impairment affects the child’s ability to move, feel, or use certain parts of the body. Spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and spinal injuries are types of neuromotor impairments.
The most common motor and movement disability in children is cerebral palsy. This actually refers to a group of permanent conditions that affect movement and coordination, and it can develop before, during, or soon after birth. Symptoms are usually not obvious at birth but become more apparent within 2-3 years.
Degenerative diseases such as muscular dystrophy affect motor movement, and they are characterized by the structure or function of a body tissue progressively worsening. Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of genetic disorders that cause a loss of muscle mass and progressive weakness over time. There are treatments available to help many people manage their muscular dystrophy.
Orthopedic Impairments from Other Causes
An orthopedic impairment can also result from other factors such as an amputation, injury due to an accident, or severe burns that have resulted in damage to the bones and muscles.
Joint deformities such as developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a birth defect resulting in the ball-and-socket joint not developing properly in babies and young children. This causes the hip joint to be loose and, in some cases, leads to hip dislocation. If left untreated, it can prevent the hip joint from developing properly and lead to hip pain, reduced function, and osteoarthritis in the child.
Orthopedic Care in Little Rock, Arkansas
If you have an orthopedic impairment or a musculoskeletal issue that is impacting your quality of life, contact board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Hefley for an evaluation and to discuss your treatment options. Dr. Hefley treats a broad range of orthopedic conditions and injuries, and he specializes in treating shoulder, hip, and knee conditions.
While Dr. Hefley is highly experienced in performing arthroscopic and minimally invasive joint replacement surgery, he also uses an array of nonsurgical modalities – including stem cell and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy – to treat orthopedic injuries and conditions. The medical staff at Bowen Hefley Orthopedics is here to improve your quality of life and get you moving again.
If you would like more information about our services, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hefley at one of our convenient locations, call us today at (800) 336-2412, or you can use our convenient online appointment request form. We look forward to seeing you here!