CRC PEDTRC ORTHPDCS PDF

Preface

Mastering the science and art of Paediatric Orthopaedics entails acquisition of theoretical knowledge, development of surgical dexterity and learning the process of clinical decision-making. Of these three components of learning that form the foundation of Paediatric Orthopaedics, clinical decision-making is arguably the most important.

Making good decisions in Paediatric Orthopaedics can be daunting, particularly as the consequences of an inappropriate decision are far-reaching. An error in judgement could lead to disability for life. Seeking guidance from the standard sources of medical literature may be confusing; it is often replete with different ways to treat the conditions encountered in clinical practice. Orthopaedic reference books frequently list several treatments for a particular problem. How does one make the correct choices? Which option should one choose for a particular patient? What governs the surgeon's choice of a particular treatment? This book attempts to answer these questions.

In Paediatric Orthopaedics: A System of Decision-Making we provide a guide to management for a wide spectrum of Paediatric Orthopaedic conditions. At its inception we identified the conditions, mostly common and some occasional, that most surgeons in a Paediatric Orthopaedic practice are likely to encounter. The need to include some uncommon conditions is to provide the reader insight into decision-making trees where choices are not always made on science alone but are governed also by social issues or patient preference.

We have strived to make the book readable, clear and instructive. There will always be omissions in any textbook on a subject as vast as this and, for the sake of brevity, we have avoided detailed descriptions of surgical procedures - there are many established standard textbooks on this area. As in all other areas of medicine, each outline of management is not the only way to approach a particular clinical problem. However, we have provided the rationale for adopting the recommended treatment strategy in light of published evidence and our joint experience.

Since clinical decision-making is likely to be most difficult for those who are in training and for the junior consultant in the field, this book is specifically targeted at these two groups. We hope this book will serve as a useful starting point for the young orthopaedic surgeon to evolve a reasoned and balanced approach in his or her own practice of Paediatric Orthopaedics.