Many people wonder why we use the original spelling of Orthopaedics.
The term comes from 2 Greek words:
orthos - meaning "straight"
and
paidon - meaning "children"
In olden days, the Orthopaedist worked to straighten children who were deformed or handicapped by paralyzing diseases, mostly polio. Fractures were cared for by the general surgeons, and there was no good treatment for arthritis, anyway. By appropriate bracing and judicious surgeries to change muscle balance and limb structure, children who were deformed could be coaxed into "growing straighter". Thus, the symbol of Orthopaedics, a growing tree lashed to a stake, encouraging it to grow straighter. This term was originated in 1741 by the "father" of Orthopaedics, Nicolas Andry.
Why we frown on "Orthopod":
The term, pod, comes from the root for "foot", as in Podiatry. We do take care of the foot as part of the Musculoskeletal System, but it is certainly not our main, or only, concern.
