* Ortho (ὀρθός) - meaning "straight" or "correct"
* Pedia (παιδίον) - meaning "child"
Therefore, the root meaning of orthopedics is "the correction of deformities in children".
However, the field of orthopedics has evolved to encompass much more than just correcting deformities in children. Today, it refers to the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the musculoskeletal system. This includes bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves.
While the historical focus was on children, orthopedics now treats patients of all ages.