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Orthopedics
Overview
Orthopedics is a medical specialty that deals with the study of the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system comprises bones, ligaments, tendons, joints, and muscles. An orthopedic surgeon is a doctor who diagnoses, prescribes treatment, and helps with rehabilitation when a patient suffers issues relating to the musculoskeletal system.
They can also help develop long-term strategies to treat orthopedic disorders. They are certified to perform many surgical procedures associated with the locomotive apparatus.
Modern orthopedics have expanded their expertise to treat complex cases of acquired and congenital skeletal deformities, degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, metatarsalgia, and others. Orthopedics made use of heavy braces, splints, and traditional casts erstwhile, which have now been reformed to utilize bone grafts and artificial joints or prosthesis for bones damaged by diseases, in addition to exclusive footwear, prosthetic limbs, and braces to restore mobility. Besides traditional therapies, orthopedic surgeons combine techniques from physical medicine and rehabilitation, and occupational therapies to treat a specific case efficiently.
Specialty areas of Orthopedics:
The musculoskeletal system in the body is supremely vast and hence, requires areas of specialty. Orthopedic surgeons, apart from consulting for regular injuries, may bend towards specializing in subspecialties to improve patient experience when being treated. Enlisted here are the subspecialties that require additional extensive study:
1. Foot and ankle surgeon
Foot and ankle orthopedic specialists efficiently treat complex lower extremity conditions along with the rest of the body. They explicitly assess foot issues yet can likewise evaluate other orthopedic issues that may be contributing to foot and ankle pain.
2. Hand or upper extremity surgeon
The complex structures of the upper extremities comprising the hand, wrist, and elbow require specialized care. Hand surgeons provide treatment of hands and wrists including trauma, occupational injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and more.
3. Orthopedic sports medicine
As the name suggests, Sports medicine doctors are orthopedic specialists who work with injuries related to athletes and those with musculoskeletal wounds. They are trained to address any issue that is associated with sports – ranging from joint pain to osteoarthritis to nutrition.
4. Joint preservation
Joint preservation is a surgical technique to preserve a deteriorating joint to delay or avoid joint replacement surgery. Such procedures reduce the risk of complications from implant surgery and infection and require a specialist.
5. Orthopedic surgery of the spine
An orthopedic spine surgeon is a specialist concerned with the spine or back and neck.
6. Orthopedic trauma
An orthopedic trauma surgeon specializes in treating complex fractures, broken bones, dislocated joints, and other injuries occurring due to traumatic accidents.
Conditions that Orthopedics treat:
Orthopedic surgeons usually deal with injuries or disorders associated with hard (Bones) and soft (tendons and ligaments) tissues of the body that may be long-term or short-term.
- Arthritis - Inflammation of the joints
- Bursitis - Inflammation or irritation of the bursa sac containing fluid that reduces friction during joint movements.
- Chronic pain in the muscles and joints
- Non-cancerous (benign) tumors
- Sarcomas and metastatic tumors
- Bone Fracture
- Muscle injury
What procedures do Orthopedic surgeons perform?
Orthopedic surgeons may utilize both, surgical and non-surgical lines of treatment to cure musculoskeletal injury, spine ailments, sports injuries, degenerative and genetic disorders, and tumors. Given below are some of the most common types of orthopedic surgical procedures:
- Fusion: It is a method of aligning fractured bones using bone grafts, rods, and screws.
- Soft Tissue Repair: Orthopedic surgeons perform a wide range of soft tissue surgeries that involve the mending of soft tissue, such as torn tendons or ligaments in the body.
- Internal Fixation: Internal fixation holds fractured bones in the correct position and immobilizes their movement. It is done using metal plates, pins, or screws.
- Osteotomy: Cutting or trimming of bone for removing thin and weak layers of bone, aligning the maligned bones, etc. is called Osteotomy.
- Joint Replacement and Arthroscopy: When a joint is damaged beyond repair, it may require replacement with an artificial prosthesis to make it functional. This procedure is called Joint replacement surgery. Arthroscopy is a minor surgical procedure that involves making small incisions and inserting a camera to diagnose and treat the issue. This involves hip replacement surgeries, knee replacement surgeries, shoulder rotator cuff surgery, hand and wrist surgery.
- ACL Surgery: The ACL, or Anterior Cruciate Ligament, is one of the major ligaments in the knee often damaged or torn when playing sports. In this procedure, a tendon or ligament is taken from a donor site (another part of your body) and used to build a new ACL for the knee.
Risk Factors and Prevention of Orthopedic Issues:
The symptoms of orthopedic issues vary depending on the specific condition and part of the body. Some signs and symptoms you should be aware of are:
- Fatigue combined with joint pain or swelling
- The unusual appearance of a joint
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness
- Joint stiffness
- Limited range of motion
- Muscle spasms
- Pain in the joints
- Swelling of the injured or diseased area
When should you visit an Orthopedic surgeon?
If you suffer from any pain or discomfort relating to the movement or have a limited range of motion, you must visit an orthopedic surgeon. If your body hurts, is stiff, or swollen, or you have injured your joints, bones, muscles, or ligaments, you may visit an orthopedic surgeon.
Services Offered
- Joint Replacement Surgery (Hip Replacement and Knee Replacement)
- Management of fractures / injuries
- Management of work related accidents & injuries
- Management of muscle pain & inflammation
- All types of arthritis and joint problems
- Low back pain management
- Management of joint problems
- Management of neck stiffness
- Management of sports injuries & sprains
- Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Management of Ligament Tear
- Soft Tissue Injures
