Orthopaedics 

Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that emphasises the care of the musculoskeletal system of the body. A person who specialises in orthopedics is called an Orthopedic surgeon.

What is orthopaedics?

Orthopaedics is a study or a branch of medicine focusing on the skeletal system and its interconnecting parts. The interconnecting parts include

• Muscles
• Bones
• Joints
• Tendons and
• Ligaments.

Orthopaedics includes hands, chest, ankle, wrist, shoulder, neck, back, and hips.

An orthopaedic surgeon studies and treat the parts of orthopaedics bones /joints and musculoskeletal system .

What do orthopedic surgeon  treat?

Some of the conditions an orthopaedic surgeon can treat are

• Arthritis or joint pain
• Bone fractures
• Soft tissue injuries
• Neck pain
• Back pain
• Shoulder pain

Congenital conditions like club foot and spondylitis

What are orthopaedic health conditions?

Orthopaedic health conditions are injuries or diseases that can affect the body’s musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, muscles, joints, nerves and tendons.

Damage incurred to any of the tissues comes from long-term orthopaedic diseases or also from an injury. Some of the general orthopaedic causes include

Acute injuries

Injuries like bone fractures and dislocated joints can cause orthopaedic conditions.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a health condition where there is joint inflammation causing pain. When a person has arthritis, they experience joint damage and loss of joint function.

Muscle atrophy

Muscle atrophy is when a loss of muscle tissue can cause weakness or difficulty in moving. It can occur if there is minimal use of muscles, like being bedridden or damaged nerves that control muscle movement.

Bursitis

Bursitis is irritation or inflammation of the bursa, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the ligaments, tendons or joints that move over the bones.

 There is no specific cause for this health condition. Damage or inflammation in tenders or other connecting parts in the musculoskeletal system can cause such illness.

How will a doctor diagnose orthopaedics?

During the initial appointment, a doctor works on a person’s condition and analyses their symptoms.

They perform physical examinations, take x-rays or use in-office procedures like injections to help them diagnose and treat the health condition.

For diagnosis, an orthopaedic surgeon will

• Ask about a patient’s symptoms.
• Review a person’s medical record and understand their medical history
• Conduct physical examination and x-ray before an appointment.

Diagnosing orthopaedics health conditions is done with the help of

• MRI scan
• CT scan
• Ultrasound
• Bone scan
• Blood test and
• Nerve conduction studies.

How is an orthopaedic condition treated?

An orthopedic surgeon will have various opinions or options for treating the condition. These doctors treat multiple conditions like bone fractures, strain joint pain, back pain, arthritis and bone cancer.

For long-term musculoskeletal disorders like back pain, a doctor recommends one or more treatments to effectively treat the health condition and manage symptoms.

• Over-the-counter medications
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Rehabilitation
• Physical therapy or surgeries
• Injections
• Mobility exercises
• Health surgeries
• Acupuncture and
• Nonsurgical methods.

Some of the surgical procedures involve

Total joint replacement

Total joint replacement is also known as arthroplasty. It is a surgical procedure that replaces the damaged part of the joint with metal or plastic.

Arthroscopic surgery

This surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses the help of an arthroscopic device to diagnose joint problems.

With the help of a long camera, a doctor will insert a device into a person’s joint to monitor it. By making tiny incisions, surgeons can use small instruments to fix various problems in the knee or shoulders.

Fracture repair

An orthopaedic surgeon operates to repair and stabilise a broken bone. To stabilise the bone, the surgeon uses various implants like rods, plates, wires, or screws to fix the bone and reduce immobility.

Bone graft surgery

During bone grafting surgery, a surgeon will use the bone from elsewhere in the body to replace, repair or strengthen the disease and damage to bones.

Spinal fusion

Spinal fusion surgery is a procedure that adjoins vertebrates of the spine together and allows vertebrae to heal into a single bone.

This surgery is performed for different back or neck problems.

Nonsurgical treatments

A few treatments are called conservative treatments that focus on nonsurgical procedures before recommending surgeries.

Some of the nonsurgical treatments are as follows.

Exercises

A doctor would recommend specific exercises to strengthen the particular area, improve mobility flexibility and also make surgery fit.

Immobilisation

The idea of immobilisation is the simple concept of preventing additional strain or stress in an area so that it can heal better.

Medication

Medications are prescribed by a doctor to relieve the symptoms experienced by a person.

Symptoms like swelling or pain can be contained with the help of over-the-counter medication.

Making lifestyle changes

A doctor will also suggest making lifestyle changes that can involve changing physical activities and diet and restricting specific movements to prevent aggravation of the injury.

Went to consult a doctor?

• Medical intervention is required if a person has excessive pain or swelling in a bone, joint muzzle or a tendon that is persistent or re-occurring and is not responding to home treatment.

• A decreased mobility or the range of motion of a joint causes difficulty in moving and performing everyday routine  can feel like a herculean task.

• Related symptoms like numbness and pain in the arms or legs.

• Injuries to bone or joint that requires special attention.

If a person exhibits any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is mandatory to have medical supervision to assist them and help them recover.

It is better to consult a doctor during the first sign of trouble the body exhibits with the bones, joints or muscles.

Usually, the problem arises due to strain or excessive use, but it is better to consult a doctor as soon as possible to avoid complications or serious injuries.

To sum up

Orthopaedics is the speciality in medicine that focuses on creating conditions related to the musculoskeletal system. Some health conditions are congenital, meaning they are present at birth, while others may occur due to age-related muscle overuse (wear and tear) or injury.

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