What is Orthopedic Surgery?
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 Orthopedics?
What does orthopedic mean? 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.
Orthopedics includes the hands, chest, ankles, wrists, shoulders, neck, back, and hips.
An orthopedic surgeon studies and treats the parts of orthopedics : bones, joints, and the musculoskeletal system. There are many common orthopedic surgeries.
Orthopedics is also called orthopedic surgery. Orthopedic surgery refers to a medical speciality that concentrates on the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, ligaments, tendons, joints, muscles, and nerves.
What do Orthopedic Surgeon treat?
What is an orthopedic surgeon? The orthopedic surgeon will help treat orthopedic conditions.
Some of the conditions an orthopedic 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 Orthopedic Health Conditions?
Orthopedic 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 orthopedic diseases or an injury. Some of the general orthopedic causes include :
Acute injuries
Injuries like bone fractures and dislocated joints can cause orthopedic 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 tendons or other connecting parts in the musculoskeletal system can cause such illness.
How will a Doctor diagnose Orthopedics?
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 orthopedic surgeon will
- Ask about a patient's symptoms.
- Review a person's medical record and understand their medical history
- Conduct a physical examination and x-ray before an appointment.
Diagnosing orthopedics health conditions is done with the help of :
- MRI scan
- CT scan
- Ultrasound
- Bone scan
- Blood test and
- Nerve conduction studies.
How is an Orthopedic Condition treated?
An orthopedic surgeon will have various opinions or options for treating the condition. These doctors treat multiple conditions like bone fractures, strained 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 shoulder.
Fracture repair
An orthopedic 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 diseased and damaged bones.
Spinal fusion
Spinal fusion surgery is a procedure that joins 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 and flexibility, and make the 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, as well as restricting specific movements to prevent aggravation of the injury.
When to Consult a Doctor?
- Medical intervention is required if a person has excessive pain or swelling in a bone, joint, muscle, or tendon that is persistent or reoccurring and is not responding to home treatment.
- Decreased mobility or range of motion of a joint causes difficulty in moving, and performing everyday routines can feel like a herculean task.
- Related symptoms include numbness and pain in the arms or legs.
- Injuries to the bone or joint require 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 when the first sign of trouble the body exhibits is 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
Orthopedics is the speciality in medicine that focuses on treating 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.
The ortho medical term means straight or erect. When you talk about orthopaedic vs orthopedic, orthopedic and orthopaedic are various spellings for the same branch of medicine, and both of them are correct. The orthopedic is a common spelling in American English, while orthopaedic is a traditional spelling in British English. This blog may have taught you: What is a orthopedic surgeon? You could consult your doctor to know more information about orthopedic treatment.
FAQs
What is the function of orthopedics?
Orthopedic surgeons help to treat musculoskeletal problems and perform surgical or nonsurgical methods for various disorders of bones, joints, ligaments, tendons or muscles.
When should I see an orthopedic doctor?
An orthopedic doctor can come in handy when a person experiences joint, muscle, or bone pain.
They can help relieve pain, stiffness, and swelling with the help of medication or other treatments.
What is the most common disease in orthopedics?
Some of the common orthopedic health conditions are as follows:
1. Lower back pain
2. Hamstring injuries
3. Plantar fasciitis
4. Fracture and
5. Arthritis.
