Orthopedics is a medical field that addresses conditions and diseases that affect your muscles and musculoskeletal system. This includes you:
- Bones
- Muscles
- Ligaments & Tendons
- Joints
- Nerves
Many people see an orthopedic physician when they are injured or have a chronic condition (such as arthritis or lower back discomfort).
This article will better understand what orthopedic doctor do and how they treat the conditions.
What Are The Duties Of An Orthopedic Surgeon?
Orthopedic doctors sometimes referred to as orthopedic surgeons, focus on helping patients with musculoskeletal concerns. Their duties include:
- Diagnostic and treatment of conditions affecting your musculoskeletal health
- Rehabilitation, which assists you in regaining strength, range, motion, and flexibility after injury or surgery
- Strategies to prevent injury or prevent chronic conditions from worsening, like arthritis.
While orthopedic doctors know the entire musculoskeletal structure, some opt for specialized training. Here are some subspecialties of orthotics:
- Spine
- Hip and knee
- Hand
- Shoulder and elbow
- Foot and ankle
- Sports medicine
- Trauma surgery
What Kind Of Procedures Do They Use?
Orthopedic doctors recommend various procedures and treatments for each condition they treat.
Let’s see some of them in detail below.
Nonsurgical Treatment
These types are also known as conservative treatments. Orthopedic physicians will often recommend surgery before they focus on nonsurgical options.
The following are some nonsurgical treatments:
Exercises: Your Orthopedic Doctor may recommend specific exercises or stretch to help you maintain or improve strength, flexibility, or range of motion within a particular area.
The immobilization of an area: Occasionally, it can reduce strain. Braces are one example of immobilization.
Medication: Your doctor may recommend medications to reduce symptoms such as pain and swelling. There are many over–the–counter medications that can be used to relieve symptoms like pain and swelling. They may also prescribe prescription drugs and anti-inflammatory medication.
Lifestyle changes: Your orthopedic surgeon can also assist with lifestyle changes. These changes can include modifications to your exercise, diet, or how you exercise to prevent further injury.
Surgical Treatments
Sometimes, a condition/injury doesn’t improve, even with conservative measures. In these instances, your doctor may recommend that you undergo surgery. An example of an operation performed by an orthopedic surgeon is:
Joint repair: Joint replacement is the replacement of damaged or diseased portions of a joint. This is usually secondary to arthritis. Examples include Knee Replacement and Hip Replacement Surgery.
Internal fixation: It involves placing hardware such as screws, plates, and rods to keep broken bones in place while they heal.
Fusion: These are bones graft and some internal fixation. They connect two bones. As bone tissue heals and fuses, one bone is formed. This technique is common in neck and spine surgery.
Soft Tissue Repair: This surgery is used for severely injured muscles, ligaments, or tendons.
A type of procedure that is used for carpal tunnel symptoms. It relieves symptoms and reduces pressure on the median nerve.
When to See an Orthopedist?
If you have:
- Chronic, recurring pain or swelling of a bone, joint, or muscle that doesn’t respond or isn’t responding to at-home medical care
- A significant decrease or loss of mobility in a joint like your knees, elbows, or shoulders
- It isn’t easy to perform your daily tasks.
- Nerve-related symptoms: tingling sensation in your legs and arms or pins & needles in your arms or legs.
- A fracture to a bone/joint that needs specialist attention