The musculoskeletal system supports our posture and stability, permits movement, protects vital organs and circulates blood. When it doesn’t work well, pain and dysfunction are often the result.
Your orthopedic doctor may start by recommending nonsurgical treatments, which can include: Splints or casts to immobilize an injury; braces; painkillers like acetaminophen and NSAIDs; steroid injections; physical therapy; and surgery for severe problems.
Joint Replacement
Wear and tear, injury and conditions like arthritis can take a toll on the body’s joints, leading to pain and stiffness. If nonsurgical treatments don’t provide lasting relief, an orthopedist may recommend surgery.
During joint replacement surgery (also known as arthroplasty), an orthopedic surgeon removes damaged cartilage and replaces it with artificial components made of plastic, metal or ceramic. These new components allow the joint to bend and straighten. They also provide stability and allow you to return to activities like walking, golfing and playing sports that involve jumping.
Before your operation, the surgeon will review your health history and conduct a physical exam. They will also order blood tests and a heart test to ensure you’re healthy enough for the procedure. They’ll also give you educational materials to help you prepare for your surgery. They’ll explain what to expect during and after surgery, including how to avoid complications. They’ll also advise you on how to keep the replaced joint healthy for as long as possible, such as avoiding high-impact activities.
Arthroscopic Surgery
Arthroscopy is a minimally-invasive surgical procedure that lets your doctor directly view and treat the inside of a joint. It can help diagnose and treat conditions that affect cartilage, the tissues that line joints, and the synovium, which produces fluid that lubricates the joint.
During the procedure, your doctor will insert an arthroscope into the affected joint through a small incision. They may also make other incisions to put in tools that do grasping, probing, or cutting.
Your doctor will give you either local or general anesthesia to numb the area around your knee. Once the procedure is complete, you’ll be moved from the operating room into a recovery room. Before you go home, your doctor will check your incisions and the surrounding area and instruct you on how to care for them and which activities to avoid. Follow your doctor’s instructions for a speedy and healthy recovery. The recovery time varies by patient. Follow-up visits will help you track your progress and recovery.
Spine Surgery
With 206 bones and some 650 muscles, the musculoskeletal system supports and positions your body, permits movement and circulates blood. But sometimes injuries or dysfunction occur. An orthopedist treats these problems with medications, physical therapy and surgery.
Orthopedists who specialize in spine care treat back complaints like slipped vertebral discs and spinal stenosis. They also perform spinal surgeries such as spinal fusion.
For a spinal operation, you’re placed under general anesthesia. During the procedure, your surgeon makes a cut in your neck or back over the spine. Tools called retractors hold your muscles and tissue apart to expose the spine.송파정형외과
To fuse two or more spinal bones together, your surgeon uses bone tissue from elsewhere in your body (autograft), or a synthetic bone-like material (allograft). He or she may also use hardware—screws and plates to help strengthen the fusion. This is done to reduce pain, improve spinal alignment and provide stability to the spine. This is often used to treat scoliosis and kyphosis, which are abnormal curves in the spine.
Trauma Surgery
Trauma surgery is a specialized form of orthopedics that deals with emergency and severe injuries. Patients are quickly assessed and diagnosed to determine which injuries are most critical to their life or limbs.강동역정형외과 This is often done with the help of radiographic X-rays and CT scans as well as MRIs. The surgeon then works closely with emergency staff in resuscitative and stabilization efforts.
Sports injuries and car accidents can cause shattered bones and other severe wounds that require trauma surgery. Severe burns can also necessitate this type of surgery.
Infection is a common complication of this surgery and is treated with antibiotics and surgical drainage or debridement. Other complications include nerve and organ damage. When choosing an orthopedist, look for one with extensive training and an accredited fellowship in a sub-specialty of trauma surgery. This information is typically listed on their profile. It is an indicator of their expertise and commitment to the specialty. They also likely handle care coordination and referrals for their patients, reducing the stress on you and your family.