About Orthopedic Doctors and Surgeons
Orthopedics is the study and treatment of deformities in muscle or bone. An orthopedic doctor is a physician specializing in orthopedics. In orthopedics, surgery is sometimes used, so it's important to have trained orthopedic surgeons. These personnel are the ones equipped to perform surgery. A lot of school is required for these positions. An orthopedic surgeon gets a bachelor's degree, four years in medical science, four or five years training in an orthopedic setting, and sometimes an additional year of specialized training on top of that.
What Do They Treat?
Tons of people see orthopedic doctors for various conditions or ailments. Some of these are noted herein.
Osteoporosis is a disease where bones become more brittle. It happens when there are hormonal changes that result in shrinking tissue around the bone, or it can be caused by a lack of calcium and Vitamin D. Osteoporosis can result in bone and muscle injuries and/or abnormalities. Thankfully, Orthopedic doctors are there for those with this dangerous condition.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic condition that usually grows worse over time. Joints such as legs, fingers, and wrists become inflamed and they can cause "deformities" or irregular placing of muscles or bones. It is a very painful condition but thanks to orthopedics it is becoming better understood and better treated.
Injuries such as broken bones may be treated by an orthopedic doctor in some cases. They will see someone who was hurt in sports or while working their job. Sometimes injuries like fractures go without proper treatment, which may result in complications later on. It's best, as always, to seek the help of a professional. Also note that muscular-type injuries are dealt with by orthopedic doctors. Tendon and muscles that have been pulled, torn, or otherwise injured are treated.
Back issues are also treated in orthopedics. This includes sciatica and scoliosis, back pain, and injured, misplaced, or broken "discs" (pieces of the spine). There are still many people today who need spine corrections and benefit greatly from orthopedics.
Orthopedic Surgeries
There are several important surgeries performed by orthopedic surgeons. One example is internal fixation. This surgery is needed to place plates or pins that hold together pieces of broken bone. Related to that is fusion, which is surgery that helps a bone regrow the right way by artificially holding together or supporting certain bones. There is also osteotomy, which fixed deformities in the bones. Arthroscopy is when orthopedics doctors look surgically at a joint using tiny cameras. As you can see, there are many applications of surgery in orthopedics.
Contact a company like Orthopaedic Associates Of Rochester to learn more.