Orthopedics

Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that focuses on the care of the musculoskeletal system. This system is made up of muscles and bones, as well as joints, ligaments, and tendons.

A person who specializes in orthopedics is known as an orthopedist. Orthopedists use both surgical and nonsurgical approaches to treat a variety of musculoskeletal issues, such as sports injuries, joint pain, and back problems.

This article provides an overview of orthopedics. It outlines the different conditions that orthopedists treat and what people can expect during an orthopedic appointment.

What is orthopedics?

Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that focuses on the care of the skeletal system and its interconnecting parts. These parts include the:

• bones
• muscles
• joints
• tendons
• ligaments

An orthopedist often works as part of a larger orthopedic treatment team. This team may include:

• physician assistants
• nurse practitioners
• occupational and physical therapists
• athletic trainers

What do orthopedists treat?

Orthopedists treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions. These conditions may be present from birth, or they may occur as a result of injury or age-related wear and tear.

Below are some of the most common conditions that an orthopedist may treat:

• joint pain from arthritis
• bone fractures
• soft tissue (muscle, tendon, and ligament) injuries
• back pain
• neck pain
• shoulder pain and problems, such as bursitis
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• overuse and sports injuries, including tendinitis, meniscus tears, and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
• congenital conditions, such as clubfoot and scoliosis>

Types of orthopedic practices

An orthopedist may specialize in a particular branch of orthopedic medicine. These branches are called subspecialties.

Some orthopedic subspecialties include:

• hand and upper extremity
• foot and ankle
• musculoskeletal oncology (tumor)
• pediatric orthopedics
• sports medicine
• spine surgery
• trauma surgery
• joint replacement surgery

Which operations can orthopedic surgeons perform?

The sections below look at some surgical procedures that an orthopedist may perform as part of their work.

• Total joint replacement
• Arthroscopic surgery
• Fracture repair surgery
• Bone grafting surgery
• Spinal Fusion