Orthopaedic treatment
Orthopaedic surgeons deal with the problems of the musculoskeletal system, which may involve the following:
– Diagnosis of the injury or disorder
– Prescribing treatments with medication, exercise, surgery, casting, etc.
– Rehab Centres or physical therapy to restore adequate movement, strength and function
– Preventing further injury and slowing the progression of diseases
Apart from the diseases and conditions of the musculoskeletal system, orthopaedics can also specialise in certain other areas like the spine, shoulder, hand, foot, ankle, hip or knee. Specific fields that they may choose to focus on include paediatrics, trauma or sports medicine.
Diagnosis
The first thing that an orthopaedic surgeon will do before performing a physical examination is to ask about the history of illness or injury. They will then move forward to diagnostic studies, such as x-rays and blood tests. After the diagnosis and informing the patient about the problem, they will come up with a treatment plan to help them live an active and functional life. The treatment can either be nonsurgical or surgical.
Nonsurgical treatment:
Certain musculoskeletal conditions can be treated without surgery. Orthopaedic surgeons can prescribe a treatment that involves medication, exercise, rehabilitation or alternative therapies. In cases when patients don’t respond to nonsurgical treatments, they recommend going for surgery.
Surgical treatment:
There are several types of surgeries that an orthopaedic surgeon can perform. Some of the common procedures include:
– Arthroscopy: This procedure uses special cameras and equipment to visualise, detect and treat conditions inside a joint.
– Joint replacement: Joint replacement can be a partial, total or revision surgical treatment. In this surgery, an arthritic or damaged joint is removed and replaced with an artificial joint called a prosthesis.
– Fusion: It involves fusing bones with bone grafts and internal devices like metal rods to heal into a single solid bone.
– Osteotomy: Cutting and repositioning the bone to correct bone deformity
– Internal fixation: This method involves using metal plates, pins or screws to hold the broken pieces of bone in a proper position.
When should you see an orthopedic doctor?
Muscle and joint pain are often short-term and go away on their own if you had them during an injury. But if your pain lasts more than 3-5 days, you may need to consult the best orthopedic hospital in India, if:
you are finding it difficult to move as you used to do before injury
you are unstable when you walk or stand, or
you have a hard time doing daily activities, like walking