Orthopedic surgery is the branch of surgery that deals with the surgical treatment of pathologies affecting the skeletal system such as the bony structures, and cartilages.
What does an orthopedic surgeon do?
An orthopedic surgeon is a surgeon who specializes in surgical treatments conducted on the bone structures, or cartilages. The aim of an orthopedic surgeon is to treat, or improve the prognosis of diseases affecting the skeletal system.
What diseases are treated by a orthopedic surgeon?
The disease and disorders most often treated by this surgeon are of inflammatory, degenerative, or traumatic nature and include hallux valgus, hammer toes, metatarsalgia, ligament injuries, and bone lesions and cartilage lesions in areas such as the joints of the ankle, knee, hip, elbow, wrist, foot, and shoulder.
What are the procedures used by an orthopedic surgeon?
The procedures used by the orthopedic surgeon include the minimally invasive surgery such as arthroscopy, and prosthetic surgery in order to replace the hip, and knee joints.
In some cases, arthroscopy is also used to verify a suspected presence of a disturbance in the joint. It is performed mainly on the knee, shoulder, and ankle.
When should a patient visit an orthopedic surgeon?
A general practitioner will send the patient to an orthopedic surgeon if necessary. Another reason to visit the surgeon is in order to monitor the post surgical recovery.
