What is orthopedics? Who is an orthopedic surgeon?
The musculoskeletal system includes bones, ligaments, tendons, joints, and muscles. Injuries or other pain-afflicting conditions in these body parts can be a challenging experience, given their crucial role in everyday movement. In addressing these areas, orthopedic surgeons, also known as orthopedists or orthopedic doctors, specialize in the medical field focused on their treatment. While capable of performing surgeries, these doctors are also qualified to diagnose and treat problems utilizing alternative techniques.
Given the vast scope of orthopedics, most orthopedic doctors specialize in a specific area within the field. Hand, foot, and sports injuries are among the most common specialties in orthopedics.
Orthopedists are specialists you typically consult after being referred by your primary care doctor. Your primary care doctor (PCP) can guide you in determining the specific type of orthopedist you should see for your particular issue.
Orthopedic surgeons focus on preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions that impact the musculoskeletal system, which includes the bones, muscles, tendons, nerves, and ligaments. Also known as orthopedists, they offer a wide range of services, including:
- Diagnosing and treating injuries and pain.
- Helping you to manage chronic pain conditions, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, etc.
- Preparing post-surgical recovery plans
- Advising you on preventing significant injuries, mainly if you are active in sports or engaged in heavy physical labor.
Educational qualifications of orthopedic surgeons
Orthopedic surgeons typically require thirteen years of formal higher education and training. They start by completing a bachelor's degree in science and a four-year medical school program. Aspirants then undergo five-year residency training in orthopedic surgery at a recognized medical institution. After this, they must finish two years of mandatory field practice and clear the final examination by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.
Orthopedics is a vast subject, and many doctors may specialize in a specific field, requiring an additional year of training. The most commonly known subspecialties under orthopedics are doctors with expertise in the spine, shoulder and elbow, hand, hip and knee, foot and ankle, trauma surgery, and sports medicine.
Different types of orthopedic practices
An orthopedist may specialize in a particular area of orthopedic medicine. These branches are referred to as subspecialties.
Several orthopedic subspecialties include:
- Foot and ankle, or podiatry: Podiatry is a medical specialty that treats conditions affecting the lower limbs. They can handle wounds as well as aftereffects from long-term conditions like diabetes.
- Hand and upper extremity medicine: This field of study deals with issues and ailments affecting the hand, wrist, forearm, and shoulder.
- Pediatric orthopedics: This area of medicine focuses on young patients' joints, muscles, and bones. A pediatric orthopedist specializes in treating those conditions in children, from newborns to teenagers.
- Orthopedic oncology, including cancer and tumor treatment: The division of orthopedic oncology provides skilled care to adults and children with tumors and conditions resembling tumors of the soft tissue and bone, such as sarcomas, benign and malignant tumors of the soft tissue or bone, pathologic fractures, and bone metastases.
- Sports medicine is a subspecialty that deals with avoiding, identifying, managing, and recovering injuries sustained during physical exercise and sports. Fusing medical knowledge with exercise science minimizes injury risk while maximizing athletes' performance.
Why should you consult an orthopedic surgeon?
People often seek the expertise of an orthopedic surgeon when they experience pain, discomfort, or limited mobility in their joints, muscles, or bones. If you are suffering from bodily aches, stiffness, frequent swelling, or have sustained an injury in your joints, bones, muscles, or ligaments, you should consult orthopedic surgeons near you.
An additional indication that necessitates a visit to an orthopedic doctor is a noticeable reduction in your range of motion. Orthopedic specialists can assist you in regaining specific movements and improving your mobility.
They also play a crucial role in treating and rehabilitating severe injuries and preventing future ones. This is particularly relevant for athletes who often collaborate with orthopedic surgeons. Some common injuries that these practitioners treat include torn or ruptured ligaments, torn tendons, fractures that do not heal with just a cast, and fractures in the spine or hip resulting from osteoporosis.
Consulting an orthopedic surgeon does not require a specific injury. Many individuals seek their services due to persistent discomfort, chronic pain, or declining mobility. These issues may arise from previous injuries or gradually develop over time. You must communicate with your doctor and keep them informed if you are experiencing any form of pain.
What conditions do orthopedists treat?
The adult musculoskeletal structure is a complex system with 206 bones, more than 600 muscles, and several nerves, tendons, and ligaments. Hence, orthopedic surgeons specialize in treating a whole gamut of musculoskeletal anomalies. Some common conditions they treat include:
- Bone fractures: Fractures are broken bones and can be of various types, like a hairline fracture or complete breakage of the bones, which can be lateral, horizontal, or split into multiple pieces.
- Muscle strains: Overstretched or torn muscles can lead to muscle strain or pull.
- Joint pain: Joint pain occurs when the ligaments, tendons, bone sockets, etc., connecting your skeletal structure get injured or damaged. Besides arthritis, several other conditions can trigger joint pain, like fibromyalgia, sarcoidosis, and rickets.
- Back pain: Issues with your ligaments, muscles, discs, vertebrae, and nerves can cause lower back pain.
- Arthritis: Arthritis is a chronic rheumatic condition that triggers persistent joint pain. Several other autoimmune disorders can be painful and require regular treatment for damage control.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: This condition stiffens the hands and wrists, causing numbness and pain.
- Sprains are similar to strains, but sprains affect your ligaments instead of muscles or tendons.
- Tendonitis: This inflammation of the tendons has several names depending on the tendon involved, such as tennis elbow, jumper's knee, pitcher's shoulder, golfer's elbow, etc.
- ACL tears: An Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear on the knee prevents your shinbone from sliding forward.
- Bursitis: Bursa sacs are tiny fluid-filled sacs throughout the human body that contain friction between bones, muscles, etc. Bursitis occurs when these sacs become inflamed.
- Clubfoot: It is a congenital problem where the child's foot points inward instead of growing outward.
- Bowlegs: In bowlegs, the legs appear bowed as the knees remain wide apart despite the ankles being together.
- Sarcoma: A sarcoma is a form of cancer where a tumor forms inside the bone.
- Scoliosis is a developmental disorder in children where the spine forms an S or a C shape rather than straight. It can affect the middle portion (thoracic), lumbar area, and spine vertebrae.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is an ailment that impacts the hand and wrist, leading to symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. It results from pressure on the median nerve, which passes through the carpal tunnel—a narrow passageway formed by wrist bones. This nerve is essential in controlling forearm movement and providing sensation to most fingers and parts of the hand.
When the median nerve experiences compression or irritation, it may send unusual signals to your hand and wrist, resulting in discomfort or reduced functionality. If left unaddressed, this condition can result in permanent nerve damage. Early intervention is essential, so consult a healthcare provider if you notice symptoms such as persistent pain or tingling in your hand and wrist. Treatment is often effective in managing and alleviating the condition.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a widespread issue, with approximately 3 out of every 1,000 people in the U.S. experiencing it annually.
Symptoms and warning signs of carpal tunnel syndrome
Critical symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:
- Numbness in the wrist, hand, or fingers, particularly the fingertips.
- Pain in the wrist, hand, or fingers.
- Tingling sensations.
- Difficulty gripping or holding objects, such as a phone or pen, or typing on a keyboard.
The condition often develops gradually, with mild symptoms that worsen over time. Initial signs are frequently noticed at night, as pain or tingling may disrupt sleep. Without treatment, these symptoms can extend into daytime activities, especially those involving repetitive motions like typing or using tools. Recognizing and addressing these signs early can prevent further complications and improve quality of life.
Common non-surgical orthopedic treatments
Non-surgical orthopedic treatments effectively address the most common orthopedic injuries, including sprains, strains, simple fractures, and arthritis—the primary cause of orthopedic pain. These conservative methods yield favorable outcomes with minimal risks.
Typically, orthopedic surgeons begin by opting for non-surgical treatments like:
- Medications: The surgeon might give you over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen and aspirin or prescription drugs like corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory medications.
- Immobilization: Doctors advise immobilization when dealing with specific injuries or as part of a post-surgery recovery plan. The surgeon would prescribe braces, splints, and casts as immobilization equipment.
- Exercises: Orthopedic surgeons also recommend tutored exercises and stretches that can help improve your flexibility, strength, and range of motion.
- Lifestyle changes: Quite often, orthopedic procedures deal with restoring your quality of life. Diet, exercise regime, sleeping habits, etc., have a long-lasting impact on your musculoskeletal system. Thus, your surgeon may advise some modifications in your lifestyle to reduce the effect of a chronic ailment or help you recover from trauma faster.
Common surgical orthopedic treatments
Orthopedists resort to surgical procedures in severe conditions if non-surgical options fail or prove ineffective. Some regular surgeries they perform include:
- Joint replacement: Replacement of joints like the knee and hip is standard and includes replacing damaged joints with artificial material contraptions.
- Internal fixation: In this procedure, surgeons implant hardware, such as plates, rods, pins, and screws, to hold the broken bones together till fixed.
- Fusion: A common practice in neck and spine surgeries, fusion involves joining two bones using bone graft material and internal fixation equipment.
- Soft tissue repair: This surgery effectively repairs damaged ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
- Release surgery: Release surgery is a standard procedure for carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Osteotomy: This is a surgical procedure in which the doctor cuts and reshapes your bones, removing the damaged portions.
What should you anticipate when you visit an orthopedic surgeon?
You might consult an orthopedic surgeon near you if referred by your physician or due to emergency hospitalization. In either situation, the specialist would first go through your medical history. In a direct appointment, you should prepare any previous reports and prescriptions.
After making the initial diagnosis and reviewing the case history, the doctor may request that you undergo specific tests to ascertain the precise condition and identify the affected area, including a simple X-ray or more complex tests like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
Depending on the test results, the doctor would determine a treatment plan that may be invasive or non-invasive and guide you through it.
Questions to ask your orthopedic doctor
A person may wish to inquire about the following:
- Am I an appropriate candidate for this procedure?
- How long will the benefits last?
- What are the procedure's risks and possible complications?
- What must I do to achieve the most significant results?
- How and where will the surgeon carry out the procedure?
- What are the advantages of the procedure?
- What is the success rate for this procedure?
- How will the surgeon address any issues that arise?
How do you select an orthopedic surgeon?
Before undergoing orthopedic surgery, a person must select a licensed and accredited surgeon from a reputable professional body.
It is crucial to ensure that a surgeon:
- Is graduated from a recognized medical school
- Has completed an orthopedic surgery residency
- Is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS) or the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery (AOBOS)
- Has the experience and adequate professional training to execute the surgery.
- Works in a certified medical facility.
- Complies with medical education requirements, patient safety standards, and a robust code of ethics.
How can you find a trustworthy orthopedic surgeon in Forest Hills, NY?
Orthopedic surgeons deal with emergency cases, such as fractures, and chronic conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis. Hence, you are well-advised to stay connected with an orthopedic surgeon near you, particularly if you suffer from a recurring ailment.
Zocdoc can help you find a suitable orthopedic surgeon in Forest Hills, New York. Some of the renowned experts in this field have enlisted with us. Each doctor's profile includes educational qualifications, professional certifications, hospital affiliations, licensures, awards, and recognitions. You may filter the results based on gender, language, whether they treat children, and the insurance plans they accept. If your insurance plan isn't listed on Zocdoc, you can upload a photo of your medical insurance card (this feature is not available for vision or dental insurance). Zocdoc will scan the card image to identify and display your likely plan. If you encounter issues uploading the image, contact Zocdoc's service team for assistance. For more insurance-related questions, please visit Zocdoc's patient help center.
Furthermore, you may review verified client testimonials to make an informed decision. Once ready, Zocdoc's hassle-free appointment scheduling process will help you book a virtual or an in-person visit based on your chosen orthopedic surgeon's availability.
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Statistics for orthopedic surgeons and conditions they treat in New York State
According to Definitive Healthcare's PhysicianView, as of 2022, there were almost 23,000 orthopedic surgeons in the United States. The most popular orthopedic subspecialties were sports medicine, joint replacement, and hand surgery. The state of New York had about 1415 orthopedic surgeons.
Data synthesized by the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey & American Academy of Orthopedics shows fractures account for nearly 16% of musculoskeletal injuries in the United States. About 6.3 million fractures occur annually, with people over 65 accounting for more than 50% of the cases. The National Safety Council (NSC) stated that in 2021, injuries related to exercise and bicycle accidents were the highest in the country, with annual figures nearing 410,000 and 376,000, respectively.
The New York State Department of Health states that arthritis affects over 3 million people in New York. Arthritis afflicts more than half of the state's elderly population, and women make up almost 60% of the active cases.
Sources
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
Healthline
Health University of Utah
Mayo Clinic
Definitive Healthcare
Insurance Information Institute
New York State Department of Health
Sobo & Sobo Injury Lawyers
Medical News Today
Orthopaedic Associates
Johns Hopkins Medicines
Pepperdine Seaver College
Cleveland Clinic
