Who is an orthopedic surgeon?
Orthopedics is a medical specialty that prevents, diagnoses, and treats disorders of our musculoskeletal system, which comprises the bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. Orthopedic surgeons are healthcare professionals trained in various invasive and non-invasive procedures to treat musculoskeletal irregularities. Their duties include but aren’t limited to:
- Assisting in the post-operative or post-injury rehabilitation process helps you regain muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion, and movement.
- Strategizing preventive care for sports persons or people engaged in injury-prone occupations.
- Addressing chronic rheumatic diseases, such as arthritis.
Educational qualifications of orthopedic surgeons
An orthopedic surgeon in the United States has to undergo almost fourteen years of formal education and training, including:
- A four-year bachelor's degree
- Four years of medical school training from an accredited institution
- A five-year residency training with a focus on orthopedics
- A year-long fellowship program in a subspecialty
Current state requirements mandate medical students to clear the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). To gain national licensure, the doctors must pass three examinations. They can further opt for board certification by clearing the necessary examinations conducted by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery or the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery. Once board-certified, the surgeons must renew their certifications every ten years.
Specialties within orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery is a broad field encompassing many different specialties, each focusing on a specific area of the musculoskeletal system. Here are some of the main specialties within orthopedic surgery:
- Joint replacement: These surgeons specialize in replacing damaged or diseased joints, such as hips, knees, and shoulders. They use artificial implants to restore function and reduce pain for patients with arthritis and other conditions.
- Sports medicine: Sports orthopedic surgeons specialize in diagnosing, treating, and preventing injuries that happen due to sports and exercise. They work with athletes of all ages and levels, from weekend sportspeople to professional athletes.
- Pediatric orthopedics: Pediatric orthopedic surgeons are experts in detecting and treating of musculoskeletal conditions in children, including congenital abnormalities, growth plate injuries, and scoliosis. They work closely with parents and other healthcare specialists to provide comprehensive care for children with orthopedic conditions.
- Spine surgery: Spine surgeons specialize in treating conditions that affect the spine, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and scoliosis. They may use surgical and non-surgical techniques to alleviate pain and improve mobility.
When should you visit an orthopedic surgeon?
Chronic pain and movement disorders are two of the most common reasons for consulting an orthopedic surgeon near you. While your general practitioner or other specialists may refer you to an orthopedist, you can also seek out help if you are facing any of the following issues:
- Persistent pain for more than twelve weeks
- Problems with your range of motion
- Pain or discomfort while walking
- Progressive arthritis-induced pain that worsens when standing or walking
- A soft tissue injury that's not healing after several weeks
- Daily routine being impacted due to recurring pain and discomfort
What are common medical conditions that orthopedic surgeons treat?
Orthopedic surgeons treat various musculoskeletal conditions that impair your quality of life. Some of the most common anomalies include:
- Arthritis - This rheumatic condition leads to inflammation of one or more joints that deteriorates with age. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the most common forms of arthritis.
- ACL tear - The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) helps stabilize your knee, and a tear in this ligament keeps your shinbone from sliding forward.
- Bone fractures - Broken bones can occur in several ways: crosswise, lengthwise, and splitting into multiple pieces.
- Bone tumors - Tumors are lumps of tissues caused by uncontrolled cell division. Bone tumors form inside the bone structure and can be benign or cancerous.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome - Due to extreme pressure on the median nerve, carpal tunnel syndrome happens, resulting in numbness, weakness, and a tingling sensation in the hands and arms.
- Hip dysplasia - This is a hip joint condition affecting children.
- Muscular dystrophy - This group of genetic disorders leads to weaker and less flexible muscles.
- Neurofibromatosis - In this genetic problem of the nervous system, the development of nerve cell tissues is impaired, and tumors tend to form on the nerve tissues.
- Osteoporosis - This condition leads to weak and brittle bones prone to fracture at the slightest stress or fall.
- Runner's knee - It's an umbrella term for multiple knee problems that result from overuse, an injury, misaligned bone structure, and several other factors.
- Sciatica - Sciatica causes inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which traverses from the lower back to the back of the leg. It leads to shooting pain, burning sensations, weakness in the legs, etc.
- Tennis elbow - Also called lateral epicondylitis, it is a painful condition affecting tendons outside the elbow. Not just athletes but also butchers, carpenters, painters, plumbers, and other professionals are prone to overuse of the arms and elbows, which are also susceptible to tennis elbows.
- Clubfoot - A congenital condition makes a child's foot point inward instead of the conventional outward growth.
- Bowlegs - Also known as congenital genu varum, this condition makes your legs appear bowed. The knees draw apart while the ankles are together, giving the legs a bow-like shape.
Arthritis
Arthritis and related rheumatic disorders are common conditions characterized by pain, inflammation, and restricted mobility in joints and nearby tissues, affecting millions of Americans. Arthritis specifically refers to joint inflammation and swelling at the connection points between bones.
Arthritis and rheumatic diseases can be of many kinds; these conditions encompass any disorder causing pain, swelling, or stiffness in the joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, or bones. Arthritis is typically a chronic condition, occurring more frequently in women than men and increasing in prevalence with age, although it can affect people of all ages.
The prevalent types of arthritis or related conditions are:
- Osteoarthritis often results from aging or joint overuse, leading to natural wear and tear.
- Autoimmune disorders - like rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and lupus - occur when the host immune system starts attacking the body’s tissues.
- Gout develops due to crystal buildup in the joints.
- Genetic predispositions, such as the HLA-B27 marker, increase the risk for conditions like ankylosing spondylitis.
- For some types of arthritis, the exact cause remains unknown.
Both nonmodifiable and modifiable factors, as mentioned below, influence arthritis risk:
- Nonmodifiable factors include age, gender (with women more commonly affected), and genetics, as some forms of arthritis run in families.
- Modifiable factors include:
- Body weight - Excess weight stresses joints like the knees, increasing the likelihood of osteoarthritis.
- Injuries - Previous joint injuries heighten the risk of arthritis in those areas.
- Occupational hazards - Jobs involving repetitive motions, such as bending or squatting, can lead to joint issues.
- Infections - Certain infections can trigger reactive arthritis.
Common symptoms of arthritis include:
- Persistent joint pain
- Swelling, warmth, and redness around joints
- Stiffness and decreased range of motion
Since arthritis symptoms often overlap with those of other disorders, consulting an orthopedic specialist is crucial for correct detection and appropriate treatment plan.
Questions to ask your orthopedic surgeon
Before you undergo a procedure, it is better to get clarity on the possible concerns or questions you may have. Asking your orthopedic surgeon the following questions can be helpful:
- Does this procedure particularly suit my individualized needs?
- What surgical techniques will you use?
- What are the risks and possible complications involved?
- What are the advantages of this procedure?
- How long will the benefits last?
- What is the success rate for this procedure?
- What do I need to do to gain the most out of my surgery?
- How and where will you carry out the procedure?
- How will you address any issues that arise?
- How long will it take for me to recover?
Risks and complications of orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery, like any surgery, carries some risks and potential complications. Although these risks are relatively low, patients should know them before undergoing any orthopedic procedure per their doctor's recommendation.
Any surgical procedure, including orthopedic surgery, carries the risk of infection. Patients may be administered antibiotics before and after surgery to reduce the risk of infection. Bleeding is another potential complication of orthopedic surgery. In some instances, patients may require blood transfusions to replace lost blood.
Orthopedic surgery can sometimes result in nerve damage, which can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the affected area. Blood clots are a potential risk after orthopedic surgery, particularly in patients who are older, obese, or have other medical conditions that increase their risk of clotting.
Some patients may experience joint stiffness after orthopedic surgery, making it difficult to move the affected joint. Patients should report any concerns or symptoms to their healthcare provider promptly, as early intervention can often help prevent complications from developing.
What happens during orthopedic surgery?
A healthcare professional will help you prepare for your surgery by checking your vital signs and administering IV fluids or drugs as needed. You must remove all jewelry and clothing before changing into a hospital gown. Then, your healthcare team will shift you to the operating room to begin the surgery.
An anesthesiologist will provide an anesthetic to put you to sleep and prevent you from feeling pain. Once you are unconscious, the surgeon will start the operation.
The steps taken by your surgeon during your treatment will vary based on why you need this surgery and the particular procedure. They will begin by making a small incision in your skin with surgical equipment. For common orthopedic surgeries, they may have to:
- Repair a damaged bone or fracture with screws, pins, rods, or plates to ensure proper healing.
- Remove the injured ligaments and substitute them with healthy tissue from another body region or a donor transplant.
- Place metal or plastic caps on a bone to treat arthritis-related joint deterioration.
Before the procedure, your surgeon will explain everything that will happen during the procedure and how it will be done. When your surgeon finishes the treatment, they will stitch up any skin openings and put a bandage around the surgical site.
How can you find a competent orthopedic surgeon near you in Fresh Meadows, NY?
Orthopedic problems can be acute or chronic, but in either case, they can reduce the quality of your life. With persistent pain or movement issues, you cannot perform routine domestic tasks or meet occupational demands. While an emergency like a fracture will lead you to an orthopedic surgeon in your area by default, for chronic conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis, etc., you can seek out a seasoned professional on your own. Zocdoc can be your best guide to help you find the best orthopedic surgeons in Fresh Meadows, New York.
You can begin an extensive search by selecting the specialty, location, date, and insurance plan. If you are still determining your insurance plan, use our built-in insurance detector. Zocdoc allows you to add multiple insurance plans, including medical, dental, and vision, to your account. However, you can only use one insurance plan at a time when searching for and booking an appointment. If you have additional insurance, include details about your secondary carrier and plan in the notes section for the provider during the final step of booking. For providers utilizing Zocdoc’s Intake forms, add secondary insurance information while completing the online forms. You can refer to the Zocdoc patient help center if you have any questions about insurance.
A list of practitioners matching your criteria will appear in your results. Each physician on Zocdoc has a profile that provides vital information on their educational background, professional accreditation, hospital affiliations, licensures, awards, and, most importantly, client testimonials. You can also find out whether the doctor treats children and what languages they speak.
Once shortlisted, you can access verified reviews and ratings of prior patients of the providers to help you take a more informed call. After choosing the best-suited orthopedic surgeon near you, proceed with our hassle-free booking procedure to schedule an in-person visit or online consultation, depending on their availability.
All bookings through Zocdoc are simple, secure, and free!
Vital orthopedic statistics for New York, USA
According to Definitive Healthcare's Physician View's data as of August 2023, there are more than 27,000 Orthopedic Surgeons in the United States. About 50% of those surgeons belong to an orthopedic subspecialty, the top three being sports medicine, hand surgery, and joint replacement. The same study reveals that New York state has around 1700 active orthopedic surgeons.
According to the New York State Department Of Health (NYSDOH), between 2012-2014, around 12,093 New Yorkers were hospitalized from traffic accidents. Close to 137,000 people visited an emergency facility with traffic-related injuries. The same source reveals that yearly, more than 100 men and 100 women (including children) are diagnosed with bone cancer in New York state, and nearly 50 men and 35 women succumb to the disease.
According to the New York State Department of Health, in 2020, over 3 million New Yorkers suffered from arthritis. According to the National Library of Medicine, about 1-3 people in the United 1000 have carpal tunnel syndrome yearly.
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New York State Department of Health[2]
New York State Department of Health[3]
National Library of Medicine
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