Who is an orthopedic surgeon?
The musculoskeletal system includes bones, ligaments, muscles, joints, and tendons. It plays a prominent role in the body's movement and can often be a source of pain.
Orthopedics is a field devoted to treating issues in the musculoskeletal system. An orthopedic surgeon specializes in orthopedics and uses surgical and non-surgical procedures to treat pain or injuries in various body parts. The primary distinction is that surgical treatments include inserting medical devices into a body part to ease the pain. In comparison, non-surgical tests do not require cutting into the skin.
The body has over 200 bones, and problems can manifest differently in each area. An orthopedic surgeon's practice focuses on diagnosing, treating, and assisting with rehabilitation for musculoskeletal trauma, sports injuries, chronic pain, infections, spine diseases, congenital diseases, and tumors.
Specialized knowledge and training enable targeted treatment of specific body parts within the extensive field of orthopedics. Doctors often specialize in particular subfields, such as pediatrics, rheumatology, or sports medicine. For example, a pediatric orthopedic doctor only treats people aged 18 or below. In contrast, a sports medicine doctor may exclusively focus on physical fitness and treating and preventing sports-related injuries.
To become an orthopedic surgeon, one must complete 13 years of education, including a 5-year residency program and two years of training in their desired sub-field. After the residency, aspiring doctors take an official exam conducted by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. During medical practice, trainees develop surgical skills and innovative abilities to provide treatment plans and wellness strategies for various conditions.
What conditions do orthopedic surgeons treat?
Pain is a normal part of life. It can occur in different ways and affect the body's functioning. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, one in seven American adults experience orthopedic problems at least once in their lifetime. Sometimes, accidents trigger the intensity of pain. Other pains result from persisting diseases, while some may not have a definitive cause. Most muscle and joint pain is short-term and subsides on its own. However, if the pain lasts 12 weeks, it may be a sign for you to see an orthopedic doctor.
Orthopedic pain is usually preventable, but sometimes, medications cannot fully cure certain conditions. Nevertheless, obtaining a precise diagnosis and appropriate treatment can ease pain and enhance overall quality of life. Some conditions treated by an orthopedic surgeon include:
- Arthritis: The most common forms of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis, among over 100 different types. Osteoarthritis occurs due to cartilage lining damage, which causes the bones to collide and rub together. As a result, knee pain worsens. Other causes of arthritis are direct injury or trauma in the affected area.
- Bursitis: Overstressing or repetitive usage of areas around your joints can lead to painful inflammation, causing bursitis. Bursitis is typical of the shoulders, wrist, elbow, and hip. It can occur due to accidents, infections, or direct trauma. Bursitis can be eliminated with proper treatment. Symptoms of this condition are dull ache, stiffness, pain during movement, swelling, and occasional redness or warmth in the joint area.
- Osteoporosis: The skeleton serves two significant purposes—structural support and a repository for minerals like calcium and phosphorus. When bones gradually lose calcium, they may become hard and brittle. Without proper nutrition and exercise, they become thin and weak. If the weakening of bone structures is left untreated, they may fall or break.
- Medications and interventions may be of little help when the bones break. Although osteoporosis can be hard to detect early, it is essential to consult your doctor even if you feel slightly weak in the joint areas. The illness is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability in older individuals.
- Knee, shoulder, and hip pain: If you cannot put your weight on your leg or can't move it as freely as before, you might need immediate medical attention. Knee pain can cause fever, swelling, or tenderness around the affected joint. Shoulder pain can be tricky to identify because it might appear for several reasons.
If you experience sudden pain or think your shoulder looks deformed, visit an orthopedic. Lastly, as the largest joint in the body, the hip is prone to stiffness or injury. If you can't move your body or feel pain in your groin area, it may indicate a problem. Sudden swelling and intense fever are also signs of joint pain.
What procedures can an orthopedic surgeon perform?
Orthopedic surgeons perform various surgical procedures, including open or minimally invasive techniques. During your consultation, your orthopedic surgeon will explain the specific surgery you require, including the process, potential risks, and alternative options. Let us explore some standard orthopedic procedures:
- Shoulder replacement: The orthopedic surgeon removes the upper portion of the humerus (upper arm bone) and replaces it with a metal ball. They also substitute the damaged socket with a plastic component to restore functionality.
- Hip replacement: The hip joint may deteriorate over time, similar to knee cartilage. The orthopedic surgeon may perform a partial or complete hip replacement, the latter being the more common approach. They replace the damaged hip joint with a prosthesis to alleviate pain and improve mobility.
- Knee replacement: Conditions like obesity, bursitis, and knee injuries can lead to the need for knee replacement. The orthopedic surgeon replaces all or part of the knee joint with a prosthesis. This surgery typically occurs when joint cartilage wears out, causing restricted movement and severe pain.
- Arthroscopy: Orthopedic surgeons commonly use this minimally invasive procedure for shoulder and knee issues. They insert a small camera into the affected joint to assess the injury and obtain precise images. Arthroscopy helps determine the extent of damage and guides the most appropriate treatment plan, which may include potential joint replacement.
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery: When the ACL tears, the orthopedic surgeon often performs reconstructive surgery. They take a tendon graft from another body part and use it to replace the damaged ACL. ACL surgery is an outpatient procedure, allowing the patient to go home the same day.
- Joint fusion: Patients with arthritis may undergo joint fusion surgery. The orthopedic surgeon transplants healthy cartilage from one body area to the damaged joint and fuses the bones on each side of the affected joint to provide stability. They can perform joint fusion on the spine, ankles, feet, or fingers.
Consulting an orthopedic surgeon is essential to determine the most suitable procedure for your condition. They will analyze your medical history, conduct a detailed examination, and provide personalized suggestions to address your orthopedic concerns effectively.
What to expect at an appointment with a pediatric orthopedic surgeon?
Children need special attention to their bone, joint, and muscle health as these structures still develop from infancy through their teenage years. If your child frequently complains about joint pain or has an orthopedic condition like clubfoot, flat feet, bone, joint, muscle infections, and gait abnormalities, consult a pediatric orthopedic surgeon near you immediately. These specialists can also help with injuries common in kids, like broken bones and ligament tears. They also work with other medical specialists to provide comprehensive care to children with complex conditions like bone tumors, bone cancer, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy.
During your first visit to the provider, they will ask you to briefly describe your child's physical, medical, and family history. Some crucial points may include their daily activities, habits, lifestyle, and information about their pain. It is good to note the duration, type, and intensity of pain your child may be experiencing so it is easier for you to discuss it with the doctor.
The doctor's goal is to understand how your child's lifestyle may affect the severity of their pain and how to manage it. After the briefing, the doctor might suggest some medical tests and examinations, like X-rays or blood tests, for accurate diagnosis, creation of an appropriate treatment plan, and speedy recovery of your child.
What are the top ten questions to ask before your child's orthopedic surgery?
If the pediatric orthopedic surgeon near you has recommended surgery for your child, it is natural to be apprehensive about the situation. Educating yourself about the procedure can help you feel at ease and enable you to prepare your child for it as well. So, do not hesitate to address your queries and concerns with your child's provider! Here are some ideas to help you form a comprehensive list of questions:
- How will the surgery help my child? Can you explain all the benefits?
- Are there any risks or complications involved with the procedure?
- What is the success rate of this surgery?
- What are the pre-surgery instructions my child needs to follow?
- How long will the surgical procedure last?
- Will my child feel any pain or discomfort during or after the procedure?
- What precautions do I need to take after my child's surgery?
- How long will the recovery period be?
- How can I prepare my child for the surgery? Can you provide some valuable tips?
- Are there any viable alternatives to surgery?
How do you prepare your child for orthopedic surgery?
Surgery, whether minor or significant, can be overwhelming and traumatic for children. However, you can take various steps to manage their anxiety and help them have a positive experience. The following guide has some helpful suggestions for preparing your child for orthopedic surgery:
- Have an open and honest conversation about the surgery with your child in a safe and comfortable space.
- Use age-appropriate simple language to explain the surgery, its purpose, and its benefits.
- Make them aware of the operating room where they will have their surgery, the pediatric orthopedic surgeon performing the procedure, and the nurses and other staff taking care of them. You can take them on a pre-operative tour to help them develop a positive outlook on the hospital environment.
- To alleviate their fears, introduce them to children's picture books exploring the themes of doctors, hospitals, and surgeries. You can also find visually appealing guides about the specific surgical procedure your child will undergo.
- Please explain to them what will happen on the day of the surgery. They should also be prepared for the recovery process.
- Please encourage your child to freely express their thoughts, feelings, and queries about the procedure. Patiently listen to them, validate their emotions, and reassure them.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a degenerative bone disorder that slowly destroys the connective tissues or cartilage between the joints and the bones. It leads to inflammation, swelling, and stiffness in one or more joints. Severe arthritis may cause mobility issues, deformity, and disability.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of arthritis include:
- Swelling in the joints
- Tenderness and pain
- Joint redness
- Mobility issues
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Abnormal blood count
- Joints that are hot or warm to touch
- Reduced range of motion
- Unable to place total body weight on lower joints
Treatments for arthritis
Arthritis has no cure. However, various treatments and medications can help delay disease progression, manage the symptoms, and improve joint functions. The multiple therapies include the following:
Prescription and over-the-counter medicines can help alleviate the symptoms by reducing inflammation and discomfort. Your orthopedic surgeon may prescribe specific medications based on the particular form of arthritis. These could include steroids, counterirritants, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Physical therapy can improve joint and bone mobility without surgery or medications. It can also relieve joint stiffness and pain. Sessions may include exercises that strengthen the affected joint muscles and tendons and improve balance.
Doctors may suggest lifestyle adjustments, such as weight management and diet changes, to help manage arthritis symptoms. These allow people with arthritis to lead healthier lifestyles by making the symptoms less disruptive to their daily routine.
Surgery is recommended when other non-surgical treatments are unsuccessful in containing arthritis progression. It is generally suggested for patients with severe forms of arthritis.
Surgical treatments help remove parts of the bone, cartilage, and connective tissues damaged or compromised due to arthritis, injury, or trauma. Various surgical procedures may include joint replacement, repair, and fusion.
How can you find the best orthopedic surgeon near you in Scottsdale, AZ?
The best orthopedic surgeons offer coordinated and interdisciplinary pain care. The treatment includes medical management, interventional therapy, behavioral medicine techniques, activating physical therapy, and alternative medications or medicine therapies like acupuncture. Once you understand how it works, the next step is to find a doctor who is an excellent fit for you!
You can do this by registering a free account on Zocdoc. Click on the sign-up option to register and use the advanced filter provided on the website. Using these features, you can filter based on your symptom, condition, doctor's specialty, location, and date. The search results will provide the number of providers and their unique profiles.
If you want to find a provider who accepts your insurance, add your insurance information (your provider and plan) on the Zocdoc search. It will help you see providers who accept your plan. When searching for providers on the Zocdoc app, upload a photo of your insurance card (this option is unavailable for vision or dental plans), and we will scan and display your insurance plan. It will help you find accurate results of qualified in-network providers. Check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more information and solutions related to insurance.
When you click on a doctor's profile, you can read about their academic qualifications, medical expertise, research interests, languages they speak, and gender. You can read the verified reviews and ratings to understand their overall experience with the doctor. You can also check if the doctor provides virtual consultations.
Once you have reviewed all the information, you can book an in-person or virtual appointment with an orthopedic surgeon near you in Scottsdale, AZ. All bookings made on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and free!
Orthopedics statistics in Arizona, US
The most common orthopedic pain experienced by American adults is arthritis. According to the 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, about 58.5 million people in the United States had doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Further, by 2040, almost 78.4 million US adults aged 18+ may be diagnosed with arthritis. Research by the CDC shows that in 2015, nearly 21.8% of adults in Arizona had arthritis.
Various disorders like Parkinson's and diabetes affect the musculoskeletal system in multiple ways. Parkinson's disease leads to loss of bone mass and increases the risk of osteoarthritis and osteopenia. As per the Arizona Department of Health Services, in 2018, around 2,041 Arizona adults died of diabetes, and 2,170 died of the same condition in 2019. About 790 Arizona adults died of Parkinson's disease in 2018, which increased to around 806 in 2019. The symptoms of the illness might be lessened or maintained by seeing a doctor in the early stages.
An orthopedic surgeon can provide holistic treatment and refer patients to other specialists based on the disorder. The national occupational employment data released in May 2023 by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that around 14,820 orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric surgeons, worked in the USA. According to the data, as of May 2023, Arizona had nearly 160 actively employed orthopedic surgeons (excluding pediatric specialists).
Sources
WebMD
The University of Utah
Beaumont Health[1]
Beaumont Health[2]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Arizona Department of Health Services
AICA Orthopedics
Children's Hospital of Orange County
Southeast Orthopedic Specialists
little growing bones
Memorial Hospital of Gardena
Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine
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