Who are orthopedic surgeons?
An orthopedic surgeon diagnoses and treats musculoskeletal conditions. The musculoskeletal system typically includes the muscles, bones, tendons, joints, ligaments, and nerves. While these doctors specialize in bone surgeries, they also offer non-surgical treatments, such as medication and physical rehabilitation therapy, as part of their treatment plan.
These surgeons can treat numerous disorders in all age groups. They are known for treating injuries, fractures, and chronic diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis. While adults are mostly diagnosed with these conditions, orthopedic surgeons can treat children with such problems. They aid in diagnosing and treating pediatric conditions like congenital hip dysplasia, vitamin D deficiency, and scurvy. The treatment of bone cancers also falls under their jurisdiction. In the elderly population, they also offer joint replacement surgeries for worn-out and damaged hip or knee joints.
What kind of education and training do orthopedic surgeons receive?
The minimum time required to become an orthopedic surgeon in the United States is thirteen years. Candidates first obtain an undergraduate degree in a scientific field, which takes four years; they then train in medical school for another four years. Following this, enrolling in a five-year orthopedic surgery residency program is mandatory.
During residency, doctors learn about musculoskeletal disorders and their various treatment modalities. Additionally, many doctors obtain the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS) certification. They earn this certification by working in this field for two years before taking and passing the examination held by the ABOS.
Moreover, some orthopedic surgeons add to their accreditations by participating in fellowship programs and focusing on a particular subspecialty of orthopedics. Some well-known subspecialties include surgeries for hips and knees, hands, feet and ankles, spine, shoulders and elbows, sports medicine, and trauma.
What are the different types of orthopedic surgeons?
Due to the vastness of the orthopedic specialty, there are various subspecialists. They include:
- Spine surgeons: This type of surgeon offers expert, customized care to patients with various neck and back issues, including treatment for spinal arthritis, scoliosis, disc collapse, disc degeneration, spinal deformities, tumors, etc.
- Hand surgeons: These specialists diagnose and treat various hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow conditions. They can solve all concerns, including rheumatoid or gouty arthritis, a golfer's elbow, or a painful cyst.
- Pediatric orthopedic surgeons: They specialize in treating children. Children's bodies are different from that of adults as they are still maturing. Hence, their treatment approach differs, requiring specialized care from these surgeons.
- Orthopedic oncologists: These specialists treat tumors or tumor-like issues of the bone and soft tissue, including bony metastases and pathologic fractures.
- Shoulder and elbow surgeons: Shoulder and elbow surgeons typically work with athletes and people with disorders related to accidents or aging. They diagnose and treat both common and complex conditions, ranging from shoulder and elbow arthritis to rotator cuff tears.
- Osseointegration specialists: Osseointegration, a surgical procedure, aims to improve the mobility, physical function, and overall quality of life of people who have had an amputation. Surgeons specializing in this area perform the procedure (depending on the implant system, the surgery can have one or two stages) by inserting metal implants into the bones of residual limbs, which they attach directly to a prosthesis.
Common procedures offered by orthopedic surgeons
Orthopedic surgery can fix various issues, from congenital malformations to sports injuries to degenerative conditions. The most routine orthopedic surgeries available are:
- ACL surgery: While playing sports, the anterior cruciate ligament (also known as the ACL) in the knee, one of the primary ligaments, is frequently torn or damaged. In this operation, a tendon from another body part is removed and used to construct a new ACL for the knee.
- Knee replacement surgery: During this surgery, the patient's knee joint gets replaced using a prosthesis made of metal. In a partial knee replacement, the only components removed are the damaged cartilage, bone fragments, and ligaments.
- Shoulder surgery: Replacement surgeries for the shoulder and rotator cuff are similar to those for the hip and knee. The entire ball and socket that constitutes a shoulder joint gets replaced with a prosthesis. Arthroscopic shoulder surgery involves "cleaning up" damaged cartilage without requiring a prosthesis.
- Surgical hip replacement: The hip joint is most susceptible to wear and tear over time. The cartilage found in this joint begins to deteriorate as we age. As a result, hip replacement surgery is a common type of orthopedic surgery performed on elderly patients.
- Carpal tunnel release surgery: During carpal tunnel syndrome, there is excessive pressure on the median nerve. In this surgery, the surgeon makes an incision over the carpal tunnel ligament in the palm. This cuts through the ligament to relieve pressure over the median nerve.
- Laminectomy: Doctors perform laminectomy to remove the back arch or part of a spinal bone covering the spinal canal. This procedure enlarges the spinal canal and reduces pressure on the nerves and spinal cord. Typically, orthopedic surgeons recommend this surgery only when more common treatments, such as medicines and physical therapy, have failed to relieve symptoms.
- Spinal fusion: Spinal fusion helps connect two or more bones in any part of the spine, preventing movements between them and reducing pain. During this procedure, surgeons place a bone or bone-like material in the gap between the affected spinal bones and hold them in place together using metal screws, rods, or plates. This helps the bones gradually fuse and heal.
When should you visit an orthopedic surgeon near you?
You should consult an orthopedic surgeon if you experience persistent or recurring pain, swelling, or reduced mobility in a bone, joint, or muscle. Difficulty performing daily activities or nerve-related symptoms like numbness and tingling are indications of seeking orthopedic care. Injuries to bones or joints that require specialized attention are another common reason to see an orthopedic specialist.
Patients seek an orthopedic doctor when they have joint, muscle, or bone pain, stiffness, swelling, or injuries affecting their ability to move comfortably. Athletes often work with orthopedic surgeons for recovery and injury prevention. Conditions such as torn or ruptured ligaments, tendons, or muscles, fractures that don't heal with a cast alone, osteoporosis-related spine or hip fractures, and chronic ailments like bursitis can be treated by orthopedic surgeons.
An orthopedic surgeon may suggest various treatment plans tailored to each patient. It's important to communicate any ongoing pain or discomfort to your doctor, even if it develops gradually or stems from preexisting conditions such as tumors or blood cancers that impact bone health, like multiple myeloma. Seeking care from an orthopedic surgeon near you can help alleviate pain, restore mobility, and improve quality of life.
What to expect from your first visit to an orthopedic surgeon
When visiting an orthopedic surgeon, you must provide your medical history, symptoms, and relevant medical records or test results. The orthopedic surgeon will then work to diagnose your condition and discuss treatment options tailored to your specific needs.
During the first appointment with an orthopedic surgeon, the primary focus is on diagnosing the individual's condition. This involves a physical examination, a review of medical records and symptoms, and the possibility of in-office tests or additional diagnostic tests such as X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, bone scans, ultrasounds, nerve conduction studies, or blood tests. Sometimes, the orthopedic surgeon may perform in-office procedures like X-rays, ultrasound scans, or injections to aid in diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment options for chronic musculoskeletal conditions may include over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, rehabilitation, physical therapy, home exercise programs, injections, acupuncture, mobility aids, or surgery when other treatments are ineffective.
What are the risks and complications of orthopedic surgery?
Though not common, surgical procedures may involve some risks. Even if surgery is safe and effective, it is better to review these with your orthopedic surgeon during your appointment so that you know what to expect. Orthopedic surgery can pose the following hazards:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Pain in the joints or stiffness
- Blood clots
- Muscular weakness
- Numbness
How invasive is orthopedic surgery?
An orthopedic surgeon may perform either a traditional or an arthroscopic surgery. Understanding the approach can be helpful before you undertake the procedure.
Traditional surgery is more invasive, necessitating incisions into the body. This operation demands a lengthy recovery period and is often intended for patients with significant joint, knee, tendon, or ligament injury.
Arthroscopic surgery, on the other hand, is less intrusive than conventional procedures. A surgeon will perform an arthroscopy to examine the insides of a joint. Unlike traditional surgery, this method involves minimal incisions. Arthroscopic surgery typically results in a faster recovery period, fewer scars, lesser pain, and lesser dependence on medications.
What is orthopedic rehabilitation?
The musculoskeletal system, which comprises muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons, is essential for our ability to execute daily activities. When its functioning gets compromised, you need the proper care to help restore motion, function, flexibility, and strength to the injured body part.
Orthopedic or musculoskeletal rehabilitation is that treatment program. This doctor-supervised, therapeutic program reduces pain and enhances mobility, improving your quality of life. Whether you are recovering from surgery, have a sports injury, or need to manage a chronic condition like arthritis, orthopedic rehabilitation can significantly improve your recovery.
Orthopedic surgeons are important in supervising and leading the orthopedic rehabilitation process. These healthcare providers specialize in treating, preventing, and rehabilitating bone and joint issues. While orthopedic surgeons provide the initial diagnostic and treatment plan, a multidisciplinary team of healthcare specialists, including occupational therapists, physical therapists, and exercise physiologists, collaborate closely with patients to complete the rehabilitation program.
Finding the right orthopedic surgeon near you in West Orange, New Jersey
Many patients experiencing chronic pain continue to suffer because of the hassle of finding a good specialist nearby. Zocdoc helps bridge the gap between patients and the healthcare system.
To find an orthopedic surgeon or a pediatric orthopedic surgeon in West Orange, New Jersey, visit Zocdoc.com and fill out the form with your symptoms or condition, preferred location, appointment time, and insurance information (refer to Zocdoc's guide to properly understand insurance terminology). You can then access a vast directory of orthopedic surgeons.
Plus, you can quickly identify in-network providers near you using Zocdoc’s insurance detector. While you can add medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account, you can only search for and schedule an appointment with one insurance plan at a time. In case you have multiple plans, you can mention your secondary insurance plan and carrier in your notes for the provider in the last step of the booking process. If your provider uses Zocdoc’s intake forms, you can add details about your secondary insurance while filling out your forms online. For more insurance-related queries, check Zocdoc's patient help center.
Every healthcare provider on Zocdoc has a profile with information about their background and qualifications, including their schools, affiliated hospitals, years of practice, awards received, and medical licenses and certifications.
Additionally, you can view verified testimonials and ratings by past patients under each profile. Zocdoc constantly updates these reviews and ratings. You can book online or in-person consultations once you select the best physician in your area. Depending on the specialist's schedule, you can reserve an appointment before 10 am, after 5 pm, or even on holidays and weekends.
Booking appointments with orthopedic surgeons near you on Zocdoc is fast, free, and secure!
Vital stats you should know
According to the findings of America's Health Rankings, in 2022, 23.4% of the adult population in New Jersey was diagnosed with some kind of arthritis. Patients with especially severe forms of arthritis, for whom conservative treatments have been ineffective, are the ones who are candidates for surgery as a curative option.
According to the New Jersey State Police Department, there have been around 142 crashes across the state thus far in 2024. Because of the severity of many of these accidents, quick medical attention and possibly even orthopedic surgery have become an absolute necessity.
Hip fractures were the cause of 5.1% of hospitalizations in 65 and older individuals in New Jersey in 2018, as per the findings from America's Health Rankings. When treating a hip fracture, an orthopedic surgeon frequently uses pins or screws to reposition the shattered bone. This allows the bone to recover while preventing additional fractures or dislocation.
Sources
WebMD
Medical News Today
Johns Hopkins Medicine[1]
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Johns Hopkins Medicine[5]
Penn Medicine
US News
Healthline
The Royal Surgeons of England
America's Health Rankings[1]
America's Health Rankings[2]
New Jersey State Police
Cleveland Clinic
CHRISTUS Health
Advanced Orthopaedics Associates, P.A.
Mayo Clinic[1]
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