You suffer from a fracture, sprain, ligament pain, osteoarthritis or even scoliosis, you will probably need to consult an orthopedic surgeon. Indeed, this professional is capable of detecting and treating all conditions and problems related to the musculoskeletal system.
If you are still hesitant to take the plunge, find out in this article what you need to know about orthopedics, the job of an orthopedic surgeon, the pathologies treated by this professional and the cases in which you should consult him.
What is orthopedics?
Orthopedics is a surgical specialty practiced primarily by a certified medical specialist. She is interested in the diagnosis and management of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In other words, the orthopedic specialist treats all pathologies linked to bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. It also treats trauma problems (fractures, sprains, overuse of athletes) or chronic problems (mechanical pain, osteoarthritis, scoliosis) but also deformities of limbs or fingers, or certain ligament problems.
What does the job of an orthopedic surgeon consist of?
An orthopedist is a specialist in limb surgery and an orthopedist-orthetist. It also manufactures orthotics and prostheses. On the other hand, an orthopedic surgeon is a doctor specializing in preventive and restorative surgery of the musculoskeletal system composed of bones, joints, cartilage, ligaments and muscles. He will do his best to relieve your pain or functional problems caused by an illness, an accident, a congenital malformation or even an injury of sporting or professional origin. He will then be able to prescribe orthopedic treatment or a surgical operation, depending on your problem and the level of its complexity.
What areas are treated by the orthopedic surgeon?
An orthopedic surgeon specializes in treating the lower limbs (such as the hips, knees and feet), the spine and the upper limbs (such as the hands, elbow and shoulders). In addition to this, he treats fractures, sprains and injuries. dislocations that occur after an accident The orthopedic surgeon also deals with inflammatory or infectious pathologies, growth problems or even congenital malformations.
When to consult an orthopedic surgeon?
Orthopedics is proving to be an effective means of treating pathologies and conditions related to the musculoskeletal system. If you suffer from chronic pain in your upper or lower limbs, consult your doctor who can refer you to an orthopedic specialist. Indeed, an orthopedic surgeon is capable of treating sprains, fractures, dislocations, herniated discs, bone tumors, scoliosis, kyphosis or even infectious or inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
How does the consultation take place?
The orthopedic specialist will be able to see patients of all age categories (children or adults). A child patient can directly consult an orthopedic surgeon, without being referred by their pediatrician, school doctor or even their general practitioner. However, an adult patient must be referred by their attending physician or the emergency department.
Regarding the progress of the consultation, know that the orthopedic surgeon will make a diagnosis and ask you questions to determine your symptoms and your abnormality. Depending on the examinations that may have been carried out beforehand, he will offer you a medicinal treatment (taking medication, infiltrations, making insoles, rehabilitation sessions, etc.) or a surgical intervention. This is the last resort! But before any operation, he will explain to you clearly the dangers, risks and possible difficulties and the modalities of the surgical intervention.
Preparing for your visit is important!
Before consulting an orthopedic surgeon, it is strongly recommended to prepare for your visit. Then gather all the recent orders, any x-rays, scans and MRIs carried out as well as the list of all medications taken.
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