What Does an Ortho Surgeon Do?

Orthopedic issues are quite common reasons why people seek medical care nowadays. From sedentary middle-aged people to physically active sportspersons, people visit an ortho surgeon when they get an injury or have a chronic condition like arthritis. But what exactly does an ortho surgeon do? In this blog, we’ll shed light on what orthopedic surgeons do or how to find the best ortho surgeon in Chandigarh. Let’s get started!

Who is an Ortho Surgeon? What does he do?

Orthopedics is a medical field focusing on diseases, injuries, or conditions that affect your musculoskeletal systems or parts, like bones, joints, muscles, nerves, ligaments, or tendons. Ortho surgeons do a variety of treatments depending on the patient’s unique conditions. In a nutshell, an orthopedic surgeon is trained to diagnose, treat, prevent, and rehabilitate musculoskeletal diseases and injuries. 

The day-to-day duties of an orthopedic surgeon include-

• Diagnosing the issues and treating the conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system.
• Assisting the patients with rehabilitation and helping them regain movement, range of movement, strength, and flexibility.
• Creating strategies to prevent chronic injuries from worsening.
• Though ortho surgeons treat all parts of the musculoskeletal system, some specialize in other areas of orthopedics, like shoulder & elbow, spine, hip & knee, trauma surgery, foot & ankle, or sports medicine.

However, the most common issues orthopedic surgeons treat via surgery are-

• Painful joints
• Broken bones
• Sports injuries
• Osteoporosis
• Hip dysplasia
• Carpal tunnel
• ACL Tears
• Limb abnormalities, like bowleg or clubfoot
• Bone tumors, etc.

What procedures do ortho surgeons do?

A condition or injury may not always get better with conservative treatment. In these circumstances, the doctor might advise surgery. An orthopedic surgeon might carry out procedures such as:

Surgical Methods

Joint reconstruction 

In joint replacement surgery, the damaged parts of a joint are replaced; this is typically done as a result of arthritis. The replacement of the knee and the hip are two examples.

Internal Fixation

In this procedure, the surgeon places hardware, like pins, plates, screws, or rods so that broken bones are held in place while they are in the healing process. 

Osteotomy

Osteotomy involves cutting off a piece of bone and then repositioning it. Generally, this treatment is used for the treatment of arthritis.

Fusion

In order to join two bones together, bone graft material and an internal fixation technique are used. The bone tissue heals and unites to form a single bone. This method is frequently used in spine injuries.

Release Surgery

This type of surgery is used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. By relieving pressure on the median nerve, it provides the patient with relief in symptoms.

ACL Reconstruction

ACL tears are common in athletes or sportspeople. ACL reconstruction is an outpatient treatment to treat a torn ACL in which a surgeon first removes the damaged ligament and replaces it with an autograft or allograft tissue. It is an arthroscopic procedure involving several incisions and the insertion of a tiny camera or other instruments to allow the surgeon to see inside the knee joint. 

Non-Surgical Methods

Before considering surgery, orthopedic specialists or surgeons consider nonsurgical therapies which include-

Exercises

To help you maintain or enhance your strength, flexibility, and range of motion in a particular location, your orthopedic specialist may suggest a set of specific exercises or stretches.

Immobilization

Preventing more stress on a region occasionally aids in its recovery. Braces, splints, and casts are a few examples of immobilization methods.

Lifestyle Changes

You can get assistance from your orthopedic doctor in changing your way of life. To avoid worsening an injury or ailment, lifestyle changes may include altering your physical activity, food, and exercise routine.

When to see an orthopedic surgeon?

You need to visit an orthopedic surgeon when-

• You have pain or swelling in a bone, joint, or muscle that’s persistent, recurring, or doesn’t respond improve with home remedies.
• You have a significant decrease in the mobility or range of motion of a joint, such as your knee, elbow, or shoulder
• You feel trouble performing your daily activities
• You have nerve-related symptoms, such as numbness and tingling or a “pins and needles” sensation in your arms or legs.
• You got an injury to a bone or joint that needs treatment.

How to find a good orthopedic surgeon?

If you are looking for an orthopedic surgeon, here are the tips that can help-

• Consult your family physician. Your family physician might be able to suggest or refer you to a good orthopedic surgeon.
• Search online to find a good orthopedic surgeon in your area.
• Consult a friend or relative. Someone close to you may be able to suggest an orthopedic surgeon they had a positive experience with.
• Use social media or read online reviews. This way, you get an idea about the orthopedic surgeon's education, skills, and success in treating various ailments.