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Orthopedics is one of the branches of clinical medicine and surgery. Orthopedists study the mechanisms of development of deformities and functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Doctors also work with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of malformations, congenital pathologies, the consequences of mechanical injuries or diseases that affect the bone skeleton. What you need to know about orthopedists, how often do you need to visit a doctor, how is the diagnosis and treatment carried out?
General characteristics of the direction
Orthopedics traditionally acts in conjunction with traumatology. Traumatology is a branch of clinical medicine that studies injuries to the musculoskeletal system (joints, ligaments, bones, tendons). An integral part of orthopedics and traumatology is prosthetics.
The discipline is based on the development and use of prostheses/orthoses. A prosthesis is an artificial substitute for damaged body parts of a living organism. An orthosis is an external medical device that is used to change the functional or structural characteristics of the skeleton/neuromuscular system. Orthoses include corsets, bandage, special insoles or orthopedic shoes that support devices.
Orthopedics is also considered an important part of sports medicine. This is a science that studies changes in the human body during / after active physical activity. Both positive and negative results are evaluated. Why does an orthopedist need knowledge about physical culture and sports? The practitioner conducts and prescribes exercise therapy, massage or physiotherapy. It is considered unacceptable to use medical manipulations without having full knowledge about them.
In conjunction with traumatology and orthopedics, there are other narrow-profile areas – spine surgery, biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system, joint replacement, arthroscopic surgery and others. In some countries (for example, in the post-Soviet space), the combination of traumatology and orthopedics constitutes an independent clinical discipline.
What are the responsibilities of a specialist
An orthopedist is a specialist with a higher medical education who has completed postgraduate training (internship / residency) and received a narrow specialization. In addition to the traditional course of therapy for diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system, the specialist is versed in military field surgery, prosthetics, sports traumatology, rehabilitation, clinical biomechanics and bone pathologies.
The main goal of the doctor is the prevention and treatment of orthopedic diseases and the consequences of mechanical injuries on an outpatient basis. Diagnostics, therapy and prevention are carried out in specialized medical institutions – trauma departments of the hospital, rehabilitation centers, orthopedic sanatoriums, and so on.
An incomplete list of diseases that an orthopedist deals with:
- curvature of the feet, clubfoot or flat feet;
- congenital pathologies of the musculoskeletal system (for example, hip dysplasia);
- arthrosis, bursitis, arthritis;
- osteochondrosis (dystrophic disorder in articular cartilage);
- mechanical damage, dislocations, fractures and other injuries;
- Ewing’s sarcoma (a malignant tumor of the bone skeleton).
What you need to know about pediatric orthopedics
In a separate category, children’s orthopedists are distinguished. The direction itself is focused on the prevention and treatment of skeletal defects. Orthopedic consultation is necessary not only for schoolchildren, but also for preschool children. The doctor will diagnose the baby’s musculoskeletal system, identify its strengths / weaknesses, determine the child’s readiness for future stress (school / university) and tell parents how to avoid many ailments.
An emergency visit to a specialist is indicated in such cases:
- incorrect position of the hip of the newborn (congenital dislocation);
- heaviness of gait, rapid fatigue of the baby after a few steps or minutes of walking;
- slouch;
- constant tilt of the head to the shoulder;
- complaints of the child himself about episodic pain in the legs/back/neck/arms;
- clubfoot.
Monitor your own child and analyze the pace of his development. Untimely access to a doctor is fraught with complications, long-term therapy and a decrease in the quality of life of the baby.
When to Seek Help
A visit to the orthopedist should become a regular procedure. Go through a general medical examination 1-2 times a year to control your own body and prevent illnesses in time. Bone disorders can develop for years without causing much discomfort or pain to the patient. That is why frequent diagnosis is the key to the health of the musculoskeletal system.
An unscheduled consultation with an orthopedist may be needed unexpectedly. Have you or a child been injured while playing sports, experiencing discomfort in the limbs, for no apparent reason, or just being out in the cold a little longer than expected? Go to a consultation with an orthopedist to rule out serious diseases or immediately treat them.
Sprains, bruises, animal bites, deformation of the limbs / spine / chest / functionality of small or large joints should also prompt a person for urgent diagnosis.
The main rule is not to endure pain. Cracking in the joints, numbness or swelling of the hands, pain in movement, episodic aching pains throughout the body, rapid fatigue or poor posture significantly affect the quality of human life. Protect your own comfort, do not wait until the pain goes away on its own or develops into a chronic one – visit an orthopedist.
People who are involved in active sports, like extreme recreation or work in exhausting conditions (for example, in production) should visit an orthopedist more often, as they are at risk.
Diagnostic methods and therapy
At the first consultation, the orthopedist listens to the patient’s complaints, conducts a visual examination, determines the range of motion and prescribes the necessary examination. Most often, this is an x-ray, on the basis of which the diagnosis is confirmed or denied. In some cases, magnetic resonance or computed tomography will be required to get a clearer and better picture. In addition to diagnostic studies, the orthopedist issues a referral for a general analysis of urine and blood.
Based on the results obtained, a therapeutic course is developed. It is selected individually for each patient. Some will need surgery, others a course of antibiotics or massage, and others a lifestyle adjustment. The main thing is not to self-medicate, but strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations.