Orthopedic services
Orthopedics, or orthopedic services, aim at the treatment of the musculoskeletal system. This includes your bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
Information
There can be many medical problems that can affect the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
Bone problems may include:
- Bone deformities
- Bone infections
- Bone tumors
- Fractures
- Need for amputation
- Nonunions: failure of fractures to heal
- Malunions: fractures healing in a wrong position
- Spinal deformities
Joint problems may include:
-
Arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. A joint is the area where 2 bones meet. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis....
-
Bursitis
Bursitis
Bursitis is the swelling and irritation of a bursa. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between a muscles, tendons, and bones....
- Dislocation
- Joint pain
- Joint swelling or inflammation
- Ligament tears
Common orthopedic-related diagnoses based on body part include:
ANKLE AND FOOT:
-
Bunions
Bunions
A bunion forms when your big toe points toward the second toe. This causes a bump to appear on the inside edge of your toe.
-
Fasciitis
Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot. It connects the heel bone to the toes and creates the arch of the foot. When this...
- Foot and ankle deformities
- Fractures
- Hammer toe
- Heel pain
- Heel spurs
- Joint pain and arthritis
- Sprains
-
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Tibial nerve dysfunction is a loss of movement or sensation in the foot from damage to the tibial nerve.
- Sesamoiditis
HAND AND WRIST:
- Fractures
- Joint pain
- Arthritis
- Tendon or ligament injury
-
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which there is excessive pressure on the median nerve. This is the nerve in the wrist that allows feeling a...
- Ganglion cyst
-
Tendinitis
Tendinitis
Tendons are the fibrous structures that join muscles to bones. When these tendons become swollen or inflamed, it is called tendinitis. In many case...
- Tendon tears
- Infection
SHOULDER:
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Dislocation
-
Frozen shoulder (
adhesive capsulitis
)
Adhesive capsulitis
Frozen shoulder is a condition in which the shoulder is painful and loses motion because of inflammation.
- Impingement syndrome
- Loose or foreign bodies
- Rotator cuff tear
-
Rotator cuff tendinitis
Rotator cuff tendinitis
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that attach to the bones of the shoulder joint, allowing the shoulder to move and keeping it stabl...
- Separation
- Torn labrum
- SLAP tears
- Fractures
KNEE:
- Cartilage and meniscus injuries
- Dislocation of the kneecap (patella)
- Ligament sprains or tears (anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate, medial collateral, and lateral collateral ligament tears)
- Loose or foreign bodies
-
Osgood-Schlatter disease
Osgood-Schlatter disease
Osgood-Schlatter disease is a painful swelling of the bump on the upper part of the shinbone, just below the knee. This bump is called the anterior ...
- Pain
- Tendinitis
- Fractures
ELBOW:
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Dislocation or separation
- Ligament sprains or tears
- Loose or foreign bodies
- Pain
-
Tennis
or
golfers
elbow (
epicondylitis
or tendinitis)
Tennis
Tennis elbow is soreness or pain on the outside (lateral) side of the upper arm near the elbow.
Golfers
Medial epicondylitis is soreness or pain on the inside of the lower arm near the elbow. It is commonly called golfer’s elbow.
Epicondylitis
Tennis elbow is soreness or pain on the outside (lateral) side of the upper arm near the elbow.
- Elbow stiffness or contractures
- Fractures
SPINE:
-
Herniated (slipped) disk
Herniated (slipped) disk
A herniated (slipped) disk occurs when all or part of a disk is forced through a weakened part of the disk. This may place pressure on nearby nerves...
- Infection of the spine
- Injury to the spine
-
Scoliosis
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is an abnormal curving of the spine. Your spine is your backbone. It runs straight down your back. Everyone's spine naturally curves a b...
-
Spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal column that causes pressure on the spinal cord, or narrowing of the openings (called neural foramina) wher...
- Spinal tumor
- Fractures
-
Spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from disease of the nearby bones,...
SERVICES AND TREATMENTS
Imaging procedures can help diagnose or even treat many orthopedic conditions. Your health care provider may order:
-
Arthrogram (joint x-ray)
Arthrogram (joint x-ray)
This test is an x-ray of a knee, shoulder, hip, wrist, ankle, or other joint.
- Bone scans
-
Computed tomography (CT) scan
Computed tomography (CT) scan
A computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...
- Discography
-
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...
- X-rays
Sometimes, treatment involves injections of medicine into the painful area. This may involve:
- Corticosteroid injections into joints, tendons, and ligaments, and around the spine
- Hyaluronic acid injection to help relieve arthritis pain
Surgical procedures used in the treatment of orthopedics include:
-
Amputation
Amputation
Leg or foot amputation is the removal of a leg, foot or toes from the body. These body parts are called extremities. Amputations are done either by...
-
Arthroscopic
surgeries
Arthroscopic
Hip arthroscopy is surgery that is done by making small cuts around your hip and looking inside using a tiny camera. Other medical instruments may a...
- Bunionectomy and hammer toe repair
- Cartilage repair or resurfacing procedures
- Cartilage surgery to knee
- Fracture care
-
Arthroplasty
Arthroplasty
Shoulder replacement is surgery to replace the bones of the shoulder joint with artificial joint parts.
- Ligament reconstructions
- Repair of torn ligaments and tendons
- Spine surgery, including diskectomy, foraminotomy, laminectomy, and spinal fusion
Newer orthopedic services procedures include:
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Advanced external fixation
- Use of bone graft substitutes and bone-fusing protein
WHO IS INVOLVED
Orthopedic care often involves a team approach. Your team may include a doctor, a non-doctor specialist as well as others. Non-doctor specialists are professionals such as a physical therapist.
- Orthopedic surgeons receive 5 or more extra years of training after school. They specialize in the care of disorders of the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They are trained to manage joint problems with both operative and non-operative techniques.
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors have 4 or more extra years of training after medical school. They specialize in this type of care. They are also referred to as physiatrists. They do not perform surgery, although they can give joint injections.
- Sports medicine physicians are doctors with experience in sports medicine. They have a primary specialty in family practice, internal medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, or physical medicine and rehabilitation. Most have 1 to 2 years of additional training in sports medicine through subspecialty programs in sports medicine. Sports medicine is a special branch of orthopedics. This provides complete medical care to active people of all ages.
Other doctors that may be a part of the orthopedics team include:
- Neurologists
- Pain specialists
- Primary care doctors
- Psychiatrists
- Chiropractors
Non-doctor health professionals that may be a part of the orthopedics team include:
- Athletic trainers
- Counselors
- Nurse practitioners
- Physical therapists
- Physician assistants
- Psychologists
- Social workers
- Vocational workers
References
Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW. Musculoskeletal system. In: Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW, eds. Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 21.
Crenshaw AH. Surgical techniques and approaches. In: Canale ST, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics . 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2013.chap 1.
Epicondylitis. First Consult. 2011. www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/medical_topic/21-s2.0-1014923 . Accessed: April 26, 2016.
Swartz MH. The musculoskeletal system. In: Swartz MH, ed. Textbook of Physical Diagnosis . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 17.
Williams DT, Kim HT. Wrist and forearm. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts And Clinical Practice . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 51.
Review Date: 3/10/2016
Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.