An orthopedist is a doctor who has been familiar to many since childhood. It monitors the bones, joints and muscles that make up the musculoskeletal system. It is to this doctor that they are sent if there are problems with posture or joints. You can read more about what an orthopedist does and what his responsibilities are in this article.
What do these experts do
Those who care about their health and regularly visit specialists, probably know who an orthopedist is. Problems with the musculoskeletal system in people occur quite often. Since childhood, people have to turn to orthopedists for advice on various issues. What does an orthopedic surgeon do? He studies the following problems:
- Pain in the muscles, joints, etc.
- Fractures.
- Arthritis.
- Dislocated joints.
- "Tennis elbow."
- Sports and professional injuries.
- Loss of fitness, such as inability to climb up or stand up.
Most of our body is made up of muscles and bones, so it is not surprising that many of the diseases and injuries that we receive during our lifetime are closely related to orthopedics. Orthopedist - which doctor? This is a specialist with higher medical education, who received the corresponding specialization. Distinguish between adult and children's specialists. Orthopedists can use a variety of methods in their work: from surgery to physical therapy. As a rule, initially doctors prescribe conservative treatment and only then offer surgical intervention.
Specializations
Orthopedists, like other doctors, have several specializations. Some are involved in surgery, others in injuries. Some orthopedists have a common profile that allows you to look at the musculoskeletal system as one system. Often, such doctors come to patients with complaints of pain in the legs, when in fact the lower back, knee or thigh can be the source of the problem. A holistic approach is important in medicine, which is why orthopedic therapists will never stop being popular. Here are some specializations that can still be distinguished:
- Orthopedic surgeons mainly deal with problems of the spine and bones. A specialist can both prescribe conservative treatment and perform surgical operations.
- Orthopedic traumatologist. Focused on injuries. In some cases, endoprosthetics involves replacing bones and joints with special prostheses. If it is impossible to save them, there is a chance to replace them with a synthetic compound that will allow a person to lead a familiar lifestyle.
- An orthopedic dentist works in the field of prosthetics. If the patient has problems with the teeth, he selects a suitable replacement and performs the operation. Orthopedics in dentistry is one of the most difficult areas, therefore, consulting such a specialist costs a pretty impressive amount.
- Children's and adult orthopedist. Orthopedics is a very extensive science, therefore, the specialization of doctors is further divided by the age of the patients. What do pediatric orthopedists do? They mainly treat spinal curvature, flat feet, and fractures.
As for practical use, orthopedists can perform the following manipulations:
- Replacing the hip joint in the elderly with an endoprosthesis.
- Decrease in a pain syndrome.
- Making insoles for correcting flat feet.
- Treatment of occupational injuries (e.g. chronic inflammation of the knee joint).
- Arthritis treatment.
Dentist
Dental orthopedics is developing rapidly and is becoming increasingly popular. What does an orthopedic dentist do? In addition to the manufacture and installation of prostheses, specialists treat diseases such as episodes of apnea (respiratory arrest) during sleep, dysfunction of the lower temporomandibular joint. For a long time, people were suspicious of orthopedic dentists because of the lack of a clear definition of the scope of their activities. Most confuse orthopedists and orthodontists. But if the former deal with the problems of the teeth and bones themselves, the latter correct the bite.
What do orthopedic dentists do? They always try to prevent tooth decay so that they do not have to make a prosthesis. But if removal is nevertheless inevitable, then orthopedists help to make a high-quality replacement from synthetic materials that would not affect the patient's chewing or appearance. Some orthopedists are engaged in the manufacture of veneers - special plates that are worn over their own teeth in order to smooth their shape and give them a better look. In addition to single prostheses, orthopedic dentists make other designs:
- Bridges are a prosthesis that replaces several missing teeth. Sometimes the bridge allows you to save on the installation of implants and not overload the patient’s jaw too.
- Laminar construction or removable denture is one of the most affordable prostheses that is widely used. This is the same “removable jaw” that attaches to your teeth.
- Clasp structures are similar to plate structures, but, in contrast to them, have their own fastening system. The design is equipped with locks and clasps that allow you to eat without fear of damage to your own teeth.
Healthy teeth and proper bite have a greater effect on our entire body than is commonly believed. Therefore, consultation with an orthopedic dentist is mandatory for all people, but especially for children and adolescents who are much easier to fix their teeth than adults.
Orthopedic traumatologist. Specialization
What does an orthopedic traumatologist do? It heals and treats wounds and bruises, fractures that have arisen due to bumps, collisions, accidents. This is a fairly new specialty, which, unlike the traditional one, gives the right to treat not only fractures of the main bones. An orthopedic traumatologist has many skills and specializes in treating injuries to the skeleton and muscles of a person. Each orthopedic traumatologist, before embarking on a practice, must necessarily receive a higher education and graduate from residency. Training takes a lot of time, so there are few specialists in this field, and all of them are worth its weight in gold.
Here's what an orthopedic traumatologist does in practice:
- Simple fractures.
- More complex (fracture of the pelvis, acetabulum).
- Dislocations of the shoulder and other joints.
- Fracture of the spine.
- Chronic bone disease.
An orthopedic traumatologist usually works in a team with other specialists: surgeons, neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons. Today, specialists can even cure diseases that have recently negatively affected human life. For example, replacing the hip joint in older people allows them to remain mobile and continue to walk without special equipment. Here are some methods an orthopedist usually uses:
- Visual inspection.
- Palpation is a fairly simple but effective method that can detect deformities and pathologies in bone tissue.
- An X-ray is considered mandatory when making a diagnosis, because some fractures can be difficult to detect exclusively with the help of improvised means.
- MRI is used in more serious cases: for example, when there is a suspicion of a compression fracture of the vertebra or a crack in the skull, which is difficult to see with a conventional X-ray.
- Reduction is a method during which a doctor corrects existing defects with his hands (for example, adjusts a dislocated joint).
Children's and adult orthopedist
What is the difference between children's and adult orthopedics? Minors are not just small adults, they have completely different problems. For example, pediatric orthopedists do not need to engage in hip replacement. Most often, they are faced with injuries received at playgrounds. Such specialists receive higher education in the specialty "Pediatrics", and then undergo another training course in orthopedics. The anatomy of children's bones is significantly different from adults, therefore, in the treatment of babies and adolescents, there are many nuances that need to be considered. Adult orthopedic surgeons often have the basic knowledge of general practitioners. Then they study extra.
Here's what a children's orthopedist does:
- Anomalies of bones. Children's bones have a different structure and structure. They are much softer than the bones of adults, so they are injured differently from bumps and falls.
- Growth zones (epiphyseal plates) are located at the ends of growing bones and are unique to children. The proper development of these zones is extremely important for the normal growth and health of the child, and their damage can lead to a deterioration in the patient's quality of life.
- Injuries. Since the child’s body is significantly different from the adult organism, the injuries in it proceed differently. For example, bone fractures in children heal much faster. Therefore, it is important to notice all deformations on time, otherwise the bones may not grow together correctly, which will lead to surgical intervention.
- Delayed development of the musculoskeletal system and syndromes associated with changes in bone or muscle tissue. Children cannot always explain exactly what and where it hurts. An orthopedic traumatologist is able to establish the cause of the pain and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
A pediatric orthopedist is not only a good doctor who deals with problems of the skeleton and muscles, but also a person who can approach the problem from different points of view and at the same time find an approach to the child.
Orthopedic surgeon
What does an orthopedic surgeon do? A doctor in this specialty also deals with injuries and fractures, but his surgical specialization suggests that treatment can be either conservative or surgical. Most often, an orthopedic surgeon comes with the following problems:
- Osteochondrosis.
- Meniscus tear.
- Amputations.
- Burns, injuries and bruises, fractures.
- Flat feet.
An orthopedic surgeon is treated with complaints of pain, with curvature of the spine, dizziness, fractures. In order to get to the orthopedic surgeon for free, you must first contact a local therapist and take a ticket to a specialist.
Doctor's Responsibilities
An orthopedist is a doctor of wide specialization, therefore quite a lot of requirements are made to his work. Here's what the doctor should do:
- Examine the patient's medical history, hear his complaints and conduct a personal examination.
- If necessary, prescribe diagnostic procedures (laboratory tests, x-rays, etc.), and monitor their result.
- Diagnose and recommend surgical or conservative treatment.
- Prescribe the necessary supplements and medications.
- Create a postoperative care plan and procedures that the patient should follow.
- Participate in the continuing education system and constantly improve their skills.
- Perform surgical and non-invasive surgery.
- Make physical activity plans and recommend diets that can make life easier for patients.
In which cases you need to contact an orthopedist
An orthopedic doctor deals with the problems of joints, bones and muscles, which together represent the musculoskeletal system. General practitioners treat people of all ages, but at the moment most of them still specialize in a specific area: traumatology, pediatrics, surgery or dentistry. This allows specialists to more clearly and efficiently carry out their work. Here's what an orthopedic doctor treats:
- Arthritis.
- Damage and deformation of the hands.
- Joint replacement.
- Bone tumors.
- Bone cancer
- Sports injuries.
- Pain in the back, legs, knees.
- Weakening of muscles, loss of physical abilities.
- Dental problems (pain, malposition) and jaw.
- Skull injuries.
- Flat feet.
- Osteochondrosis.
- Rachiocampsis.
- Frostbite.
- "Clicking" in the joints during movement.
Treatment methods
Orthopedists have a wide range of treatment methods that can fix countless problems with bones, muscles and joints:
- Surgery can quickly and accurately correct an existing problem. Without surgery, it is impossible to replace the hip, fix a complex fracture, insert a metal plate that will support the spine. At the same time, the operation carries many risks, so it is carried out only in extreme cases.
- Non-invasive methods (injections of corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, plasma) can significantly improve the condition of bones and tissues.
- Physiotherapy involves the use of special exercises, ultrasound and current therapy in order to recover faster. As a rule, it is used in combination with other methods.
- Orthopedic products can fix the result and prevent the deformation of joints or bones.
- Massage is used as an auxiliary procedure for improving blood circulation and for general healing of the body.
Procedure
Here's what to do if you are injured or have sore muscles or ligaments:
- Find a competent orthopedist who can diagnose you.
- Make sure the diagnosis is correct. If in doubt, you should consult with another specialist.
- Find out as much information as possible about your disease. Do not rely entirely on the doctor. A great responsibility lies with yourself, so in order to get better faster, you need to learn about exercises, diet or daily routine, which you can follow yourself.
- Be mindful of your body. In people who are overweight, bones and joints receive a double load, so they are more likely to undergo fractures and deformities. The course of treatment can be more successful if you begin to lose weight at the same time.