Orthopedist
An orthopedist is a doctor who diagnoses, treats and prevents diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as other defects in the bone structure.
People who have been injured or injured in everyday life and at work, as well as for the implementation of the necessary treatment in the post-traumatic period, turn to an orthopedist.
In addition, the doctor is able to provide assistance to patients who have problems with the musculoskeletal system as a result of professional activities.
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Content:
- Orthopedics: main directions
- What organs does an orthopedist treat?
- When should you see a podiatrist?
- Symptoms for an urgent appointment with a podiatrist
- We take the child to a pediatric orthopedist
- Appointment to an orthopedist
Orthopedics: main directions
An orthopedic surgeon specializes in several areas:
- Outpatient orthopedics. In this case, the doctor carries out the therapy and prevention of diseases in the conditions of the polyclinic in which he is receiving. This direction does not imply the implementation of surgical intervention on the joints or bones of the patient.
- Endoprosthetics. Within the framework of this direction, surgical intervention is carried out to install a prosthesis of a joint or bone, in the event that it is impossible to preserve one's own elements of the musculoskeletal system.
- Surgical orthopedics. Within the framework of this direction, a radical effect is carried out on the feet, hands, spine, teeth, with the capture, if necessary, of ligaments, bones and joints.
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Traumatological orthopedics. This area includes sports orthopedics. Treatment can be both conservative and operative, depending on the nature of the injuries received by the person. It is possible to use modern means for fixing fractures, correcting defects in bones and joints, as well as correcting old defects. Since sports orthopedics is included in the trauma direction, it implies a therapeutic effect on various types of injuries that athletes receive.
- Orthopedics for children and adolescents. Within the framework of this direction, children under the age of one year and up to puberty are exposed to treatment and prevention.
What organs does an orthopedist treat?
The doctor is engaged in therapy:
- Joints;
- Muscles;
- Ligaments;
- Bone elements;
- Nerve endings;
- Tendons.
The area of influence of the orthopedist includes feet and hands, shoulder blades, back, humerus, joints (hip and knee).
Diseases treated by an orthopedist
Most often, an orthopedist in his practice is faced with such diseases as:
- Congenital defects, including: torticollis, dysplasia of the hip joints;
- Foot diseases: clubfoot, curvature, flat feet;
- Arthrosis, bursitis, characterized by an inflammatory process localized in the area of the articular bag and joint;
- Dislocations and fractures;
- Osteochondrosis of the spinal column; (Read also: Causes, symptoms and prevention of osteochondrosis)
- Ewing's tumor;
- Damage to the skeletal system of autoimmune origin - rheumatoid arthritis, which becomes the reason for assigning a disability to the patient;
- Osteogenic sarcoma;
- Chondromisosarcoma;
- Deforming osteosis, etc.
When should you see a podiatrist?
The above diseases are far from a complete list of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. The variety of diseases determines the variety of treatment methods that the orthopedist uses in his practice. Indeed, his competence includes the elimination of diseases of bones, joints and surrounding tissues, the etiology of which varies: they are caused by past infections, injuries, in addition, congenital malformations cannot be ruled out. Acquired diseases are most often injuries sustained at work, or diseases caused by disruptions in metabolic processes. As for infectious diseases of bones and joints, they arise either as a concomitant inflammation, or as a complication after the transferred pathology.
As a rule, bone diseases do not differ in a rapid course, and therefore even the first symptoms should alert a person and become a reason for contacting a doctor. In addition, the first signs of the disease are most often erased, and when they begin to manifest themselves clearly, this indicates a far-reaching pathological process, characterized by large-scale damage to the elements of the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, visits to the orthopedist should be planned, starting from childhood.
Orthopedic traumatologist: when is it needed?
The reasons for going to an appointment with an orthopedist-traumatologist may be:
- The consequences of the postponed poliomyelitis;
- Consequences of primary fractures, secondary fractures;
- Spinal column pain on a regular basis;
- Pain in the joints and lower extremities;
- Frostbite of limbs, sprains and bruises, insect or animal bites;
- Deformation and functional impairment of any elements of the musculoskeletal system.
Sometimes, treatment does not require opening the soft tissue and gaining access to the bone. A specialist in traumatological orthopedics is armed with such a closed method of surgical intervention as redressing. It is performed manually and consists of several stages of deformity correction of articular elements. Among the pathologies that can be eliminated by this method are clubfoot, fractures, rickets, contracture, improper fusion of the limbs, etc. However, this method of treatment is not always applicable, but only in specific cases, which are determined by the doctor.
Symptoms for an urgent appointment with a podiatrist
There are certain symptoms that should not be ignored, and when they appear, you should immediately go to see a specialist.
This must be done due to the fact that they indicate a serious anomaly in the musculoskeletal system:
- Stiffness in the joints, the appearance of a crunch in them;
- Numbness of the limbs;
- Pain in the back; (Read also: Causes of Back Pain)
- Swelling and swelling of the joints;
- Aching pains with weather changes;
- Rapid fatigability against the background of poor posture.
Regular visits to a specialist and registration with an orthopedist are necessary for the following diseases:
- Spinal column injuries;
- Articular arthrosis;
- Rheumatoid arthritis; (Read also: Causes, Symptoms, Stages and Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis)
- Dislocations - knee or shoulder joint;
- Hip fracture at any age;
- Osteochondrosis.
With regard to preventive measures, then most often observation by an orthopedist-traumatologist is recommended for those who are interested in active sports, as well as for extreme sports. This will eliminate the possibility of complications from frequent microtraumas and will save you from serious problems with the musculoskeletal system in the future.
We take the child to a pediatric orthopedist
Sometimes children need the help of an orthopedist. Parents should bring the child to a specialist for consultation if he has problems with the musculoskeletal system, since the treatment started on time will allow to achieve maximum results. This applies to both congenital and acquired diseases.
So, you need to show the child to the doctor in the following cases:
- In the presence of congenital dislocation of the hip;
- With pronounced severity while walking, with rapid fatigue from walking, since both of these signs indicate flat feet;
- If the child slouches;
- If the child's head is tilted to one side, which is a sign of torticollis;
- With complaints of pain in the limbs or back;
- If there are signs of clubfoot.
First appointment with an orthopedist
At the initial appointment with an orthopedist, the patient will need to go through a standard procedure:
- Visual examination with the aim of assessing the anatomical structure of the skeletal system. This item is especially relevant when examining newborns.
- Finding out the range of motion of the affected joints, possible for a particular patient.
- Performing fluoroscopy to make the most accurate diagnosis.
- CT or MRI (as needed)
Orthopedic tests
To obtain the most complete picture of the disease, the orthopedist sends the patient for the following tests:
- Urine and blood tests - general;
- Blood clotting test;
- Analyzes to determine the prothrombosed index, time and prothrombosed time in combination with fibrogen;
- APTT data.
