An orthopedic surgeon is a medical specialist specializing in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses. The bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves are all included. When it comes to orthopedic sports medicine surgeon Buford, GA, they focus on the care of athletes and active individuals.
These medical experts can help to treat a wide variety of injuries. Both surgical and non-surgical treatment methods can be used by orthopedic surgeons to treat patients.
There are different causes of bone disorders and injuries, such as:
- Trauma: This is one of the most common causes of orthopedic problems. Trauma can occur due to a car accident, a fall, or a sports injury.
- Degenerative Conditions: These occur when the bones and joints deteriorate over time. This is often seen in older patients.
- Infections: Infections can result in bone and joint damage. This is often seen in patients who have had surgery or who have a weakened immune system.
- Congenital Conditions: These are conditions that are present at birth. Examples of congenital conditions include scoliosis and clubfoot.
Orthopedic surgeons can treat a wide variety of conditions. Below are some of the most common conditions that can be handled by an orthopedic surgeon:
Arthritis
Arthritis is a degenerative disease that causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. This is a common condition that orthopedic surgeons treat. There are various forms of this disease, but osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common. Orthopedic surgeons can treat arthritis with medication, physical therapy, and surgery.
Bone fractures
Orthopedic surgeons treat bone fractures with various methods, depending on the severity of the fracture. For minor fractures, they may put a cast on the limb. For more severe fractures, they may need to use metal rods, screws, or plates to hold the bone in place while it heals. In some cases, surgery may be necessary.
Herniated disc
This is a condition in which the soft cushioning between the vertebrae in your spine bulges out and puts pressure on the nerves nearby. This can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the affected limb. This condition can be handled using medication, physical therapy, and surgery.
Joint replacement
Joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which an orthopedic surgeon replaces a damaged joint with an artificial one. This is usually done for joints severely damaged by arthritis or other conditions. Joint replacement surgery can be done on the hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, or ankle.
Osteoporosis
This is a condition that causes the bones to become weak and brittle. It is most common in older women but can affect people of any age. Orthopedic surgeons can treat osteoporosis with medication, physical therapy, and surgery.
Rotator cuff injury
It is a collection of muscles and tendons that support the shoulder joint. A rotator cuff injury occurs when one or more of these muscles and tendons are injured. A rotator cuff injury is treated with medication, physical therapy, and surgery.
These are just some of the conditions that an orthopedic surgeon can treat. If you have any pain or problems with your musculoskeletal system, see Stephen Fisher, MD, for diagnosis and treatment.
