Orthopedist - who is it and what does it treat? Appointment

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Orthopedist - who is it and what does it treat? Appointment
Orthopedist - who is it and what does it treat? Appointment
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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 disabled at home and at work, as well as for the necessary treatment in the post-traumatic period, turn to an orthopedist.

In addition, the doctor is able to help patients who have problems with the musculoskeletal system as a result of their professional activities.

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Orthopedics: main areas

Orthopedist
Orthopedist

An orthopedic doctor specializes in several areas:

  • Orthopedics outpatient. In this case, the doctor carries out therapy and disease prevention in the conditions of the clinic in which he is receiving. This direction does not imply the implementation of surgical intervention on the joints or bones of the patient.
  • Arthroplasty. Within the framework of this direction, surgical intervention is carried out to install a joint or bone prosthesis, in the event that it is impossible to save one's own elements of the musculoskeletal system.
  • Surgical orthopedics. Within the framework of this direction, a radical effect on the feet, hands, spine, teeth is carried out, with the capture, if necessary, of ligaments, bones and joints.
  • Traumatological orthopedics. Sports orthopedics can be reckoned to this direction. Treatment can be both conservative and surgical, 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 chronic defects. Since sports orthopedics is included in the traumatological direction, it implies a therapeutic effect on various types of injuries that athletes receive.
  • Orthopedics for children and teenagers. Within this area, children under the age of one year and up to puberty are treated and prevented.

What organs does an orthopedist treat?

Doctor doing therapy:

  • Joints;
  • Muscle;
  • Bundles;
  • Bone elements;
  • Nerve endings;
  • Tendons.

Foot and hand, shoulder blades, back, humerus, joints (hip and knee) fall under the area of influence of the orthopedist.

Diseases treated by an orthopedist

Most often, an orthopedist in his practice faces such diseases as:

  • Congenital defects, including: torticollis, hip dysplasia;
  • Diseases of the foot: 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;
  • Death of the skeletal system of autoimmune origin - rheumatoid arthritis, which causes the patient to be given a disability;
  • Osteogenic sarcoma;
  • Chondromisosarcoma;
  • Deforming osteosis, etc.

When should I go to the orthopedist?

The above diseases are far from a complete list of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. The variety of diseases determines the variety of methods of treatment that the orthopedist uses in his practice. Indeed, his competence includes the elimination of diseases of the bones, joints and surrounding tissues, the etiology of which varies: they are caused by past infections, injuries, in addition, congenital anomalies cannot be ruled out. Acquired diseases are most often injuries received at work, or diseases caused by malfunctions in metabolic processes. As for infectious diseases of the bones and joints, they occur either as concomitant inflammation or as a complication after a pathology.

As a rule, bone diseases do not develop rapidly, and therefore even the first symptoms should alert a person and become a reason to consult 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 a large-scale lesion of the elements of the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, visits to the orthopedist should be planned, starting from childhood.

Orthopedist-traumatologist: when is he needed?

Orthopedist-traumatologist
Orthopedist-traumatologist

Reasons to see an orthopedic traumatologist can be:

  • Consequences of a previous polio;
  • Consequences of primary fractures, secondary fractures;
  • Pain in the spinal column on a regular basis;
  • Pain in joints and lower limbs;
  • Frostbite of extremities, sprains and bruises, bites of insects or animals;
  • Deformation and violation of the functionality of any elements of the musculoskeletal system.

Sometimes the treatment does not require opening soft tissues 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 correction of the deformity of the articular elements. Among the pathologies that can be eliminated by this method: clubfoot, fractures, rickets, contracture, malunion of the limbs, etc. However, this treatment method is not always applicable, but only in specific cases, which are determined by the doctor.

Symptoms for Urgent Orthopedic Appointment

There are certain symptoms that should not be ignored and if they appear, you should immediately go to see a specialist.

This is necessary because they indicate a serious anomaly in the musculoskeletal system:

  • Stiffness in the joints, the appearance of a crunch in them;
  • Numbness of limbs;
  • Pain in the back;
  • Swelling and swelling of the joints;
  • Pain aching nature with weather changes;
  • Fatigue due to poor posture.

Regular visits to a specialist and registration with an orthopedist are necessary for the following diseases:

  • Injuries of the spinal column;
  • Articular arthrosis;
  • Rheumatoid arthritis; (Read also: Causes, symptoms, stages and diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis)
  • Dislocations - knee or shoulder joint;
  • Fracture of the femoral neck at any age;
  • Osteochondrosis.

As for preventive measures, most often observation by an orthopedist-traumatologist is recommended for active sports, as well as extreme sports enthusiasts. This will eliminate the possibility of getting complications from frequently occurring microtraumas and will save you from serious problems with the musculoskeletal system in the future.

We take the child to a pediatric orthopedist

Taking a child to a pediatric orthopedist
Taking a child to a pediatric orthopedist

Sometimes children need orthopedic help. Parents should bring their child to a specialist for a consultation if he has problems with the musculoskeletal system, since treatment started on time will 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 severe heaviness while walking, with rapid fatigue from walking, since both of these signs indicate flat feet;
  • If the child slouches;
  • If the baby's head is tilted to one side, which is a sign of torticollis;
  • When complaining of pain in the limbs or back;
  • If there are signs of clubfoot.

First orthopedic appointment

At the initial orthopedic appointment, the patient will need to go through the standard procedure:

  • Visual examination to assess the anatomical structure of the skeletal system. This item is especially relevant when examining newborns.
  • Clarification of the possible range of motion of affected joints for a particular patient.
  • Performing fluoroscopy for the most accurate diagnosis.
  • Perform CT or MRI (if necessary).

Tests prescribed by an orthopedist

To get the most complete picture of the disease, the orthopedist sends the patient for the following tests:

  • Urine and blood tests - general;
  • Blood clotting test;
  • Tests to determine the prothrombized index, time and prothrombized time in combination with fibrogen;
  • APTT data.

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