Orthopedics And The Musculoskeletal System

Orthopedics comes from two Greek words, ortho, meaning straight and pais, conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgery corrects problems that arise in the skeleton and its attachments, the ligaments and tendons. It may also deal with some problems of the nervous system, such as those that arise from injury of the spine. These problems can occur at birth, through injury, or as the result of aging. They may be acute, as in injury, or chronic, as in many aging-related problems. Back pain, sports injuries, arthritic hips and knees, and stiff neck muscles are just a few of the musculoskeletal conditions that have an enormous impact on Americans and the entire health care system. Accounting for approximately 135 million ambulatory …show more content…
Arthroscopy is just one way of many in which orthopedic surgeons go about operating on their patients. There are numerous types of surgeries perform on patients. Common surgeries include - Fusion – a "welding" process by which bones are fused together with bone grafts and internal devices. Internal Fixation – a method to hold the broken pieces of bone in proper position with metal plates, pins or screws while the bone is healing. Joint replacement (partial, total and revision) – when an arthritic or damaged joint is removed and replaced with an artificial joint called a prosthesis. Osteotomy – the correction of bone deformity by cutting and repositioning the bone. Soft Tissue Repair – the mending of soft tissue, such as torn tendons or ligaments. Rehabilitation from orthopedic injuries can be a long. The doctor will work closely with physical therapists to assure that the patient is receiving treatment that will enhance the range of motion and return function to the affected part. As with any surgery, there is always the risk of excessive bleeding, infection, and allergic reaction to anesthesia. Risks specifically associated with orthopedic surgery include inflammation at the site