What is orthopedics, and what do orthopedists do?
Orthopedics, also known as orthopedic surgery, is a branch of medicine that focuses on the care of the skeletal system and its interconnecting parts. These parts include the following:
- bones
- muscles
- joints
- tendons
- ligaments
- nerves
There are generally two types of orthopedists: surgical and nonsurgical. The former are called orthopedic surgeons, while nonsurgical orthopedists include physiatrists and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists.
An orthopedist often works as part of a larger orthopedic treatment team. This team may include:
- physician assistants
- nurse practitioners
- occupational and physical therapists
- athletic trainers
orthopedists treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions. These conditions may be present from birth, or they may result from an injury or age-related wear and tear.
Below are some of the most common conditions that an orthopedist may treat:
- joint pain from arthritis
- bone fractures
- soft tissue injuries, which are those that affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments
- back pain
- neck pain
- shoulder pain and problems, such as bursitis
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- overuse and sports injuries, including sprains, tendinitis, meniscus tears, and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
- congenital conditions, such as clubfoot and scoliosis
- bone cancer
Types of orthopedic practices
An orthopedist may specialize in a particular branch of orthopedic medicine. These branches are called subspecialties.
Some orthopedic subspecialties include:
- hand and upper extremity
- foot and ankle or podiatry
- orthopedic oncology, including tumor and cancer care
- pediatric orthopedics
- sports medicine
- spine surgery
- trauma surgery
- joint replacement surgery