Orthopedics offers advanced approaches that involve the treatment or repair of the elements affecting the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons perform various surgeries, including replacing joins and fixing damaged tissue. Here are a few common surgeries that orthopedic specialists offer:
Hip Replacement
Hip pain is usually caused by traumatic injuries such as dislocations and fractures. Orthopedic surgeons diagnose the cause of the pain to determine the right treatment solution. Hip replacement involves the removal of the injured parts of the hip joint and replacement using prosthetics. The hip contains a ball and socket joint, where the ball lies at the end of the thigh bone and the socket is attached to the hip bone. One or both of these parts require replacing if they are damaged.
Hip replacement surgery involves accessing the joint and removing the socket. The surgery helps the specialist implant a synthetic socket if the natural one can’t be fixed. A less invasive procedure involves two small incisions that provide reduced blood loss and hospital visits. A hip replacement specialist can also remove or correct any tissue that can hinder the motion of the new joint. The recovery of the procedure depends on a patient’s overall health.
Shoulder Joint Replacement
Just like the hip, the shoulder contains a ball and socket joint. Surgeons determine the type of procedure based on the extensiveness of the joint damage. The shoulder replacement procedure consists of total or partial replacement of the joint elements. Orthopedics usually deal with the correction of abnormalities and injuries of skeletal muscles such as the shoulder joint and the glenoid socket.
There are complications that damage the joint elements, such as osteoarthritis of the shoulder, which is due to damage to the supportive bone tissue and the joint. If the patient sustains serious shoulder injuries, a patient may develop complications such as post-traumatic arthritis, which gradually affects the joint movement. An orthopedic surgeon will work with the patient to come up with a treatment plan, whether it involves physical therapy or surgery.
Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
The knee comprises three bone tissues: ligaments, cartilage, and muscle. These elements make up a joint that is responsible for movement and rotation. Arthroscopic surgery involves minor incisions and inserting an arthroscope into the knee. Knee arthroscopy allows you to locate and perform a complete diagnosis of the joint using a fiber optic camera before surgery. The tube-like tool helps you to understand what repair needs to be done before attaching a new joint. Common knee repairs that arthroscopy deals with include damaged ACL, cartilage, torn meniscus, and damaged patella. The recovery period of an arthroscopic procedure depends on the joint injury extent, the patient’s general wellbeing, and any after-surgery complications. Patients usually use walking aids for a certain period and undergo physical therapy.
Choose the Ideal Orthopedics Procedure
Surgeons perform orthopedic procedures using arthroscopy or other methods, and the type of surgery varies depending on the severity of the injury. The surgeries require follow-up assessments where doctors administer tests to determine the healing process of a patient. If you are dealing with join pain or other issues, visit an orthopedic surgeon today.