The bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and other structures that support the body’s form and allow movement are referred to as musculoskeletal.
Orthopedic surgeons specialize in performing surgical operations to treat various orthopedic issues.
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Types of Orthopedic Surgeries:
Orthopedic surgeries cover a wide range of procedures and can be divided into subspecialties, which include:
- Joint Replacement Surgery: This procedure includes using artificial implants to replace damaged or arthritic joints. Hip, knee, and shoulder replacement are common joint replacement surgeries.
- Spinal Surgery: Spinal surgery is performed by orthopedists to treat diseases affecting the spine, such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, and vertebral fractures. Minimally invasive spinal surgery to sophisticated spinal fusion operations are available.
- Trauma Surgery: Orthopedic trauma surgeons treat traumatic injuries such as fractures, dislocations, and severe soft tissue injuries. They frequently work in emergency rooms to stabilize and heal musculoskeletal injuries.
- Sports Medicine: Sports medicine orthopedic surgeons treat injuries and conditions associated with sports, such as ligament and tendon injuries, fractures, and cartilage loss. In sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery is frequently employed.
- Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery: This specialization treats disorders of the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow. Orthopedic hand surgeons address disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, and hand fractures.
- Foot and Ankle Surgery: Foot and ankle orthopedists treat disorders such as bunions, ankle instability, Achilles tendon injuries, and foot abnormalities.
- Pediatric orthopedic surgeons specialize in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal problems and injuries in children, such as congenital abnormalities, growth plate injuries, and scoliosis.
- Orthopedic Oncology: Orthopedic oncologists treat benign and malignant bone and soft tissue cancers. Tumor removal and reconstructive surgery may be required.
- Reconstructive surgery is the reconstruction of musculoskeletal structures after injuries, tumors, or abnormalities. It comprises operations to extend limbs and correct congenital abnormalities.
- Arthroscopy: Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that involves inserting a camera (arthroscope) and surgical equipment through small incisions to diagnose and treat joint disorders. It’s frequently utilized for knee, shoulder, and hip surgeries.
Orthopedic procedures aim to relieve pain, improve joint function, repair deformities, restore mobility, and improve patients’ overall quality of life.
The exact problem, severity, patient age and health, and individual treatment goals determine the type of surgery chosen.
Orthopedic surgeons collaborate closely with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians and rehabilitation specialists, to provide complete patient care.
When to do Joint Replacement Surgery?
When conservative treatments, such as medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes, no longer adequately manage joint pain and disability, joint replacement surgery, also known as arthroplasty, is explored.
After a complete evaluation by a healthcare expert, the decision to undertake joint replacement surgery is taken, considering criteria such as the kind and severity of joint disease, the patient’s overall health, and their preferences.
The following are some of the most common reasons for joint replacement surgery:
Osteoarthritis (OA):
- The most prevalent reason for joint replacement surgery is osteoarthritis. The deterioration of joint cartilage causes it and can result in pain, stiffness, and decreased joint function.
- Joint replacement surgery is frequently considered when conservative treatments are no longer effective, and the patient’s quality of life is adversely impacted by pain and impairment.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):
- Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation, discomfort, and destruction. Joint replacement may be recommended in cases of significant joint deterioration and pain.
Post-Traumatic Arthritis (PTA):
- Joint damage caused by a severe incident, such as a joint fracture, can result in post-traumatic arthritis. Joint replacement surgery may be considered when non-surgical therapy fails to relieve pain and restore function.
Osteonecrosis (Avascular Necrosis):
- Avascular necrosis manifests when the blood supply to a joint is cut off, causing bone tissue to die. Joint replacement surgery may be required when this problem worsens and produces substantial joint pain and dysfunction.
Congenital or Developmental Joint Dysfunction:
- Some congenital or developmental diseases, such as hip dysplasia, can cause joint abnormalities and pain. Joint replacement surgery may be recommended to rectify the deformity and ease discomfort.
Revision surgery:
- A previous joint replacement may fail or become unstable in some situations. Replacement of the original joint replacement components may necessitate revision surgery.
Arthritic Joint Diseases:
- Psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are two conditions that can cause joint inflammation, discomfort, and deformity. Joint replacement surgery may be considered when conservative therapy fails to restore function.
Joint Pain and Disability:
- Joint replacement surgery may be considered in cases of severe, unremitting joint pain and disability that impair a patient’s ability to perform daily activities and maintain a high quality of life.
Infection of the Joints:
- If a severe joint infection does not respond to antibiotics or other therapies, joint replacement surgery may be required to remove the infected joint and replace it with an artificial joint after the infection has been cleared.
It should be noted that joint replacement surgery is a serious procedure that should only be undertaken after a thorough evaluation and discussion with a healthcare professional and an orthopedic surgeon.
The decision to have joint replacement should be based on the precise diagnosis, the level of joint deterioration, and the surgery’s predicted benefits and hazards.
Common Spine Surgery Indications –
Spine surgery is explored when conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, drugs, and lifestyle changes, have not effectively eased the patient’s spinal condition or when there is a risk of progressive neurological impairment.
After a complete evaluation by a healthcare expert, the decision to undertake spine surgery is taken, which normally considers criteria such as the type and severity of the spinal issue, the patient’s overall health, and their preferences. The following are some of the most common reasons for spine surgery:
Disc Herniation (Herniated Disc):
- Surgery may be considered if conservative therapy fails to relieve symptoms such as severe pain, weakness, or numbness caused by a herniated disc pressing on a nerve.
- Surgical alternatives include discectomy (removal of the herniated section of the disc) and microdiscectomy (removal of the herniated segment of the disc with least invasive techniques).
Stenosis of the Spine:
- Spinal stenosis is a spinal canal narrowing that can cause spinal cord or nerve compression. When conservative therapy fails to relieve symptoms such as pain, numbness, or weakness, surgery may be considered.
- Surgical spinal canal or nerve root decompression methods may include laminectomy, laminoplasty, or foraminotomy.
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD):
- When conservative methods fail to relieve severe pain and disability, surgery such as spinal fusion or artificial disc replacement may be considered to stabilize or replace damaged discs.
Spondylolisthesis:
- Spondylolisthesis is the movement of one vertebra against another. Individuals experiencing significant discomfort, instability, or neurological issues may benefit from surgery.
- Spinal fusion or, in rare situations, reduction and stabilization are procedures.
Deformities of the Spine:
- Scoliosis (abnormal spine curvature) and kyphosis (excessive forward curvature) may necessitate surgery if they cause discomfort, deformity, or major health problems.
- Surgical options may include spinal fusion, osteotomy (spinal re-alignment), or instrumentation.
Tumors of the spine:
- Surgery is frequently required to remove malignancies in or around the spine. The goal is to remove the tumor while maintaining as much spinal stability and neurological function as possible. Tumor resection, spinal stabilization, and, in some situations, radiation therapy or chemotherapy are all surgical options.
Spinal Cord Injuries:
- To prevent additional damage, surgery may be required to realign and stabilize the spine in severe spinal injuries, such as fractures or dislocations. Spinal fusion, instrumentation, and decompression are all possible procedures.
Spine Infections (Spinal Infections):
- In severe spinal infections, surgical intervention may be required to drain abscesses, remove contaminated tissue, or support the spine. Antibiotics and other medical therapies are frequently used in tandem with surgery.
Previous Spine Surgery Failure:
- Revision surgery may be undertaken if a previous spine surgery did not yield the anticipated results or caused complications.
How Effective is Spine Surgery?
Here is a short video that explains how effective spine surgery is.
It is crucial to highlight that spine surgery is a sophisticated procedure usually suggested only after all other options have been explored or when there is a risk of serious neurological impairment or structural damage to the spine.
Difference Between Arthroplasty And Arthroscopy –
Both arthroplasty and arthroscopy are orthopedic surgical procedures that deal with joint health. Still, they serve different purposes and need different techniques. Here’s a rundown of each:
Arthroplasty:
- Purpose: Arthroplasty, also known as joint replacement surgery, is a treatment that replaces a damaged or arthritic joint with an artificial joint known as a prosthesis. The goal is to alleviate pain, improve joint function, and improve the patient’s overall quality of life.
- Indications: Arthroplasty is typically used to treat joints with severe osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, avascular necrosis, or other disorders that cause considerable joint damage and discomfort.
- Procedure: During arthroplasty, the surgeon removes damaged joint components (such as bone ends and cartilage) and replaces them with prosthetic components composed of metal or plastic. Hip, knee, and shoulder replacements are common joint replacements.
- Recovery: Physical therapy and rehabilitation are often used to regain strength and mobility following joint replacement surgery. Most patients report significant reductions in joint discomfort and better function after the surgery.
Arthroscopy:
- Function: Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows for the visualization and treatment of the interior of a joint with the help of a small, flexible device known as an arthroscope. The primary goal of arthroscopy is to detect and treat joint problems such as accidents and illnesses.
- Indications: Arthroscopy is frequently used to diagnose and treat diseases such as torn ligaments (for example, ACL or meniscus tears), damaged cartilage, irritated synovial lining (synovitis), loose bone fragments, and joint infections.
- Arthroscopy is performed by making small incisions near the joint and inserting the arthroscope with a camera and a light source. This lets the surgeon see the joint’s interior on a screen in real time. Surgical devices can also be placed through additional small incisions to address a specific condition, such as mending a torn ligament or removing damaged tissue.
- Recovery: Arthroscopy is less intrusive than open surgery, resulting in smaller incisions, less tissue stress, and often shorter recovery times. Depending on the surgery, patients may still require physical therapy and rehabilitation.
The individual joint condition determines the choice between the two surgeries, the level of joint damage, and the patient’s overall health and treatment goals.
To establish the best treatment for an individual’s situation, speaking with a healthcare professional and an orthopedic surgeon is critical.
When to do Arthroscopic Surgery?
Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical treatment that diagnoses and treats several joint-related disorders using a small camera (arthroscope) and specialized equipment. It is often used to treat numerous joints across the body. The following are some common reasons for arthroscopic surgery:
Arthroscopy of the Knee:
- Torn Meniscus Cartilage in the Knee: Arthroscopy can be performed to trim or repair torn meniscus cartilage in the knee.
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: An arthroscopic reconstruction of a torn ACL is possible.
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Tears: Arthroscopy can rebuild the PCL.
- Cartilage Damage: Arthroscopy can be performed to address cartilage deformities in the knee, such as cartilage flaps or loose bodies.
- Synovitis: Arthroscopic synovectomy can be used to treat inflammation of the synovial lining of the knee joint.
Arthroscopy of the Shoulder:
Arthroscopy is frequently used to repair damaged rotator cuff tendons in the shoulder.
- Labral Tears: It is useful for treating labral tears, such as SLAP (superior labrum anterior and posterior).
- Impingement Syndrome: Arthroscopic shoulder decompression helps alleviate impingement-related pain.
- Frozen Shoulder: Arthroscopic capsular release can be used to treat frozen shoulder.
Arthroscopy of the Hip:
- Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI): Arthroscopy can be performed to restructure the hip joint to cure and prevent FAI.
- Labral Tears: Arthroscopy can repair or debride the hip’s labral tears.
- Arthroscopy can be done to remove inflammatory synovial tissue from the hip joint.
Arthroscopy of the Ankle:
- Osteochondral Lesions: Arthroscopy can treat ankle joint osteochondral abnormalities or lesions.
- Impingement Syndrome: Arthroscopy can be used to treat ankle impingement.
- Ankle Ligament and Tendon Tears: Ankle ligament and tendon tears can be treated utilizing arthroscopic methods.
Arthroscopy of the Elbow:
- Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): In situations of lateral Epicondylitis, arthroscopy can remove damaged tissue and loosen the extensor tendons.
- Arthroscopy is used to remove loose bodies from the elbow joint.
Arthroscopy of the Wrist:
- TFCC Tears: Arthroscopy can identify and treat tears of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) in the wrist.
- Carpal Tunnel Release: Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated arthroscopically in some circumstances.
These are some of the most prevalent reasons for having arthroscopic surgery. Compared to open surgery, arthroscopy has the advantages of smaller incisions, less tissue stress, shorter recovery times, and less postoperative pain.
The precise method performed during arthroscopy, however, is determined by the patient’s condition and the discoveries during the surgery, and not all joint disorders may be addressed arthroscopically.
The choice to undergo arthroscopic surgery is made after a complete evaluation by an orthopedic surgeon. It is based on the needs and circumstances of the individual patient.
Summing Up
Orthopedic Surgery is very successful in resolving most bone deformities. This science is very advanced and offers wide variety of solutions depending on the severity of the bone alment. Get in touch with your healthcare professional.