Why orthopedic surgery

Today women make up approximately half of the medical students in the United States, however women do not make up fifty percent of orthopedic surgeons. Studies show that a smaller relative percentage of women pursue careers in orthopaedic surgery than in any other subspecialty. Given that information, I thought this would be a great opportunity to tell you a little bit about why I chose the field of Orthopaedic Surgery!

They come to me from all walks of life- maybe they need to get back to their sport or maybe they need to be able to play with their grandchildren or maybe they just need to be able to work to support their family. I get to treat their shoulder, knee, hip, ankle and hand injuries. I get to do big open joint replacement surgery, small micro hand surgery, fracture work and use an arthroscope to repair sports ailments.

There is so much growth and research in terms of non-operative treatment such as viscosupplementation, PRP and stem cells. The vast majority also have a specialist interest in a particular orthopaedic condition including the following:. Paediatric orthopaedics require different fracture treatment due to growing bones and corrective treatment for childhood deformities. Work into new joint replacement techniques include resurfacing of the hip and shoulder, which leaves patients with much more of their original bone than a total replacement.

There is also work into different materials for replacements including metals, plastics and ceramics. Biological repair is an area of much research, such as cartilage transplantation or using material grown from stem cells to replace damaged joint tissue eg tendons and ligament. Computer-aided navigation enables 3D mapping of a joint and enables greater accuracy for incisions — more research is needed to see if this results in significant improvements for patients.

Site Search Site Search Go. Account login Username. Show password. Reset Password. Nav Login. Please enter both an email address and a password. Hand and wrist specialists only see hand and wrist cases. Joint surgeons only treat hip or knee patients with arthritis or another limiting joint condition. This lets them diagnose, treat and even prevent orthopedic problems with next-level precision. But even sub-specialized orthopedic surgeons are abundant, leading back to these questions:.

And, finally, if I see an orthopedic surgeon, does it automatically mean surgery is in my future? This is understandable considering that orthopedic surgeries are one of the more common medical procedures that people encounter, so many of us know someone who has had some kind of orthopedic surgery. However, while all orthopedic surgeons are orthopedic specialists, not all orthopedic specialists are orthopedic surgeons.

Any orthopedic specialist — surgical and otherwise — is qualified to assess, diagnose, and treat your orthopedic ailment using non-invasive treatments.

Reputable orthopedic specialists backed by robust health care systems are more likely to restore lives using advanced non-surgical techniques, from minimally invasive procedures to computer-assisted treatments to the harvesting and growth of your own cells for cartilage repair.

That might include surgery, but often doesn't — even if that doctor is an orthopaedic surgeon. If surgery becomes necessary, then they direct patients to orthopedic surgeons or include surgeons in care. This brings us to another common question: Do you need to see your primary care physician PCP before seeking out an orthopedic opinion?

On the other hand, primary care providers PCPs are the best starting point when patients are experiencing a mix of orthopedic symptoms bone and joint pain and non-orthopedic symptoms. Sub-specialists have a wealth of experience and knowledge in their area of expertise.