Orthopedics is the branch of medicine that focuses on injurie and diseases of our body’s musculoskeletal system. This complex system includes  bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves and allows us to move, work, and be active.

Once devoted to the care of children with spine and limb deformities, orthopaedists now care for patients of all ages, from newborns with clubfeet to young athletes requiring arthroscopic surgery to older people with arthritis. And anybody can break a bone.

Orthopaedic surgeons manage special problems of the musculoskeletal system. This involves:

• Diagnosis of your injury or disorder
• Treatment with medication, exercise, surgery or other treatment plans
• Rehabilitation by recommending exercises or physical therapy to restore movement, strength and function
• Prevention with information and treatment plans to prevent injury or slow the progression of diseases

Orthopaedic specialists treat many musculoskeletal conditions without surgery, by using medication, exercise and other rehabilitative or alternative therapies. For most orthopaedic diseases and injuries there is more than one form of treatment. If necessary, it may be also recommended surgery if you do not respond to other treatments.

Orthopaedic surgeons perfomr numerous types of surgeries. Common procedures :

• Arthroscopy – a procedure using special cameras and equipment to visualize, diagnose and treat problems inside a joint
• Fusion – a “welding” process by which bones are fused together with bone grafts and internal devices (such as metal rods) to heal into a single solid bone
• 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