Orthopaedics
Orthopaedics is a branch of medicine that focuses on the care of the skeletal system and its interconnecting parts.
These parts include the:
- bones
- muscles
- joints
- tendons
- ligaments
What do Orthopaedists treat?
Orthopaedists treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions. These conditions may be present from birth, or they may occur as a result of injury or age-related wear and tear.
Below are some of the most common conditions that an Orthopaedist may treat:
- joint pain from arthritis
- bone fractures
- soft tissue (muscle, tendon, and ligament) injuries
- back pain
- neck pain
- shoulder pain and problems, such as bursitis
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- overuse and sports injuries, including tendinitis, meniscus tears, and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
- congenital conditions, such as clubfoot and scoliosis
Diagnosis
In order to help diagnose a person’s condition, the Orthopaedist will:
- ask about the person’s symptoms
- review the person’s medical record to gather more information about their medical history and overall health
- carry out a physical examination
- review any X-rays if conducted before the appointment
The Orthopaedist may also order additional diagnostic tests. These may include:
- an MRI scan
- a CT scan
- a bone scan
- an ultrasound
- nerve conduction studies
- blood tests
Treatment options
If a person’s Orthopaedist is not able to offer in-office treatment for a particular condition, they will discuss the various treatment options that are available for the condition.
For chronic musculoskeletal disorders, such as back pain or arthritis, the Orthopaedist may recommend one or more of the following treatments:
- over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications
- rehabilitation and physical therapy
- home exercise programs
- injections
- acupuncture
- mobility aids
- surgery, though this is a last resort
Paediatric Orthopaedics is about the evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal (bone, joint, or muscle) problems in a child who is still growing. This includes new born babies through to teenagers.
A child’s musculoskeletal problems are different from those of an adult. Because children are still growing, the body’s response to injuries, infections, and deformities may be quite different than what would be seen in a full-grown person.
Sometimes, what is thought to be a problem in a child is just a variation of growth that will resolve with time. Some of the problem’s children have with their bones and joints that are due to growth do not even occur in adults. And, the evaluation and treatment of a child is usually quite different than for an adult — even for the same problem.
Children with complex paediatric problems are best managed by team. Paediatric orthopaedic specialists diagnose, treat, and manage children’s musculoskeletal problems, such as:
- Limb and spine deformities noted at birth or later in life (clubfoot, scoliosis, limb length differences)
- Gait abnormalities (limping)
- Broken bones
- Bone or joint infections and tumours
Children are not just small adults. They cannot always say what is bothering them, or answer medical questions, or be patient and cooperative during a medical examination. Paediatric orthopaedic specialists know how to examine and treat children in a way to help them be relaxed and cooperative.
At DF Medical Centre:
Our Orthopaedic Consultant sees both adults and children.
For adults he provides onsite intra-articular injections for most joints with chronic pain and works in conjunction with our Anaesthetist Consultant and Pain Specialist who provides neck, shoulder, hip, pelvic, spinal and epidural injections for people with otherwise unmanageable chronic pain.
We also offer Platelets Rich Plasma (PRP) joint injections. Research has shown that PRP, besides reducing pain, can actually help you regenerate cartilage that’s been degraded by osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
