Orthopedics Treatments

Orthopedics is a medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis, care and treatment of patients with disorders of the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves.

Orthopedics is a specialty of immense breadth and variety. Orthopedists treat a wide variety of diseases and conditions, including:

• Fractures and dislocations
• Torn ligaments, sprains and strains
• Tendon injuries, pulled muscles and bursitis
• Ruptured disks, sciatica, low back pain and scoliosis
• Knock knees, bow legs, bunions and hammer toes
• Arthritis and osteoporosis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome and compression of nerves in the extremities.
• Bone tumors, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy
• Club foot and unequal leg length
• Abnormalities of the fingers and toes and growth abnormalities

Great advances have occurred in the surgical management of degenerative joint disease. For example:

• Orthopedic surgeons can replace a diseased joint with a prosthetic device (total joint replacement).
• Arthroscopy, the application of visualizing instruments to assist in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of internal joint diseases, has opened new horizons of therapy.
• Research is progressing on "growing" articular cartilage in joints, which may one day reduce the need for some people needing joint replacements.
• Exciting cellular research may enable orthopaedic surgeons to stimulate the growth of ligaments and bone in patients someday in the future.

The Greek roots of orthopedics are ortho (straight) and pais (child). Much of the early work in orthopedics involved treating children who had spine or limb deformities. Orthopedists continue to treat children, as well as diseases prevalent in the elderly. Pediatric Orthopedic Specialty Center at Miller Children’s Hospital provides acute injury follow-up and orthopedic care for pediatric patients in an outpatient clinic setting. There are general clinics for congenital and acquired orthopedic problems as well as specialty clinics for spine, hand, foot and scoliosis problems.