Treatment of which diseases is within the competence of an orthopedic doctor?

Who is an orthopedic surgeon

Surgery is an integral part of orthopedics, since many diseases and congenital pathologies cannot be eliminated without surgery. Modern research in the field of orthopedics leads to the comprehensive development of this medical section; new surgical (invasive) and non-surgical (non-invasive) treatment methods appear every year.

It should be understood that a surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon are different specialties.

Surgeons can have a narrow focus, performing surgical interventions only in cases related to their competence (for example, oncologist surgeon, gynecologist surgeon and others), or have a general focus, performing surgical operations for diseases that occur most frequently (for example, removal appendix, operations for peritonitis, etc.).

An orthopedic surgeon has more in-depth knowledge of the musculoskeletal system of the human body. Of course, a surgeon has sufficient knowledge and skills to identify various disorders and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, but the treatment of such diseases is the task of an orthopedic surgeon.

What does an orthopedic surgeon do and what does he do?

Please note that an orthopedic surgeon uses both invasive and non-invasive techniques, that is, if you have been referred to this specialist, this does not mean that you will definitely be operated on. Although such a possibility, of course, exists.

The specialist’s competence includes the musculoskeletal system of the human body, spine, joints, hip, and feet. What is the role of an orthopedic surgeon?

• Qualified assistance for injuries of any nature;
• Fixation of injured limbs using fastening;
• Consulting and information activities;
• Diagnosis of the consequences of injuries, as well as subsequent treatment;
• Installation of special equipment (for example, Ilizarov apparatus);
• Diagnosis of diseases of the musculoskeletal system and subsequent treatment;
• Prosthetics/endoprosthetics;
• Individual selection of orthoses and their purpose;
• Rehabilitation of patients;
• Direct participation in the examination related to issues of temporary/total disability;

How does an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon work? In order to prescribe an individual course of treatment, the doctor needs to diagnose the disease.

• Initially, the doctor conducts a conversation to identify complaints and collect anamnesis in general;
• The next stage is a visual examination, with the help of which a specialist assesses the anatomical structure of the skeletal system. When conducting a visual examination, the doctor assesses the range of motion of the damaged/affected joints;

If necessary, the following diagnostic methods and laboratory tests are prescribed:

• CT scan;
• Ultrasound examination of tendons and joints;
• UAC and OAM;
• Blood chemistry;
• Radiography allows you to assess the condition and anatomical structure of the skeletal system;
• Analysis of joint fluid;
• Magnetic resonance imaging;
• Hemostasis study;

What does an orthopedic surgeon treat?

An orthopedic surgeon is responsible for treating many different diseases and pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, including injuries and various defects (acquired or congenital). Below we provide a small list of problems that this specialist treats.

• Sprained/torn ligaments;
• Joint dislocations, including traumatic ones;
• Osteochondrosis is a disease characterized by damage to the spine and its parts;
• Deforming ostosis is a disease of the bone skeleton, characterized by bone restructuring, which subsequently leads to severe deformities;
• Joint dysplasia (hip) is a congenital pathology of the joint leading to subluxation/dislocation of the femoral head;
• Intervertebral hernia is a disease in which there is displacement of the intervertebral disc or part of it;
• Osteomelitis of bones – purulent-necrotic lesion of bones and bone marrow;
• Rheumatoid arthritis is a severe, chronic disease that affects the skeletal system, which can lead to joint deformation;
• Styloiditis, as well as any other inflammatory diseases of the tendons;
• Clubfoot;
• Heel spur (abnormal deformity);
• Flat feet and any other curvatures of the feet;
• Scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis - curvature of the spine, poor posture;
• Benign tumors of the skeletal system. For example, chondroma, fibroma, osteoid osteoma, etc. Malignant tumors are initially diagnosed by an orthopedist, but an orthopedic oncologist (orthopedic oncologist) does not treat cancer;
• Morton's neuroma is a disease in which the nerve of the foot thickens, more often observed in women;
• False joints;
• Bursitis, arthrosis - diseases in which inflammation of the joints and periarticular bursa is observed;
• Deformities of any limbs;
• Burns and any other injuries to soft tissues and bones;
• Torticollis;
• Limb amputation;
• Slow healing of fractures and much more;

When to see an orthopedic surgeon

Often, people with severe musculoskeletal disorders turn to an orthopedic surgeon. Protracted cases are much more difficult to treat, so you should contact your doctor if the following symptoms and situations appear:

• Relatively quick fatigue of the lower extremities with light loads;
• Pain in the joints;
• Poor posture, curvature of the spine;
• Low joint mobility;
• Deformation of the limbs (appearance of neoplasms in the form of growths/bumps, curvature of the fingers);
• Numbness of the limbs;
• Bone fractures, suspected fracture;
• Pain in the spine;
• Inflammatory processes in the area of ​​damaged joints, manifested in redness and swelling of local areas of skin tissue;
• Lameness;
• The presence of dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system;
• Sprains, bruises, dislocations;
• Tendon ruptures, as well as any injuries to soft tissues and joints;

Source: https://hirurgi.su/article/chto-delaet-hirurg-ortoped

Orthopedist

Dozens of muscles and tendons, joints, and nerves take part in any movement, even the simplest one. This is a very complex process that we don’t think about.

When problems arise with the skeletal system, a person becomes limited in movement. An orthopedic surgeon can help you cope with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.

The doctor uses various research methods to establish a diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.

Orthopedist competence

An orthopedist installs a fixation splint (photo: www.dietcenter-kiev.com)

An orthopedist is a doctor who diagnoses diseases of the musculoskeletal system, their treatment and prevention, and postoperative monitoring of patients. The specialist works to solve problems in the following areas:

• outpatient traumatology (injuries, ruptures of ligaments, muscles, tendons, bone fractures, dislocations);
• arthroscopic surgery (surgical interventions on joints, meniscus, performed through small punctures of the skin using a video endoscope);
• podology (various foot problems: deformities of the foot, toes);
• spinal column surgery (correction of congenital and acquired curvatures of the spine, fractures and dislocations of the vertebrae);
• joint prosthetics (replacing damaged joints with implants);
• pediatric orthopedics (mainly deals with the treatment of congenital pathologies of the skeletal system).

An orthopedist deals with chronic diseases of the human musculoskeletal system. The doctor carries out diagnostic procedures, compares the results of other studies, and compares the existing clinical picture. Then the most effective and efficient method of solving the problem is selected.

After applying the treatment, the orthopedist monitors the patient, adjusts prescriptions, and monitors the rehabilitation period.

What organs does an orthopedist treat?

People who have problems with the musculoskeletal system overcome enormous resistance and severe pain in order to make a simple movement. Specialists treating such patients spend months and years to get a person back on his feet.

To better understand the complexity of an orthopedist’s work, you need to know what structures the doctor works with:

• spine;
• bones of the shoulder girdle (clavicle, scapula);
• upper limbs (shoulder, forearm);
• hand (wrist, metacarpus, phalanges);
• pelvic bones;
• lower limbs (femur, tibia and fibula);
• foot (metatarsal bones, heel, phalanges);
• various joints (shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, as well as knee, ankle and interphalangeal joints on the fingers);
• ligaments that strengthen the joint capsules;
• tendons, muscles, cartilage in joints.

The coordinated work of all structures makes movements smooth, controlled and effective.

Curvatures in these organs not only disrupt motor activity, but also affect the functioning of internal organs. In this case, prolapse or compression of the kidneys, liver, stomach and heart occurs.

The orthopedist must notice even minor changes in time to protect the patient from serious diseases.

When to see an orthopedist

If you have joint pain, you should consult an orthopedist (photo: www.wildjoy.ru)

Problems with performing simple movements should force the patient to seek help from a specialist. There are often cases when a person is busy at work or simply does not pay attention to the curvature of the spine. Ignoring such a pathology causes the appearance of related diseases of the internal organs, and then treatment will take much longer. Similar cases are not isolated.

You should visit an orthopedist in the following cases:

• curvature of the neck to the sides;
• constant back pain that gets worse after physical activity;
• change in posture when the spine tilts to one side;
• stiffness in the joints of the arms and legs;
• pain when moving the joints;
• deformation of the limbs in the long-term period after injury;
• crunching when bending the joints;
• restriction of movements in the hip joint;
• asymmetry of the buttock folds in a child;
• curvature of the lower limbs outward and inward;
• clubfoot, when a person's gait is similar to the gait of a bear.

Important! A child under 1 year of age should definitely have monthly examinations with an orthopedist. This way, hip dysplasia can be identified in a timely manner, thereby preventing the occurrence of disability in the future.

The appearance of such symptoms should force a person to visit an orthopedist. The sooner you do this, the better the results will be later.

What diseases does an orthopedist treat?

Late detected hip dysplasia leads to disability in the future (photo: www.okeydoc.ru)

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are often accompanied by pain during movement. Patients also observe moderate or severe deformation in joints and bones. There are many diseases that lead to such consequences. An orthopedist in his practice encounters the following ailments:

• torticollis - curvature of the neck to the right or left, resulting from excessive muscle tension in one direction, often congenital;
• scoliosis is a curvature of the spine in the thoracic or lumbar regions to the right or left. It can be congenital or acquired;
• kyphoscoliosis is a simultaneous curvature of the spine to the side and back. Often occurs with incorrect posture, excessive stress in childhood (weightlifting);
• the consequences of polio (an infectious disease that affects the spinal cord) last the patient’s entire life. The person's lower limbs are partially paralyzed and underdeveloped, there is significant deformation in the joints, and the muscles are atrophied (reduced in volume);
• Hip dysplasia is a complex pathology that occurs in children under 1 year of age. If you do not notice the changes, then after the child begins to walk, it will not be possible to form a healthy joint. The person will be limited in movement, will not be able to stand on his feet for a long time, and a large number of operations will be required to improve the condition;
• Clubfoot is also a congenital pathology. At the same time, in children, the foot is directed inward, the gait is special, the ankle joints are deformed and constantly hurt, and the lower leg muscles are atrophied. In such patients, when walking, the sole of the shoe wears off from the outside;
• arthrosis of the knee and hip joints occurs due to heavy loads and systemic damage to the connective tissue. Patients are worried about pain, swelling of the joints, and movement disorders in them;
• Baker's cyst - cavity formation of the knee joint capsule;
• Osteomyelitis often appears after bone surgery. This is a purulent inflammation of bone tissue. Manifested by high temperature, discharge of pus from the wound, formation of fistulas (a pathological tubular channel that connects the purulent cavity to the skin);
• Flat feet are typical for young people who endure heavy loads and use shoes without arch supports.

Such diseases should only be treated by a qualified orthopedist.

Laboratory tests that an orthopedist may order

The appearance of pain and deformation in the joints, poor posture requires consultation with a specialist. The doctor will conduct a general examination, study the patient’s outpatient card and prescribe some of the following tests:

• general blood and urine analysis;
• level of vitamin D in the blood;
• blood electrolytes: calcium, sodium.

What examinations does the orthopedist prescribe?

An orthopedist may refer you for diagnostic tests such as:

• Ultrasound examination (ultrasound) of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity and kidneys is necessary to detect possible changes in these organs;
• X-ray of the affected area in two projections. To compare treatment results, it is necessary to study several images obtained at different times;
• computed tomography (CT) of damaged areas makes it possible to accurately detect the exact size of bone damage and the angle of deformation;
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows you to identify soft tissue damage, such as ruptures of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, as well as the degree of damage to the spinal cord and nerves;
• Dopplerography of the vessels of the extremities is necessary to assess the condition of the vessels, possible occlusion (blocking the lumen);
• arthroscopy (examination of the joint cavity using a microvideo camera) is considered both a diagnostic and therapeutic method. Using this technique, you can clearly see the structure of cartilage, menisci, and detect layers and growths in the joint.

Modern diagnostic methods help to obtain a clear image on the monitor screen, often in 3D format (3D image). It is better for an orthopedist to study the disease, establish a diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Orthopedic advice

An orthopedic doctor gives several tips to help a person improve their health:

• if hip dysplasia is not detected before six months of age, the child will face severe gait problems in the future;
• an examination by an orthopedist in early childhood should be done every month;
• the sooner clubfoot and dysplasia are detected in a baby, the fewer health problems there will be in the future;
• You can avoid the appearance of flat feet by daily use of instep supports (special mats for shoes with a textured surface);
• as soon as “clicking” or crunching appears in the knee joint, you should immediately see an orthopedist;
• to avoid scoliosis in childhood, it is forbidden to carry a briefcase over one shoulder;
• at the desk during lessons you need to sit with a straight back, your hand, hand and forearm should lie completely on the desk;
• any fractures and injuries should be treated by a doctor and not on your own;
• at least twice a year you need to swim in the pool for 1 month;
• to unload the spine, you should hang on the horizontal bar every day for 20-30 seconds;
• you need to sleep on an elastic mattress that does not sag, but is not too hard;
• Morning and evening jogging keeps muscles toned and prevents sprains and ligament tears during exercise.

The recommendations of an orthopedist will help both children and adults avoid serious problems with the musculoskeletal system.

Source: https://SimptomyInfo.ru/spetsializatsiya/107-ortoped.html

Orthopedist

Orthopedics is a large branch of clinical medicine that studies the structure and functions of the musculoskeletal system in health and in the presence of various pathological processes.

An orthopedist is a doctor who treats diseases of such tissues and fragments of the human body:

• bones;
• joints;
• muscles;
• ligaments;
• tendons.

 

This area is very closely related to traumatology and surgery, but has its own specifics in the principles of diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

There are more than a thousand orthopedic pathologies , but modern means for restoring normal functions of the musculoskeletal system can prevent early disability and prolong physical activity for many years.

However, timely contact with a good specialist also plays a big role in the future prognosis. Consequently, the outcome of the diseases that the orthopedic doctor treats largely depends on the patient himself.

Types of pathologies within the competence of an orthopedist

Pathological processes in orthopedics are classified according to the etiological factor, that is, they can be of the following types:

• congenital;
• characteristic of the osteoarticular system;
• caused by the consequences of infectious diseases;
• received as a result of playing sports;
• professional;
• post-traumatic.

Establishing cause-and-effect relationships plays a big role in the accuracy of diagnosis and the selection of the most effective methods of treatment and prevention of possible relapses.

Directions in orthopedics

An orthopedist is a doctor who treats musculoskeletal diseases of varying complexity and stages of the pathological process; accordingly, he can work in several areas, using different methods and means of diagnosis and treatment. In this regard, orthopedics has several areas that characterize the specifics of the doctor’s activity, that is, the following:

• an orthopedist who sees in an outpatient setting deals with conservative treatment, which is typical for restoring motor activity without surgical intervention (dislocations, sprains, non-displaced fractures);
• injuries of bones, joints, soft tissues, which to one degree or another reduce a person’s motor activity, including sports, are treated by an orthopedic doctor using surgical or conservative methods;
• endoprosthetics is a direction that includes replacing a fragment of bones and joints if it is not possible to restore them using other existing methods;
• the surgical direction determines radical actions, that is, surgical intervention by an orthopedist to eliminate certain pathologies of bones, joints, ligaments and tendons;
• diagnostics and treatment of various diseases of the musculoskeletal system in children and adolescents (from birth to 16-18 years old) is carried out by a pediatric orthopedist, who represents a separate direction in general orthopedics;
• teeth also represent the skeletal system, so this specialist is in great demand in the dental field, that is, a dental orthopedist makes dentures, restores the dentofacial apparatus and is called an orthodontist.

Each direction has its own differences, determined by certain methods and types of therapeutic interventions.

What diseases does an orthopedist treat?

At an appointment with an orthopedist, in most cases you can meet patients with the following diagnoses:

• flat feet;
• clubfoot due to curvature of the foot (congenital pathology);
• diseases that are accompanied by inflammation of the joint and periarticular bursa (arthrosis, bursitis);
• congenital pathologies caused by dysplasia of the joints, usually the hip;
• damage to individual segments of the spinal column that have a chronic course (osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia);
• multiple joint deformities due to progressive rheumatoid arthritis, which is systemic in nature, gradually affecting the tissues of the osteoarticular system;
• tumor processes of the spine;
• dislocations and sprains.

Thus, what an orthopedist treats is known to quite a large number of the population around the world, because many turn to this specialist for help.

What symptoms would be a reason to contact an orthopedist?

It is quite difficult to detect a disease of the musculoskeletal system at the initial stage of development and is only possible for people who are very careful and attentive to their health. 

Minor ailments regarding the musculoskeletal system are usually associated with physical fatigue and changes in weather conditions and, therefore, the moment to find out who the orthopedist is is postponed indefinitely, which greatly aggravates the progressive disease, sometimes to the point of irreversible processes. In order to stop degenerative processes in time, you need to go to see an orthopedist if you have the following symptoms:

• constant or periodic crunching in joints of various locations;
• joint pain;
• slight or pronounced swelling of the skin around the painful joint, which may be accompanied by local hyperthermia and redness;
• pain in the hip joint and lower back can be caused by progressive coxarthrosis or dysplasia;
• intermittent claudication;
• rapid fatigue of the lower extremities;
• inability to stay in an upright position for a long time;
• changes in the appearance of the limbs (curvature of the fingers, the appearance of bumps and growths), which is usually observed on the feet and hands;
• chest deformation;
• shoulder asymmetry;
• progressive stoop.

In most cases, in adults, the orthopedist treats pathologies that have already affected a large scale of the musculoskeletal system, since the initial treatment occurred at a fairly advanced stage.

It should be remembered that in the initial forms of the disease, conservative treatment methods can be used , but advanced processes in most cases require radical measures, which determine an impressive percentage of the risk of disability and postoperative complications.

Tactics for visiting an orthopedist

Typically, an orthopedist consults patients, adhering to certain tactics when differentiating the diagnosis, which consists of the following aspects:

• collection of anamnesis, which will give an idea of ​​how long ago the disease began and the presence of similar pathologies in blood relatives, since in some diseases there is a hereditary factor;
• finding out the patient’s type of activity can also provide useful information in establishing the etiotropic factor;
• visual examination of the pathological area of ​​the body;
• determination of the percentage of motor activity of the affected part of the osteoarticular system;
• The most informative and accurate method in orthopedics is considered to be computer and magnetic resonance imaging, in which the orthopedist looks at a layer-by-layer image of the pathological area of ​​​​tissue.

Only after a series of examinations, clarification of concomitant pathologies and the etiology of the disease, an orthopedist can prescribe the optimal set of therapeutic measures.

Source: https://KtoVrach.ru/151-ortoped.html

A doctor who treats joints is called

Answer the question “which doctor treats joints?” it is both simple and complex at the same time. It’s simple - because there are not many such doctors, but it’s difficult, because each of them deals only with a specific type of joint pathology, and to determine “your” specialist, you must first carry out a differential diagnosis.

Often several specialists are involved in treatment at the same time. For example, psoriatic arthritis is treated by a rheumatologist together with a dermatologist, and may also require consultation with an orthopedist or arthrologist. At the diagnostic stage, in order to establish the type and cause of joint damage, consultations with several doctors are often necessary.

The table below contains a list of specialists and the diseases they treat:

(if the table is not completely visible, scroll to the right)

What is the doctor's name?
Diseases and pathologies he deals with

• Rheumatoid, psoriatic, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and other types of autoimmune joint damage (for example, joint inflammation due to lupus erythematosus or scleroderma)
• Osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, various arthritis, bursitis, fibrositis, tendinitis and other inflammatory and degenerative lesions of periarticular tissues
• Advanced traumatic arthritis, post-traumatic arthrosis, deforming osteoarthritis
• Arthritis of bacterial, viral, parasitic nature, including infection-specific, for example, brucellosis, salmonella, dysentery.
• Arthritis due to rubella, ARVI, hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, Lyme disease.
• Specific arthritis that began against the background of an underlying venereal disease: syphilitic, gonorrheal arthritis, Reiter's syndrome
• Conservative treatment of joint diseases in a small settlement (village, village, small town), where there are no highly specialized joint doctors
• Later in the article I will tell you which doctor you should contact first, I will describe in more detail what each of the highly specialized doctors does, who is better to contact and why, as well as how to choose a good doctor.

Which doctor should I consult for joint pain?

Before you figure out which doctor treats joints, you need to know the root cause and mechanism of development of joint damage in a particular case. It is these two indicators that determine the profile of the doctor who will treat joint disease in your case.

The main joint diseases are arthritis and arthrosis. Arthritis is an inflammatory lesion of the elements of the joint: cartilage, ligaments, synovial membrane and fluid. Based on the causes, there are a large number of types of arthritis, each of which is treated by doctors of narrow specializations.

If the patient comes in too late that only surgery can help him, it is necessary to consult an orthopedist to choose treatment tactics.

Rheumatologist

A rheumatologist is a specialist who deals with the conservative treatment of inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the joints. It is this doctor who treats the most common types of primary arthritis and arthrosis, as well as systemic autoimmune diseases that manifest themselves as inflammation of the joints.

He is also competent to conduct diagnostics, which includes laboratory and instrumental studies:

• various blood tests (biochemical, serological, enzyme immunoassay, etc.);
• bacteriological and (or) microscopic examination of synovial fluid;
• biopsy of the articular membrane and its examination;
• X-ray diagnostics;
• arthroscopy.

Arthroscopy of the knee joint is performed by a rheumatologist

This is a surgical doctor who deals exclusively with pathologies of joints and periarticular tissues. Getting an appointment with an arthrologist is quite problematic, because he works in highly specialized medical clinics in large cities, and you rarely see him in a regular clinic.

The competence of an arthrologist includes diagnosis and surgical elimination of the consequences of inflammation and destruction of articular structures.

Orthopedist-traumatologist

Orthopedists practice surgical treatment methods. The table shows the types of surgical interventions they perform:

(if the table is not completely visible, scroll to the right)

Organ-preserving operations

1. Arthrodesis, therapeutic arthroscopy, arthroplasty, arthrotomy, arthroscopic subacromial decompression
2. Replacement of a destroyed joint with a prosthesis (one “half” of the joint or both at once)
3. The photo shows total knee replacement. This complex surgical intervention is performed by an orthopedic traumatologist.
4. If pain in one or more joints bothers you for more than a week, you should not ignore the pain so as not to trigger the disease; you need to visit your local physician.

Endoprosthetics

He will conduct an initial examination: x-rays and blood tests for inflammation, as well as a rheumatic test (a blood test that helps diagnose rheumatic and autoimmune diseases). Based on the results obtained, the therapist will make a presumptive diagnosis and write a referral to a rheumatologist or other specialist.

Often in small towns there are no doctors with a narrow specialization. In this case, you should contact a therapist, he will prescribe treatment for inflammation or, if necessary, refer you to a regional hospital where the necessary specialist is available.

Other specialists involved in joint treatment

If inflammation in the joint is caused by a pathogenic microbe, virus or parasite, then secondary arthritis develops against the background of the underlying disease. For example, with brucellosis, an infectious disease specialist eliminates the root cause - intracellular parasites of the genus Brucella - i.e. treats the underlying disease. Similarly, syphilitic and gonorrheal arthritis are treated by a venereologist, tuberculosis - by a phthisiatrician.

Conservative therapy and the postoperative rehabilitation period include various physical procedures, manual therapy, massage, and exercise therapy. Which doctor treats joints in this case? The following are involved in the treatment process:

• physiotherapist,
• physiotherapist,
• chiropractor,
• masseur,
• rehabilitologist.

Read also: Deforming arthrosis of the hip joint

How to choose a good doctor and clinic?

• When choosing a specialist and medical institution, be guided by the following five criteria:
• qualification category of a doctor: the higher it is, the more knowledge and experience this doctor has;
• the presence of highly specialized specialists in the clinic, with whom, if necessary, you can consult;
• availability of extensive capabilities in terms of equipment and the use of modern treatment methods;
• oddly enough, the presence of a queue to see a certain doctor means that many patients trust him with their health;
• reviews about the doctor from other patients who have already been treated by him.

Joint doctor

There is no such profession as a joint specialist, but there are doctors who can help solve problems of the musculoskeletal system.

Pain syndrome in the joint area cannot arise just like that, since it is protected by cartilage tissue, and therefore pain and discomfort are not the result of the influence of weather conditions or an uncomfortable posture.

A good doctor who treats joints will help you understand the diagnosis, the main thing is to know who to turn to.

How do you know when it's time to go to the doctor?

Arthrosis, arthritis, polyarthritis, gout - this is an incomplete list of diseases that attack the joints, interfering with full movement and causing intense pain. But they have one thing in common - if treatment is delayed, any of the diseases will lead to limitation of motor activity, and as a result, disability will occur.

Healthy joints will not hurt, so if you experience the slightest episode of discomfort or pain, you should consult a specialist.

The main signs that should alert you:

• pain in the limbs, back or hip, which is of a different nature;
• extraneous sounds, crunching in joints, when trying to bend or straighten your knees or arms;
• redness and swelling in the folds;
• swelling of the limbs that hurt;
• limitation of joint mobility.

Source: https://43ortoped.ru/vrach-kotoryj-lechit-sustavy-nazyvaetsya/

Orthopedist - all about the medical specialty

An orthopedist is a specialist who should be contacted if any diseases or defects related to the musculoskeletal system arise. If we consider what an orthopedist treats, we can, in particular, note developmental defects that are relevant to the skeletal system, as well as congenital forms of pathologies, complications that develop against the background of infectious diseases. In addition, this list includes domestic injuries and various injuries, conditions during the post-traumatic period, and diseases, again related to the skeletal system. A separate area of ​​specific activity of an orthopedist is the treatment of those occupational diseases that, as is clear from the previously discussed list, directly affect the condition of the musculoskeletal system and its inherent functions.

Orthopedics: main areas

The specialization owned by a particular orthopedic doctor determines, accordingly, the specific direction in the specifics of his activity. Let us highlight possible options for this type of direction:

• Outpatient (or conservative) orthopedics. In this case, we consider the implementation of preventive measures regarding diseases of the musculoskeletal system in a clinic where an orthopedist sees. In addition, this area is focused on the implementation of non-operative treatment measures regarding the impact on diseases of bones and joints.
• Endoprosthetics . This direction is focused on the implementation of surgical prosthetic measures for bones and joints, which is particularly relevant if it is impossible to preserve them using other treatment options.
• Surgical orthopedics. The spine, feet, teeth and hands are the main areas of influence of this area of ​​orthopedics. This direction is radical in treatment; the effect is on bones, joints and ligaments.
• Traumatology. This also includes sports orthopedics. The treatment methods are defined as conservative treatment and surgical treatment, aimed at addressing injuries in one way or another associated with the skeletal system. This also includes timely fixation of fractures and measures aimed at correcting soft tissue defects of joints and limbs, as well as measures aimed at correcting old forms of defects. Considering that sports orthopedics is also included in this area, the impact in it, accordingly, is focused on the treatment of those specific injuries that athletes receive due to the nature of their activities.
• Pediatric orthopedics, adolescent orthopedics. This direction is focused on prevention and necessary treatment of defects relevant to the skeletal system. Taking into account the initial definition of the groups, it can be noted that the patients in this case are children under the age of 1 year, as well as younger children and adolescents.

Orthopedist: what organs does this doctor treat?

Based on the above features that determine the specifics of the orthopedist’s activities as a specific specialist, we can, accordingly, summarize what an orthopedist treats:

• muscles;
• joints;
• tendons;
• ligaments;
• bones;
• nerve endings.

The areas that an orthopedist most often treats are: back, feet, shoulder blades, knee and hip joints, and humerus.

Diseases treated by an orthopedist

As for specific diseases that an orthopedist treats, here is the following list of their main types:

• bowed feet, flat feet, clubfoot;
• congenital diseases (dysplasia of the hip joints, torticollis);
• bursitis, arthrosis (diseases accompanied by inflammation of the periarticular bursa and joints);
• osteochondrosis (a chronic disease accompanied by damage to the spine within certain segments);
• joint dislocations, bone fractures;
• Ewing's tumor;
• rheumatoid arthritis is a system-wide chronic disease, the course of which is characterized by damage to the skeletal system, which, in turn, leads to a severe form of joint deformation, which in some cases can cause subsequent disability in the patient;
• osteogenic sarcoma;
• deforming osteosis;
• chondromyxosarcoma, etc.

Appointment with an orthopedist: when is it needed?

It should be noted that the few types of pathologies that we have identified are only a small part of their possible options; moreover, the variety of such options is noted not only in diseases, but also in treatment related to injuries and diseases of the skeletal system.

Diseases of the joints, bones, spine and ligaments, including tissues located in the immediate surroundings of the affected area, can be, as already noted, congenital or acquired, as well as infectious. Acquired diseases are associated with mutilations, occupational injuries and metabolic disorders.

Infectious – with the impact of infection and concomitant inflammation when suffering from infectious diseases.

The development of bone disorders occurs slowly, therefore the first symptoms that could indicate the need for consultation with an orthopedist may have an erased appearance, but their serious and pronounced manifestation will be noted already at the stage of a large-scale lesion that has arisen against the background of the pathological process. Given this peculiarity of this type of disorder, you should visit the orthopedist’s office regularly, and it is important to do this starting from early childhood.

Orthopedist-traumatologist: when is he needed?

Considering that in this case, as is clear from the orthopedist’s area of ​​specialization, we are talking about its direct connection with injuries and the elimination of their consequences, a number of reasons are also determined for visiting the office of an orthopedist-traumatologist:

• bone fractures resulting in disruption of their functions, as well as repeated fractures;
• residual forms of manifestation of the patient's polio;
• persistent and persistent pain in the spine, limbs and joints;
• sprains, bruises, frostbites, insect and animal bites;
• deformations of the limbs, spine, chest, impaired functions of small and large joints.

As part of the treatment, the orthopedic traumatologist can use the method of closed surgical intervention, this method is called redressation.

In this case, we mean a step-by-step correction by an orthopedic doctor with the hands of pathological disorders and deformations that are relevant to the patient within the area of ​​individual segments of the joints related to the apparatus of support and movement.

In particular, here we are talking about the correction/correction of such options that have already been considered and excluded from the list of consideration, such as contracture, clubfoot, curvature of the limbs against the background of rickets, fibrous ankylosis, fractures that ended in malunion, etc.

Urgent appointment with an orthopedist: symptoms that determine this need

There is a certain set of symptoms on the basis of which an urgent consultation with an orthopedist is necessary, because these symptoms can act as a kind of signal indicating the onset of the development of a serious pathological process, and, in fact, the disease. Such a need for medical assistance can be discussed in the case of the following manifestations of symptoms:

• crunching in the joints, their stiffness;
• numbness of hands;
• swelling of the joints, pain during movements;
• back pain;
• poor posture and a quick feeling of fatigue;
• aching pain and muscle aches caused by changing weather.

There are also a number of diseases, the presence of which determines the need for regular monitoring by the specialist we are considering. Let us highlight the following types:

• rheumatoid arthritis;
• suffering from spinal injuries;
• arthrosis of the joints;
• shoulder dislocation;
• dislocation of the knee joint;
• osteochondrosis;
• fracture of the femoral neck.

As a preventive measure, an orthopedist-traumatologist is necessary for active sports activities and when choosing extreme types of recreation as a way of spending time. If you follow this recommendation regarding the need for prevention, then you can promptly eliminate microtraumas, which, in turn, will help eliminate the problems that accompany them in the future.

Pediatric orthopedist: when to take a child to this specialist?

There are a number of circumstances that make it necessary for parents and their children to visit this specialist. If you consult an orthopedist in a timely manner, you can achieve effective results in curing developing pathologies; moreover, it is also possible to correct their congenital forms. Such circumstances include the following:

• incorrect position of the hip noted in a newborn baby (i.e. congenital dislocation);
• rapid fatigue of the child when walking, visible heaviness of gait (in this case we can talk about flat feet);
• noticeable stoop of the child;
• a constant tilt of the child’s head to one shoulder (implying a possible diagnosis of torticollis);
• child complaints of pain in the arms or legs, neck or back;
• clubfoot, in which the child seems to be raking his foot with the appropriate position of the leg while walking.

First appointment with an orthopedist

Patients are often interested in how the first examination by an orthopedist goes in order to have a rough idea about it, so we will identify the main points that accompany the first appointment with the specialist in question:

• visual assessment of the anatomical structure relevant to the skeletal system (correctness or irregularity), this action is especially important in the case of examining a newborn child;
• determining the range of motion relevant to the affected joints;
• appointment of fluoroscopy, on the basis of which the alleged diagnosis can be clarified or refuted;
• complex forms of pathology may indicate the need for such research methods as CT and MRI (which, respectively, defines computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging).

Tests prescribed by an orthopedist

Despite the profile of this specialist, which, as one might mistakenly assume, excludes tests as a necessity to complement the overall picture of the disease, one cannot do without their traditional and specific forms here. In particular, the orthopedist may need the results of the following tests:

• general analysis of urine and blood;
• data regarding blood clotting time;
• data on activated partial thromboplastin time;
• prothrombin index, as well as prothrombin time and prothrombin time + fibrinogen.

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Source: https://SimptoMer.ru/doctor/ortoped

Medicine and Health on the EUROLAB portal | Medical directory of diseases and their treatment, doctor consultations, clinics

A doctor who treats disorders of posture, gait, changes in the shape of the foot, and the consequences of various injuries.

The orthopedist will prescribe the necessary treatment for clubfoot, flat feet, spinal curvature, etc.

Depending on the specific disease, physical therapy, manual therapy, wearing orthopedic devices, etc. are used in the treatment of orthopedic diseases.

- clubfoot, - spinal scoliosis, - flat feet, hip dislocation, - torticollis, - limb deformity, - joint pathology, - arthrogranosis, - bone pathology (cyst, benign tumors),

— congenital diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

What organs does the Orthopedist deal with:

Joints, spine, hip, musculoskeletal system, foot.

When to contact an Orthopedist:

Clubfoot is several elements of foot deformation. Violations are laid down in intrauterine development. Therefore, this pathology is called congenital. No one can explain the causes of clubfoot. The foot looks inward, it is turned with the inner edge upward and, as it were, extended forward (an element of the equine foot).

With a multiplanar foot deformity, the heel is pulled up, the foot is arched and turned upward towards the inner edge. It can be returned to its normal position. A similar deformity can occur in various neurological diseases - but in these cases the foot is more or less brought into the correct position.

With pronounced clubfoot, the foot is turned inward, its outer edge is directed downward and behind, and the inner concave edge is directed upward. The dorsum of the foot faces forward and down, and the plantar surface faces back and up. The supination of the foot can be so significant that the heel can touch the inner surface of the lower leg.

In addition to these symptoms, with congenital clubfoot, twisting of the bones of the lower leg outward (torsion), transverse bending of the sole (inflexion), which is accompanied by the formation of a transverse groove running along the inner edge of the middle section of the foot (Adams' groove) and varus deformation of the toes, are often observed. Symptoms of flatfoot disease 1.

In the evening, the feet get tired, swelling appears, and if there was a lot of physical activity, the foot hurts. 2. The pain becomes stronger, reaches the knee. 3. Lower back pain and headache occur. There is a great desire to take off your shoes and walk barefoot. You find it difficult to buy shoes for yourself because your feet have become larger and your toes have become deformed.

Congenital hip dislocation is the most common congenital deformity of the musculoskeletal system. This malformation extends to all elements of the hip joint: the acetabulum, the head of the femur with surrounding muscles, ligaments, and capsule and consists in the underdevelopment of these tissues. Causes of scoliosis The causes of scoliosis are not fully understood.

Among the main causes, two main groups are considered – congenital and acquired causes of scoliosis. Congenital causes of scoliosis are congenital disorders of the structure of connective tissues with weakening of ligamentous structures in all body systems. In other words, the ligaments designed to hold the spinal column in an upright position are too weak to do so.

- Congenital or primary (hereditary) scoliosis can accompany various congenital changes: - impaired development of the hip joints (dysplasia), - maxillofacial anomalies, flat feet, - anomalies of the biliary and urinary tract.

Kyphosis can be arched, when one or another part of the spine is evenly curved from behind, and angular, when the spine is sharply curved in a small area (in the area of ​​​​several vertebrae). Arched kyphosis occurs mainly in the thoracic spine (the so-called round back). Lordosis is usually observed in the lumbar spine.

Most often it develops with congenital dislocations in the hip joints, in which the center of gravity of the body in a vertical position is transferred to the front and, in order to maintain balance, the body leans back, bending at the lower back. Physiological lumbar lordosis can increase with excessive deposition of abdominal fat.

Lordosis is manifested by spinal deformation and pain caused by redistribution of the load on the vertebral bodies and overstretching of the musculo-ligamentous apparatus of the spine. Active movements of the affected spine are limited. Lordosis is often accompanied by prolapse of internal organs (stomach, intestines, kidneys), which explains various disturbances in their functioning. Torticollis is a neck deformity characterized by an incorrect position of the head with its tilt to the side and rotation. Torticollis can be unilateral, very rarely bilateral. There are congenital and acquired forms of torticollis. Depending on which neck tissues are affected, dermatogenic, desmogenic, myogenic, neurogenic, arthrogenic and osteogenic torticollis are distinguished.

When and what tests should be done:

Only instrumental research methods are carried out.

What are the main types of diagnostics usually performed by an Orthopedist:

— Endoscopic diagnosis of joint diseases; - Ultrasound; - CT; - MRI.

Advice from an Orthopedist:

1. Long walking or work that involves standing for a long time will sooner or later cause overload even in a normal foot. Therefore, whenever possible, give yourself a moment of rest and a break for your legs. In summer, walk barefoot on sand, pebbles, and grass.

It is useful to walk on a massage mat for 1-2 minutes a day. 2. Clothes for feet. Requirements for shoes depend on the specific type and degree of foot deformation. In any case, the heel of the shoe should not be higher than 4 cm, the toe of the shoe should provide free placement of the toes, and the heel should provide good fixation of the heel. 3.

Wearing an orthopedic insole allows you to more evenly distribute the load on the foot, and also acts as an additional spring. Such an insole is made of elastic material with an elevation along the inner edge (lining of the longitudinal arch), and often with a “pad” under the base of the toes (lining of the transverse arch).

If flat feet are something you have been living with for quite a long time, choosing insoles can become more complicated due to the presence of deformations and numerous overload zones. In such cases, it is advisable to make insoles based on an individual foot print or select ready-made insoles using special computer equipment.

Various diagnostic complexes are now available: Emed, Diasled and others.

4. Exercise for the feet. The passive support provided by the insole can provide a quite comfortable feeling when walking, but, as a rule, it does not create conditions for active muscle training at all. To replenish and maintain muscle tone, we strongly recommend that you perform physical therapy exercises daily.

Source: https://www.eurolab.ua/speciality/84