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Orthopaedic Surgeons- When to see a practioner of the career?

Who does an Orthopaedic Surgeon Treat?

Orthopaedic surgeons treat patients of all ages – newborns, children, athletes, baby boomers and the elderly – with conditions that range from bone and joint disorders and fractures to diseases or tears of the muscles, ligaments and tendons in all regions of the body.

It is essential that patients and their families develop partnerships with their physicians. This will help ensure that decisions about medical treatments honor the patients’ wants, needs, preferences and values. Orthopaedic surgeons respect the value of diversity and are committed to serving communities and individuals with unique needs.

What does an Orthopaedic Surgeon Treat?

An orthopaedic surgeon treats many musculoskeletal conditions without surgery, by using medications, exercise and other rehabilitative or alternative therapies. If necessary, he/she may also recommend surgical treatment if the patient does not respond to other treatments.

Some of the conditions and diseases an orthopaedic surgeon treats include:

Abnormalities of the fingers and toes

Back pain, ruptured disks, sciatica and scoliosis

Bone tumors, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy

Club foot, bunions, bow legs, knock knees and unequal leg length

Fractures and dislocations

Growth abnormalities

Osteoarthritis

Osteoporosis

Rheumatoid arthritis

Sports or work-related injuries

Tendon injuries, pulled muscles, bursitis and torn cartilage

Torn ligaments, sprains and strains

What Types of Surgeries do Orthopaedic Surgeons Perform?

Orthopaedic surgeons perform numerous types of surgeries on patients. Common surgeries include:

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.

What Should a Patient Expect from a Visit with an Orthopaedic Surgeon?

In general, visits with an orthopaedic surgeon start with a personal interview, physical examination and review of previous records or tests. This may be followed by additional diagnostic exams, such as blood tests, X-rays or other images. For most orthopaedic conditions and injuries there may be more than one form of treatment. The orthopaedic surgeon will discuss treatment options with the patient to mutually determine the plan best suited for his/her health and lifestyle.

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Orthopaedic Surgeons- What do they do?

So, what does an Orthopedic Surgeon do?

Many people ask what does an orthopaedic doctor do, or what does an orthopaedic surgeon do. An orthopedic surgeon is a physician (who has a medical degree D.O. or M.D) who is trained in diagnosis , treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of disorders, injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system of the body. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and non surgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma , spine disorders, sports injuries, degenerative diseases , infections , tumors and congenital disorders. Non-surgical treatment may involve using medication, exercise and other rehabilitation or alternative therapies. It may be necessary to recommend surgical treatment if the patient does not respond to conservative treatment. The musculoskeletal system includes bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves and tendons. They are involved with the diagnosis and preoperative , operative and postoperative treatment. Orthopedic surgeons are trained to treat all aspects of the musculoskeletal system however many orthopedic surgeons specialize in specific areas , such as hand, shoulder and elbow, spine, hip , knee or foot and ankle. Orthopedics also may choose to specialize in fields like trauma, oncology, sports medicine, reconstructive surgery or pediatrics. Orthopedic surgeons often work closely with other health care providers and frequently serve as consultants to other physicians. Orthopedic surgeons may work in education , research or practice in a multi-specialty group or a solo practice.

Up until the 1890’s, orthopedics was a study limited to the correction of deformity in children. Orthopedic doctors advocated the use of exercise, manipulation and splinting to treat deformities in children. Initially there was controversy about whether orthopedics should involve surgical procedures at all. The profession progressed tp surgical treatment in the early 1900's due to developments with casting and bone fixation among others.

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Orthopaedic Surgeons- Pros and Cons

Pros:

Compared to other surgical fields, the age at which I started practising is much earlier. Orthopaedics is a 3 year course post mbbs. Others such as gastro, cardio, neuro are a minimum of 6 year courses post mbbs.

The amount of money earned is higher compared to the effort put in. That doesn't mean that we don't put in a lot of effort though.

The risk to life is much lesser compared to other branches such as cardio, neuro, onco.

The satisfaction of correcting a broken leg and making the patient stand cannot be explained in words.

Doctors are among the highest-paid professionals, and orthopedic surgeons and radiologists set the bar in medical pay. In 2011, average annual pay was $315,000, according to the 2012 Medscape Physician Compensation Report.

Status because of the stringent education and certification requirements, and importance of their work, orthopedic surgeons are highly respected in medicine.

Along with high pay, orthopedic surgeries normally get plenty of breaks from the rigors of their work. Typical vacation time is around four weeks, according to Employment Crossing.

Cons:

Higher learning curve in a lesser time. The stresses are higher on the surgeon.

The cases have to be attended as an emergency. So the orthopaedician had to be on duty at any time of day or night.

Margin of error is very less. The results can be assessed easily: on x-ray even by a layman (non-doctor) and by patient himself.

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Orthopaedic Surgeons- Why Pursue this Career

Why Pursue this Career?

According to Forbes magazine, Orthopedic Surgeon Jobs are #2 on the list of best-paying in-demand doctor jobs in 2016. In 2014, CNN listed the best kinds of careers, and orthopedic surgeon jobs placed 33 out of 100. Why? First of all, orthopedics is a huge, growing industry. As boomers get older and more people are interested in sports, there has been an increase in the need to visit an orthopedist for bone and joint related issues. In fact, the 10-year growth for orthopedic surgeons was a whopping 23%.

CNN’s research team asked orthopedists to rate aspects of their profession that had to do with personal satisfaction, stress, and helping people. While there is some stress related to this profession, doctors gave this part of their careers a “B” rating, while the other considerations were given an “A.”

Orthopedists do not have to work the long hours or handle the high levels of stress that ER doctors or cardiologists have to endure. The majority of their patients are not in life-threatening situations, and they can help people get back to their normal lives without the debilitating effects of other health ailments.

Those that are interested in pursuing surgeon jobs have a number of avenues for seeking employment.

Why I will pursue this Career?

I will pursue this career because first and all I love helping people, God wants us to care for each other and as Orthopaedic I can help many people. I also like motivating other people to rise from the bottom back to top which is called rehabilatation. I also can help athletes, and I love sports and to meet my favorite atheletes would be a dream. Choosing this career is also a good investment I can even say it better than an investment its a prize because you can get your money back in just a nick of time plus its also not that stressful.That’s why I decide to pursue becoming an Orthopaedic Surgeon.

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Orthopaedic Surgeons-Overview

What is Orthopedics?

The medical specialty concerned withcorrection of deformities or functional impairments of the skeletalsystem, especially the extremities and the spine, and associatedstructures, as muscles and ligaments.

Who is an Orthopaedic Surgeon?

An orthopaedic surgeon is a physician devoted to the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of injuries, disorders and diseases of the body’s musculoskeletal system. This system includes bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves and tendons.

While orthopaedic surgeons are familiar with all aspects of the musculoskeletal system, many orthopaedists specialize in certain areas, such as the foot and ankle, hand, shoulder and elbow, spine, hip or knee. Orthopaedic surgeons may also choose to focus on specific fields like pediatrics, trauma, reconstructive surgery, oncology (bone tumors) or sports medicine.

Education and Training

An orthopaedic surgeon has extensive training in the proper diagnosis and non-surgical and surgical treatment of injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Orthopaedic surgeons have completed approximately 14 years of formal education:

Four years of study in a college or university

Four years of study in medical school

Five years of concentrated study in an orthopaedic residency at a major medical center

An additional year of specialty training is common

Board certification is a very important step following completion of the orthopaedic training program. To become board certified, an orthopaedic surgeon must undergo a peer-review process, and then demonstrate his/her expertise in orthopaedics by passing both oral and written examinations given by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. It is important to visit orthopaedic surgeons who are either board certified or in the process of becoming certified (board eligible).