Orthopaedics (orthopaedic surgery)

You may be referred to an orthopaedic consultant for treatment of an injury such as a bone fracture, a deformity of the spine or limbs, or a long-term condition that has developed over many years, such as

Orthopaedic specialists treat patients of all ages – from newborns and children with deformities such as

What do orthopaedic specialists do?

Most consultants who work in orthopaedics work alongside general surgeons in emergency care. They may:

• Diagnose injuries or disorders using
  X-rays
  , blood tests or other tests.
• Treat these injuries or conditions with medication or surgery.
• Recommend exercises or physiotherapy to restore movement, strength and functionality.

The vast majority also have a specialist interest – this may be in a particular orthopaedic condition, an area of the body or in a field such as paediatrics or sport surgery.

What sort of operations do they perform?

Some of the most common operations orthopaedic surgeons perform include:

• Arthoscopy
  – a minimally invasive (keyhole) technique that involves inserting probes into a joint to diagnose and repair damaged joint tissue, such as [cartilage damage.
• Repairing bone fractures – for more information, read about the treatment of a:
  • broken arm or wrist
  • broken ankle
  • broken collarbone
  • broken hip
  • broken leg
    • broken ribs
• Arthroplasty – surgery used to replace whole joints, usually because of arthritis. Hip replacements and
  knee replacements
  are the most common operations.
• Repairing damaged muscles, torn tendons or torn ligaments.
• Corrective surgery – procedures to correct deformities of the spine or limbs that either limit function or would cause long-term problems if left. Examples are fusion surgery (where bones are welded together to heal into a single, solid bone) and osteotomy (correcting a bone deformity by cutting and repositioning the bone).