An Orthopedic Surgeon and Traumatologist or Orthopedic Doctor is a doctor who focuses on treating injuries and diseases of the body's musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, tendons, muscles, and nerves. This injury can occur when playing sports or having an accident, or due to certain diseases.
Usually, some people will consult an orthopedic doctor if they experience a fracture. In fact, an orthopedic doctor doesn't just deal with that problem. There are many medical problems that this specialist can treat, including disorders of bones, joints, and structures related to movement including muscles, tendons, and nerves. In fact, an athlete who has an injury will often be referred to an orthopedic specialist.
After graduating to become a general practitioner, it takes an orthopedic doctor about 5 years to complete his education and training, until he gets the title of orthopedic specialist (Sp. OT). An orthopedic doctor can treat patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly.
In Indonesia, there are about eight subspecialties of orthopedic medicine, including Trauma and Reconstruction Sub-specialist, Spine Sub-specialist, Orthopedic Oncology Sub-specialist, Pediatric Orthopedic Sub-specialist, Sports and Orthopedic Arthroscopy Sub-specialist, Sub-specialist Hand and Microsurgery, Adult Reconstruction Subspecialist or Hip and Knee, and Subspecialist Bio Orthopedic.
Problems Treated by Orthopedic Specialists
Here are some diseases or disorders that an orthopedic doctor can treat, including:
- Disorders that can attack bones, include bone infections, fractures (broken bones), osteoporosis, bone tumors, and bone deformities.
- Disorders that attack joints, such as arthritis, ligament tears, bursitis, dislocations, joint pain, joint dislocation, and joint swelling.
- Medical disorders that occur in the spine, such as spinal tumors, back pain, scoliosis, spinal injuries and fractures.
- Disorders that can affect the knee area include tendinitis, knee pain, meniscus injuries, sprained or torn ligaments.
- Conditions such as heel pain and ankle pain can cause difficulty in moving the foot.
- Conditions that can affect the hand and wrist, such as hand fractures, wrist fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and ganglion cysts.
- Diseases that affect soft tissue muscles, including atrophy, muscle and soft tissue injuries, soft tissue infections, to soft tissue tumors or cancers.
A Line of Actions Performed by Orthopedic Specialists
Orthopedic doctors are trained to perform various medical procedures to treat problems related to your body's movement system, whether or not surgery is required.
In treatment, the orthopedic doctor will first perform a physical examination accompanied by supporting tests to confirm the diagnosis. Additional tests that the orthopedic doctor may suggest include blood tests, joint fluid analysis, arthrogram, bone scan (bone scan), X-rays, MRI, and also ultrasound.
Then the orthopedic doctor will provide treatment according to the needs, diagnosis, and condition of the patient. Non-surgical actions performed by orthopedic doctors, such as administering drugs, determining exercise recommendations, and referring to the physiotherapy department.
If there are indications, the orthopedic doctor will perform surgery or surgery, such as:
- Arthoroscopy, which is a procedure that uses a camera and special equipment that is inserted into the joint. This procedure is needed to diagnose and treat joint problems.
- Internal fixation, which is a procedure to hold bone fragments in the proper position with metal plates, pins, or screws, while the bone is healing.
- Fusion, which is a "welding" process in which bone is fused together with bone grafts and internal devices, such as metal rods, to make the bone solid again.
- Joint replacement (partial, total, or revision) is a procedure performed when the damaged joint is replaced with an artificial joint called a prosthesis.
- Surgery is also needed to repair soft tissues, such as torn tendons or ligaments.
- Osteotomy, which is the act of correcting bone deformities by cutting and positioning the bone.
- Amputation.
- Reconstruction of ligaments, bones and muscles.
- Spinal surgery, including discectomy, foraminotomy, laminectomy, and spinal fusion.
- Cartilage repair or rejuvenation procedures.
The Right Time to Consult an Orthopedic Specialist
You are advised to immediately consult an orthopedic doctor if you experience problems with the musculoskeletal system, including muscles, tendons, nerves, bones, and ligaments. Signs and symptoms that indicate the need for consultation with an orthopedic specialist include:
- Muscle, joint, or bone pain that persists and doesn't improve after a few days.
- Swelling of joints, muscles, or soft tissues that is painful, and hot to the touch.
- A physical injury that causes pain, difficulty moving, or an open wound with fractures.
- Stiffness of muscles, joints, or bones.
- Tingling or numbness in certain body parts after an injury.
- Changes in the shape of joints and bones that make it difficult to carry out daily activities.
What to Prepare Before Meeting an Orthopedic Specialist
Before consulting with an orthopedic doctor, you are advised to record the complaints experienced. Remembering what you did before the complaint was felt, whether you had an injury or not. In addition, collect a complete medical history, including a history of medication or a history of certain diseases. This is useful for the doctor to diagnose what disease you are experiencing.
In choosing an orthopedic doctor, you can get recommendations from people you trust or ask for recommendations from a general practitioner. In addition, you can read reviews from blogs or on the internet. Find out in advance, how the experience and assessment of some patients who have been treated by the doctor who will be selected.