orthopedic surgery is gathering type purposeful surgery overcome diseases that occur in the body's movement system. Orthopedic surgery can overcome various diseases or injuries to bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles, as well as muscle nerves. Through orthopedic surgery, patients with diseases of these organs can return move, as well work and function normally.
Patients who suffer from diseases of the motion system, will generally undergo non-surgical treatment first. If non-surgical treatment is not effective in curing the disease, the doctor will recommend the patient to undergo a surgical procedure. Non-surgical treatment for orthopedic patients is generally in the form of medication and physiotherapy.
Some examples of orthopedic surgery that are most often performed include:
- arthroscopy, is a surgical procedure with an incision the size of a keyhole to see the condition of the joint and treat joint problems using special tools. Arthroscopy can be performed as a diagnostic procedure for joint disease as well as a treatment technique for joints. The instrument used for arthroscopy is an arthroscope, which is a thin tube containing a camera and surgical instruments.
- Pen installation, is a surgical procedure performed by connecting and maintaining the position of the broken bone with the help of a pen consisting of a metal plate and special bolts. Through the installation of the pen, the broken bone will be returned to its original position and held with the help of the pen during the healing period. In certain circumstances, it is also possible to remove the pen after some time.
- Joint replacement. Joint replacement surgery is performed to replace damaged joints with artificial joints. Joints can be replaced only partially (partial) or completely (total). Joint replacement surgery is often performed on the hip or knee, especially if the joint is severely inflamed or damaged. Replacement joints can be made of plastic, metal, or ceramic, and are made to mimic the motion of the original joint so that the patient can remain as mobile as possible.
- Bone fusion. Bone fusion is done by joining several bones together, either with bone grafts or with the help of metal. Bone fusion is often performed on the spine to relieve pain and improve spinal stability due to disease. By combining several vertebrae, there is no longer any movement between the vertebrae, so the pain caused by the movement of the vertebrae will disappear.
- Osteotomy.Osteotomy is a surgical procedure performed by cutting and changing the shape of bone, especially to repair joints. Osteotomy is often performed on the knee to repair an inflamed knee joint. However, osteotomy can also be performed on other parts of the body such as the pelvis, jaw, chin, toes, and spine. Osteotomy performed on the knee to treat arthritis of the knee is usually performed on young patients who are not recommended for knee replacement surgery. This is because the artificial knee joint is more easily damaged in young patients than in elderly patients.
- Tendon and ligament repair surgery. Tendons and ligaments are connective tissues between bones and muscles. Both can be damaged or torn, which can cause the joint to weaken and joint movement become limited and painful. Tendons and ligaments can be damaged by strenuous physical activity, especially sports such as soccer or tendon and ligament repair surgery will reconnect torn tendons and ligaments.
Indications for Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic surgery can be performed to treat various diseases and disorders of the bones and joints. Each orthopedic surgical technique has its own indications, including:
- Arthroscopy can be performed to diagnose and treat joint diseases, such as infections or arthritis, joint injuries, and ligament damage.
- Spinal fusion can be performed to treat spinal disorders, such as scoliosis, vertebral fractures, spinal tumors, infections, and herniation of the spinal joint pads (hernia nucleus pulposus).
- Pen placement is done to overcome fractures.
- Joint replacement surgery is performed to replace damaged joints, either due to inflammation, disease, fractures, or degeneration due to age.
- Osteotomy is performed to treat joints damaged by inflammation, especially in young patients who are not recommended for joint replacement surgery.
- Tendon and ligament repair surgery is performed to repair tendons and ligaments that have been damaged by physical activity, especially from sports.
Patients can undergo a series of surgical procedures as needed. For example, patients with severe bone and muscle injuries may be treated by orthopedic traumatologists and reconstructors.
Meanwhile, patients who experience sports injuries can be treated by orthopedic doctors who specialize in sports and orthopedic arthroscopy. Orthopedic surgery can also be combined with other nonsurgical treatment methods to optimize healing.
Orthopedic Surgery Warning
Each orthopedic surgical technique has certain caveats that prevent the patient from undergoing surgery. However, in general, to avoid complications of blood loss during surgery, patients will be asked to stop taking blood-thinning medications temporarily, such as aspirin or warfarin. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should consult your obstetrician before undergoing orthopedic surgery. Allergies suffered by the patient, especially allergy to latex or anesthetic drugs, can cause complications during the operation process. Therefore, tell your doctor about the allergy before undergoing surgery.
Orthopedic Surgery Preparation
Preparation for orthopedic surgery depends on the surgical technique that will be undertaken by the patient. However, in general, patients will be asked to fast before undergoing orthopedic surgery, especially patients who will undergo surgery under general anaesthesia. Patients will also be asked to be accompanied by their families, especially to pick up and drop off before and after surgery.
Patients who require bone grafts will be informed about the choice of material for bone grafting. Bone grafts can be obtained from the patient's own bone. However, currently, there are synthetic bone graft materials that can replace real bone for bone graft needs. These synthetic bone graft materials can be made of ceramic, calcium, or special proteins.
Orthopedic Surgical Procedure
Orthopedic surgical procedures vary according to the type of surgery performed and the patient's bone and joint disease. In general, types of orthopedic surgery are invasive procedures that require skin incisions at the site of the bone or joint to be operated on.
Patients who will undergo orthopedic surgery will be asked to change their clothes first with special surgical clothes before entering the operating room. The doctor will then position the patient on the operating table according to the location of the bone or joint to be operated on. The patient will then be given anesthesia, be it local, semi-body, or general anesthesia, as needed. Local anesthesia and a half body will keep the patient awake during the surgical procedure, but will not feel any pain. While general anesthesia will make the patient fall asleep during the operation, and wake up again after the operation is complete.
The orthopedic doctor will make a skin incision (incision) according to the location of the bone or joint that will undergo surgery. The size of the skin incision made depends on the type of surgery and the technique used. Arthroscopic surgery and osteotomy generally require only one or two small incisions. Meanwhile, in pen surgery, an incision will be made along the fractured bone.
After the incision is made, the doctor will then perform a surgical procedure according to the type of orthopedic surgery to be performed. In arthroscopy, the doctor will insert an arthroscope into the joint to visually see the condition of the joint and certain procedures. In pen insertion surgery, the broken bone will be positioned first in its normal position, then held with a pen.
After the surgical procedure is complete, the incision will be closed again using sterile sutures and bandages to prevent infection. The patient will be taken to the treatment room for postoperative recovery, especially if it requires hospitalization.
After Orthopedic Surgery
Patients will be allowed to go home after undergoing postoperative treatment or hospitalization first. During the recovery period, the patient will be asked to rest and keep the bone that has undergone surgery from moving around a lot. Patients may feel pain and swelling at the surgical site after surgery. The doctor will give you painkillers, as well as antibiotics to prevent infection, which are taken during the recovery period.
The doctor will arrange the schedule check up patients during the recovery period. If the operating area is considered stable enough to move, the doctor will arrange a schedule for physiotherapy. Physiotherapy will help strengthen the muscles, bones, and joints that have been operated on. The postoperative recovery period differs for each surgical technique performed, from one to two days to several weeks. During the recovery period, the patient is not allowed to smoke because the nicotine in cigarettes can interfere with bone recovery.
Patients should immediately consult the doctor concerned, if during the recovery period symptoms appear in the form of:
- Redness and swelling at the surgery site.
- Fever.
- Discharge from the surgery site.
- The surgery site feels stiff and tingling.
- The appearance of severe pain that does not improve despite taking pain medication.
Risks of Orthopedic Surgery Complications
Some of the risks of complications that can arise from undergoing orthopedic surgery include:
- Surgical wound infection.
- Tissue damage in the operating area.
- Formation of blood clots.
- Allergic reaction to anesthetics.
- Bleeding and damage to blood vessels.
- Joints feel stiff.
- Chronic joint pain.
- Nerve tissue damage.
- Return damage to bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments that have been operated on.