Orthopedics - Five Ailments and Their Treatments

Orthopedics practitioners treat many ailments. Here are 5 of the maladies these doctors address.

Orthopedics health care practitioners are physicians who treat the musculoskeletal systems within the human body. The word "orthopedics" originated from the Greek language translating to "bone," "straighten" and "child." This medical classification has been around for many years. As far back as the late 1700's, Jean-Andre Venel started the first hospital designated to treat skeletal deformities in children. Venel is sometimes referred to as the founding father of this discipline. The mid-1800's saw the emergence of plaster casts to help broken bones heal into proper alignment.

Many maladies are treated by these specialists. Here are five ailments and their treatments:

Hip Replacement

When hip ball and joint break down, individuals may opt for a surgical hip replacement. With this procedure, an implant made of hard, durable prosthetic material is inserted in order to reduce pain from maladies such as arthritis or to correct damage such as fracture or degenerative disease. A complete procedure is called an arthroplasty. In an arthroplasty the physician would replace the femoral head and pelvic connector. A partial replacement may also be chosen, in some circumstances. The vast majority of patients find improved function and curtailing of pain after this procedure.

Spinal Fusion

Spinal fusion entails the fusing of two vertebrae in the spine due to pain or range of motion problems. The fusing may entail two or more separate portions. Bone grafting often accompanies this treatment option. There are two types, Posterolateral fusion and Interbody. Both techniques include grafts held by screws, metal rods or titanium. Some reasons that patients would be candidates for these fusions include that they suffer from tumors, disc diseases, degeneration, fracture and scoliosis.

Clubfoot

Clubfoot is a birth defect which is present when a baby is first born. This congenital defect presents as a foot which looks similar to a golf club because of its positioning. It juts out to the side in a twisted manner. This can be subtle or extreme. It occurs in one foot or two on the individual who is in all other ways a normal child. Doctors aren't sure why this condition occurs but think it may be related to spina bifida. Positioning during gestation in the mother's uterus does not cause the ailment. Boys have clubfoot more commonly than girls and if a parent had it, chances are greater that new offspring well, as well. It can cause arthritis or problems with self esteem if left untreated. It is best treated in infancy by either a method of stretching and casting the foot into the proper position or surgery.

Bone Cancer

This is a serious form of cancer which may occur in children or adults. It begins in the bone marrow which is the jelly-like substance found in the center. It occurs most commonly in the arms and legs. Treatment may include surgical amputation or chemotherapy and radiation.

Knee pain

Knee discomfort can stem from many different causes including arthritis, torn ligaments, torn cartilage, gout and infections. Many extremely overweight individuals have problems with their knees due to the stress the extra pounds place on them.

If a person had trouble with any of these ailments, they should consult an orthopedics specialist for a consultation. These problems and others can be successfully addressed.