There are over 200 bones in the human body and at one point or another, we will all experience pain or injury to one or more of them. General orthopaedics is a speciality of medical professionals that focus on the musculoskeletal system. The diagnostic process, care, and treatment of this system place special emphasis on bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and the surrounding soft tissue like muscles and nerves. Musculoskeletal disorders are thus dealt with by orthopaedic surgeons, who use various methods, including surgery, to rectify the issue.
The term comes from two Greek root words: “ortho” (which means straight) and “pais” (which means child). This is likely because general orthopaedics had its early beginnings in the treatment of children who were born with musculoskeletal deformities and physical challenges. Today, however, this treatment extends from children to the elderly, covering a vast variety of disorders.
Conditions that General Orthopaedics Treat
The field of general orthopaedics is a broad one, and so some specialists prefer to focus on a few areas of the body such as the spine or joints in the body. While it is impossible to list all the conditions that would warrant an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon, below are just a few:
- Bone fractures, joint dislocations, torn ligaments, and muscle strains and sprains.
- Bursitis and injury to tendons.
- Spine conditions such as sciatica, scoliosis, back pain, and ruptured or slipped discs.
- Musculoskeletal deformities which could include everything from bowlegs to bunions, as well as growth abnormalities.
- Diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis
Degenerative diseases can also be treated and many of the symptoms such as pain and inflammation managed with the help of technological advancements in the field of general orthopaedics. Options such as total joint replacement and arthroscopy surgeries all give new hope to patients suffering from debilitating pain.
Why Partner with Us
Here at the Pretoria Hip, Knee & Shoulder Surgeons, we treat every patient with care and compassion and see to it that we walk the journey of recovery with them. Because of our decades of experience and a strong reputation, we are often the last stop of referral for patients across South Africa and the world. The leading orthopaedic specialist of our medical facility, Dr Jan De Vos, was elected in 2014 as the President of the South African Orthopaedic Association (SAOA) and became part of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Carousel Presidents in the same year.
As of 2017, Dr De Vos is the elected President of the South African Arthroplasty Society. Specialising in all hip, knee, and shoulder pathology in patients older than 10 years, Dr De Vos co-authored the Guidelines for Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in South Africa and founded the South African National Joint Registry. For Dr De Vos, staying abreast of the latest translational and clinical research is of the highest importance, and you can be sure that our state-of-the-art diagnoses and treatment methods leave you in good hands.
If you would like to find out more about how we can help you, send us an email at admin@drdevos.co.za or simply call us on 012 807 0335.