Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Bone Surgeons
Generally speaking, the qualities you require of any healthcare professional will depend on the nature and severity of your illness. The number of people undergoing surgery on any given day is substantial. Nevertheless, most patients receive all the help they require from a general practitioner. Some may never have a reason to consult a specialist. However, the world’s bone surgeons have been experiencing a substantially increased demand in recent years. While orthopaedic surgery is a specialist discipline, some practitioners choose to focus on one or two areas within this field. Consequently, this variation in skills will be one of the factors you may need to consider when selecting your consultant.
Suppose you have painful joints combined with other symptoms and have not suffered a traumatic injury. In that case, you could start with a visit to your primary care provider, who might refer you to a physiotherapist or a rheumatologist rather than a bone surgeon. Many conditions respond well to palliative treatments leading to a full recovery. In other cases, it could help to delay any need for more stringent action for several years. Consequently, the findings of that initial evaluation can be crucial.
When Might You Require Help from Bone Surgeons?
In progressive conditions like osteoarthritis, prescription analgaesics, mild exercise, and steroid injections will eventually become ineffective. At that stage, appropriate surgical intervention could be the only means to relieve your pain and restore the affected joint’s mobility. If you are relatively young and depend on your job for an income, you may want to look for bone surgeons with experience in performing arthroscopic procedures. This minimally invasive approach will shorten your recovery time significantly while reducing the risk of infection and excessive blood loss.
Most common orthopaedic interventions can now be conducted arthroscopically. Unfortunately, this is not an option for everyone. For example, based on the specialist’s assessment, conventional open surgery will often be the better option for elderly patients who require a joint replacement. Nevertheless, the arthroscope is a powerful diagnostic tool and a sound reason for choosing one of the bone surgeons skilled in its use when booking your specialist evaluation.
It is easy to claim expertise and boast of one’s accomplishments. However, the most reliable way to verify such claims is often talking to other patients. How was their experience? Would they recommend their choice to friends or other family members? On the other hand, the facts often speak for themselves.
Where to Find the Best Bone Surgeons
The orthopaedic unit of the Life Wilgers Hospital in Pretoria has gained both local and international acclaim as a referral destination of choice. Why not take the opportunity to learn more about one of South Africa’s leading bone surgeons, Dr Jan N De Vos, and his many accomplishments to help you make a more informed choice. Contact our practice today.