Which Kinds of Services Do General Orthopaedics Offer?
General orthopaedics refers to medical doctors who specialise in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system. This includes the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. General orthopaedics is a subspecialty within the field of orthopaedic surgery.
Not all orthopaedic surgeons offer the complete range of orthopaedic treatments, while some doctors specialise in a specific branch of orthopaedics, like the hips, knees, or shoulders.
Although a general orthopaedic surgeon can treat a variety of conditions in people of all ages, patients may sometimes prefer to work with a specialised orthopaedic surgeon to treat their specific condition or injury.
What Is General Orthopaedics?
General orthopaedics is a branch of medicine that aims at treating and diagnosing disorders or injuries related to the musculoskeletal system.
The goal of orthopaedics is to help patients reduce pain, improve mobility, and restore function to the affected area of the musculoskeletal system. This may involve a combination of treatments like medication, physical therapy, bracing, and surgery, depending on the specific condition and individual patient needs.
Services of General Orthopaedics
Here are some of the services that general orthopaedic doctors typically offer:
- Diagnostic services: This may include physical exams, X-rays, MRI, CT scans, and other imaging tests to diagnose musculoskeletal problems.
- Non-surgical treatment: This may include medications, physical therapy, bracing, and other non-invasive treatments to manage pain and improve mobility.
- Surgical treatment: This may include arthroscopy, joint replacement, tendon repair, and other surgical procedures to repair and restore function to damaged joints and bones.
- Rehabilitation: This may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other rehabilitation services to help patients regain strength and mobility following an injury or surgery.
- Pain management: This may include the use of medications, injections, and other treatments to manage pain and improve function.
- Fracture care: This may include the diagnosis, treatment, and management of broken bones and fractures.
- Sports medicine: This may include the diagnosis, treatment, and management of sports-related injuries, such as sprains, strains, and overuse injuries.
Orthopaedic Surgeons and Specialists
Non-surgical orthopaedics is often a good place to start for patients who don’t yet have a clear diagnosis of their condition. Many orthopaedic conditions can be treated without surgery, but should it be necessary, patients are typically directed to an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in a specific condition.
Benefits of Choosing an Orthopaedic Specialist
Orthopaedic doctors who specialise in a specific condition have a wealth of experience and knowledge in a specific area. This can also help to navigate high-risk cases when they do arise, which is especially important when surgery is required.
Specialists regularly participate in research on how to enhance current treatments or perhaps create new ones that are preferable to general orthopaedics and its intricacies.
Listed above are some examples of the services that a general orthopaedic specialist may offer. It’s important to note that not all orthopaedic specialists can offer all of the services, and specific services may vary depending on the individual practitioner and their area of expertise.
Dr Jan De Vos heads the orthopaedic unit at the Wilgers Life Hospital in Pretoria. Get in touch today by phoning (012) 807-0335 to arrange a consultation.
