Who are orthopedic surgeons?
Orthopedic surgeons care for the body's musculoskeletal system, which consists of bones, joints, nerves, ligaments, and tendons. Typically, orthopedic surgeons do the following:
- Undertake diagnosis and treatment of injuries resulting from physical activity or sports
- Manage conditions that can worsen over time, such as osteoporosis or arthritis
- Help avoid pain and discomfort that may arise from a muscle or joint due to overuse also called overuse injuries
An orthopedic surgeon can treat different body parts, such as the hand, wrist, foot, ankle, shoulder, elbow, neck, back, and hips. Depending on the condition, they can prescribe surgical and non-surgical treatment options. Generally, surgery is the last resort. An orthopedic surgeon may recommend resting, attending physical therapy or rehab, taking medications or injections, or changing lifestyle habits to manage a condition.
To become an orthopedic surgeon, one must complete at least 13 years of education. It comprises a bachelor's degree, medical school, a five-year residency in orthopedic surgery, and a one-year specialization within an orthopedic specialty if they choose to do so. An aspiring orthopedic surgeon must practice for two years after completing their residency.
Subsequently, they must clear a final examination conducted by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery to earn their license.
What are some surgical procedures orthopedic surgeons perform?
Orthopedic surgeons receive training to carry out a variety of surgical procedures. These include:
- Joint replacement: This procedure helps replace the parts of a joint that have become damaged or dysfunctional. Knees, hips, elbows, and shoulders are some of the most common joints operated on through this surgery. A large number of arthritis patients undergo joint replacement.
- Internal fixation: This surgery involves placing screws, plates, rods, and other hardware to hold broken bones in place while recovering from an injury. The implants used for internal fixation surgery are made of durable and resilient materials like stainless steel and titanium.
- If a joint has to be replaced rather than fixed, surgeons can also use cobalt or chrome implants. In some cases, like when the patient has several injuries and is not ready for internal fixation surgery, external fixation is used as a temporary treatment for fractures.
- Release surgery: It is performed on patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. During release surgery, orthopedic surgeons reduce the pressure exerted on the median nerve to help relieve symptoms like pain, swelling, etc.
- Soft tissue repair: This procedure helps heal severely damaged muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Soft tissue repair surgery can benefit people with contusions, muscle strains, tendonitis, bursitis, and stress injuries.
- Osteotomy: Osteotomy (also known as 'bone cutting') involves cutting a part of the bone and repositioning it. Sometimes, bone tissue is added to realign and reshape the bone. This surgery can help repair damaged bones or joints, alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis, and delay joint replacement in younger people.
- Fusion: This procedure uses bone graft material and internal fixation to connect two bones. As their tissues heal, they fuse to form one bone. People with neck or spinal injuries generally undergo this surgery.
When to see an orthopedic surgeon?
Muscle and joint pain is typically short-lived and disappears after a few days. However, if it lasts over 12 weeks, see an orthopedic surgeon near you. Some signs necessitating such a visit may include movement difficulty and reduced range of motion, feeling wobbly when walking or standing, and having problems completing daily tasks such as walking or climbing stairs.
Swelling or stiffness in the body may also indicate a need for an orthopedic surgeon. Orthopedic surgeons help recover and prevent the issue's progression in severe injury cases. People can consult orthopedic surgeons for injuries like torn or ruptured ligaments, broken tendons, broken bones that are not healing with just a cast, and spine or hip fractures.
Often, bone and soft-tissue problems result from longer-term illnesses such as bursitis, cancerous tumors that start in the bone (sarcomas), non-cancerous or benign tumors, cancerous tumors that spread to the bone (metastatic), or blood cancers such as multiple myeloma, which can significantly weaken bones. If you suffer from these conditions, your treatment plan must include regular sessions with an orthopedic surgeon for effective pain management.
Who is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, and what do they treat?
Pediatric orthopedics is a subspecialty of orthopedic medicine that deals with diagnosing, treating, and managing musculoskeletal conditions in children and adolescents up to 18. Since children's bodies keep growing and developing until they reach physical maturity, their musculoskeletal system is different compared to adults. As a result, their conditions also differ, with the most common ones being:
- Clubfoot: It is one of the most common congenital abnormalities in which one or both feet twist inwards abnormally. While it does not cause any pain or discomfort initially, if left untreated, it can make it difficult to walk.
- Limb length discrepancy: It is a condition characterized by unequal length of legs or arms. It can cause gait abnormalities, joint pain, back pain, and problems with performing daily activities.
- Scoliosis: Often occurring just before puberty, scoliosis causes the spine to curve sideways, leading to uneven shoulders and waist, back pain, and muscle spasms.
- Fractures: Children's bones continue to develop until they grow up, and accidents, falls, or sports-related activities commonly cause fractures.
- Juvenile arthritis: It is an autoimmune disease affecting children aged 16 years or younger. It causes symptoms such as swollen and painful joints, eye inflammation, fatigue, slow growth, and poor appetite.
- Musculoskeletal infections: Osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and pyomyositis affect the bones, muscles, or joints. Common symptoms include movement difficulties, fever, pain, and swelling.
- Sports injuries: Children who engage in sports activities may experience common injuries such as sprains, strains, tendonitis, bursitis, concussions, dislocations, and lacerations.
- Cerebral palsy: Cerebral palsy affects movement, balance, coordination, posture, and muscle tone. It happens due to damage to the developing brain before, during, or shortly after birth.
- Spina bifida: It is a congenital disability in which the baby's spinal cord does not develop or close properly before birth. It can result in various health complications, including paralysis, learning disabilities, brain infection, frequent urinary tract infections, and urinary and bowel incontinence.
If your child's symptoms don't resolve with the prescribed treatment plan, your pediatrician will likely refer you to a pediatric orthopedic surgeon.
Orthopedic surgeons vs. neurosurgeons
When a patient considers spinal surgery, choosing between an orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon often needs to be clarified. While spinal surgery was considered a neurosurgery domain earlier, medical advancements in the last 20 to 25 years have also enabled orthopedic surgeons to specialize in it. Thus, you may approach both kinds of surgeons for most typical spinal operations.
However, for specific spine issues, the scope of practice of both practitioners may differ. For example, orthopedic surgeons have greater mastery over spinal deformity surgeries, such as scoliosis. On the other hand, neurosurgeons tend to be experts in performing surgeries inside the spinal cord's dura, such as operating on tumors in the thecal sac.
These minute distinctions arise primarily from their different educational backgrounds. Neurosurgeons are medical doctors (MDs) or doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.). They complete a residency to receive training in diagnosing and treating neurological conditions. They focus on problems affecting the brain, spine and spinal cord, nerves, intracranial and intraspinal vasculature, etc.
In contrast, orthopedic surgeons are medical doctors or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine whose surgical residency training revolves around treating bone and joint disorders, such as spinal disorders, sports injuries, bone tumors, joint replacement, arthritis, etc.
Things to expect when visiting an orthopedic surgeon near you
Orthopedic care follows a systematic approach to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal problems correctly. This guide outlines the essential steps orthopedic surgeons and specialists take, from initial consultations to follow-up appointments, to help patients achieve optimal health outcomes.
Comprehensive exam: Orthopedic surgeons start by thoroughly understanding your condition. They then perform a detailed medical history review and physical examination to evaluate your overall health and pinpoint the problem.
They will ask about your general health, previous injuries, and any pain you're currently experiencing. Additionally, they assess how your condition or injury impacts your daily life. During the physical exam, they focus on key aspects like:
- Mobility
- Muscle strength
- Range of motion
- Pain points
Imaging tests: Orthopedic surgeons may rely on imaging tests to diagnose or further assess your condition. These tools help them visualize the affected area and determine the extent of the injury. The most common imaging methods include:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Useful for evaluating soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
- Computed tomography (CT) scans: Offers detailed cross-sectional images of bones and joints.
- X-rays: Ideal for assessing bone fractures and abnormalities.
Orthopedic surgeons may order multiple imaging tests if needed, as each reveals different aspects of your condition. For example, MRIs are more suited for soft tissue injuries, while X-rays are ideal for examining bones.
Diagnosis: After gathering all the necessary information, orthopedic surgeons deliver and explain a precise diagnosis. They also outline possible treatment options, enabling you to make informed decisions about your care.
A precise diagnosis is crucial to receiving adequate treatment. Understanding the root cause of your condition ensures that you and your orthopedic specialist can pursue the most appropriate course of action.
Treatment plan: Orthopedic surgeons create personalized treatment plans to alleviate pain and restore function. These plans may include a combination of:
- Bracing, splinting, or casting
- Steroid injections
- Medications (over-the-counter or prescription drugs)
- Physical therapy
If your condition is severe or does not respond to conservative treatments, surgery may be recommended. Your orthopedic surgeon will discuss all aspects of the surgical procedure, including:
- Post-surgery expectations
- Success rates
- Risks and benefits
- Steps to prepare for surgery
During this process, surgeons encourage patients to ask questions and address concerns, ensuring they feel confident and well-informed.
Follow-up appointments: Regular follow-up appointments are critical to monitoring progress and adjusting your treatment plan. The frequency of these visits depends on the severity of your condition and how well you respond to treatment.
During follow-ups, patients are encouraged to discuss concerns and ask questions about their treatment or recovery process. This open communication helps orthopedic surgeons refine the care plan and ensure the best possible outcome.
Finding the top-rated orthopedic surgeons near you in Frisco, TX
You can rely on Zocdoc to find the top-rated orthopedic surgeons in Frisco, Texas. Zocdoc is a user-friendly and easy-to-navigate interface that allows you to find a repository of practitioners in your area by entering your condition, location, and insurance details. Moreover, you can filter your search results by the practitioner's gender, hospital affiliations, spoken language, and whether they treat children. You can also check if a practitioner accepts your insurance plan. If you want to know your insurance plan, upload an image of your insurance card to your Zocdoc account, and we will find and display information regarding your insurance plan (this facility is not available for vision or dental plans). You can contact the Zocdoc service team if you need help uploading a photo of your card. Check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more information and solutions related to insurance.
On Zocdoc, all practitioners have their dedicated profiles, where you can read about their educational qualifications, areas of expertise, experience, and licensure. You can also read the verified patient reviews to make an informed decision. After you have found an orthopedic surgeon near you, please book an appointment with them immediately. All appointment bookings on Zocdoc are fast, free, and secure.
Orthopedics-related statistics in Texas
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons' report titled 'Orthopedic Practice in the U.S. 2018', published in 2019, found that Texas was one of the five cities with the lowest orthopedic surgeon density. The rate of orthopedic surgeons practicing in the state was below 8 per 100,000, with a density of around 7.14.
The report also enumerated that the average age of orthopedic surgeons in Texas was 55.16. Female orthopedic surgeons comprised approximately 5.2% (106 surgeons) of the total workforce (2,020 surgeons), while almost 92.5% (1,869 surgeons) were males, and nearly 2.2% (45 surgeons) did not indicate their gender.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2021, around 190 and 150 orthopedic surgeons were practicing in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan areas, respectively. However, this number does not include pediatric orthopedic surgeons.
Reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that in 2015, almost 19.8% of the Texan population suffered from arthritis. The condition affected around 23.13% of the state's women and nearly 16.17% of the men. Approximately 38.9% of Texas' adult population faced work limitations attributable to arthritis. The report indicated that in Collin and Denton counties, where Frisco is located, nearly 17.4% and 18.6% of the adult population were affected by arthritis, respectively.
Sources
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons[1]
OrthoInfo
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cleveland Clinic
Healthline[1]
Healthline[2]
SPINE-health
The University of Utah
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine
