Who is an orthopedic surgeon?
An orthopedic surgeon specializes in treating musculoskeletal system disorders and injuries encompassing the bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. They help maintain musculoskeletal health and prevent symptoms of pre-existing conditions from worsening. Orthopedics care for people of all ages — from newborns to older people. Regarding management, these specialists aim to treat a problem in the least invasive and holistic way possible. Additionally, they can perform surgical procedures, prescribe treatments, and assist with rehabilitation.
Education and training
To become an orthopedic surgeon, an individual must actively undergo a minimum of 13 years of education, which encompasses the following:
- Attaining a bachelor's degree.
- Enrolling in medical school.
- Completing a 5-year orthopedic surgery residency program at a prestigious medical institution.
- Opt for an additional year of specialized education within an orthopedic subspecialty (if desired).
Upon completing the 5-year residency, a prospective orthopedic surgeon must actively engage in the field for two years and pass a final examination to receive official recognition from the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.
Orthopedic doctor vs. an orthopedic surgeon
An orthopedic doctor is responsible for consulting patients with musculoskeletal system concerns to discuss and diagnose their problems. They can diagnose issues and offer aids like braces, splints, casts, and reset fractured bones. Based on their expertise, these doctors might suggest you avail yourself of additional treatment, such as physical therapy. Your orthopedic doctor can offer counseling before and after surgery and help with recovery. However, it's important to note that orthopedic doctors don't do any surgeries.
On the other hand, an orthopedic surgeon can perform the same duties as an orthopedic doctor while also performing surgeries. While some surgeons handle every aspect of care, including diagnosis and post-operative care, many specialize in surgery and are referred by orthopedic doctors. Depending on the diagnosis and required medical care, an orthopedic surgeon can generally operate on the feet, ankles, hips, knees, elbows, shoulders, or spine. A surgeon is usually consulted for significant problems such as ruptured discs, spinal stenosis, chronic back pain, bone tumors, arthritis, or carpal tunnel syndrome.
How do you prepare for an orthopedic consultation?
Planning is necessary to make the most of your appointment with an orthopedic doctor near you. Make a note of all your requirements a few days before your visit. Collect any lab test results, copies of X-rays or other imaging tests, and your medical records. Start maintaining a journal or listing everything you need to tell the orthopedic surgeon. Make sure to talk about all your symptoms, including their origin, extent, and duration you have been experiencing them.
Your specialist will perform a comprehensive physical evaluation and other clinical tests after you explain your medical history. This physical examination involves a general body assessment and a specific analysis of the joint or bone causing your symptoms. Therefore, dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes to prepare for these examinations.
Having a friend or family member accompany you during appointments is always better. Doing so will also make remembering what your specialist advises easier. You should arrive 15 to 30 minutes before your appointment to complete the required paperwork. Your orthopedic surgeon wants to see you recover and regain mobility; build a long-lasting relationship with them.
Conditions treated by orthopedic surgeons
Orthopedic surgeons address a broad spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions because the adult musculoskeletal system, comprising 206 bones over 600 muscles and various nerves, tendons, and ligaments, is inherently complex. They specialize in addressing numerous anomalies within this system, including:
- Treating bone fractures: Orthopedic surgeons handle various types of fractures, such as hairline fractures, complete bone breaks, and fractures that split bones into multiple pieces, occurring in different orientations, such as lateral or horizontal.
- Addressing muscle strains: They oversee cases involving muscle overstretching or tearing, which results in muscle strain or pulls.
- Alleviating joint pain: Orthopedic surgeons assist patients with joint pain, which may result from injuries or damage to ligaments, tendons, bone sockets, and other components of the skeletal structure. Various conditions, including fibromyalgia, sarcoidosis, and rickets, can cause joint pain and arthritis.
- Managing back pain: Orthopedic surgeons diagnose and treat lower back pain stemming from issues with ligaments, muscles, discs, vertebrae, and nerves.
- Treating arthritis: They address chronic rheumatic conditions, like arthritis, that cause persistent joint pain. Additionally, they manage other autoimmune disorders that result in painful symptoms, necessitating ongoing treatment for damage control.
- Addressing carpal tunnel syndrome: Orthopedic surgeons work to alleviate the stiffness, numbness, and pain in the hands and wrists caused by this condition.
- Handling sprains: Orthopedic surgeons treat sprains, which, similar to strains, affect ligaments rather than muscles or tendons.
- Managing tendonitis: They address inflammation of tendons, known by various names depending on the affected tendon, such as tennis elbow, jumper's knee, pitcher's shoulder, and golfer's elbow.
- Addressing ACL tears: Orthopedic surgeons treat Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears in the knee, preventing the shinbone from sliding forward.
- Managing bursitis: Orthopedic surgeons treat bursitis, an inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs (bursa sacs) throughout the body, which prevents friction between bones, muscles, and other structures.
- Treating clubfoot: They address congenital cases where a child's foot points inward instead of outward.
- Managing bowlegs: Orthopedic surgeons handle cases where the legs appear bowed, with knees remaining wide apart despite the ankles being together.
- Addressing sarcoma: They can treat sarcoma, a form of bone cancer characterized by tumor growth within the bone.
- Managing scoliosis: Orthopedic surgeons diagnose and treat developmental disorders observed in children whose spine assumes an S or C shape instead of a straight alignment. Scoliosis can affect the thoracic, lumbar, and vertebral regions of the spine.
What procedures does an orthopedic offer?
An orthopedic surgeon near you may recommend various treatments and procedures based on your condition. Explained below are some courses offered by these bone specialists:
- Elbow replacement surgery — also called elbow arthroplasty. This surgery takes about two hours. It involves removing the damaged elbow joint areas and replacing them with prosthetics and metal parts.
- Pediatric cervical spine surgery — is a possible treatment for children with cervical spine (neck portion of the spine) abnormalities or injuries. It is also a helpful treatment option for children with Down's syndrome.
- Vertebroplasty — involves injecting cement into a broken or cracked spinal bone. It helps relieve spinal pain and restore mobility. Fever, infection, blood loss, and nerve root irritation are some of the procedure's risks.
- Spinal fusion — Surgical professionals permanently join two or more vertebral bodies in the spine during a procedure known as spinal fusion. It corrects the deformity, improves stability, or reduces pain. It also treats herniated discs and spinal deformities. During this procedure, an orthopedic surgeon places bone-like material or a bone within the space between two spinal vertebrae. They may use screws, metal plates, and rods to hold these vertebrae together.
- Knee replacement — commonly known as knee arthroplasty. It can aid in reducing pain and restoring function in severely damaged knee joints. An orthopedic surgeon will remove the damaged knee cap, thigh bone, and shinbone. They use a prosthetic joint made of high-grade polymers, plastics, and metal alloys to replace it.
- Hip replacement — is an optional surgery performed by an orthopedic surgeon when hip pain affects daily activities. Additionally, doctors consider this option when nonsurgical treatments fail or are ineffective. It can treat conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteonecrosis.
- Laminectomy — eliminates bone spurs and tissues linked with spinal arthritis. It typically entails the removal of the back portion, or backbone, of the spine's small bones. They expand the spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves during treatment.
Tips on ensuring orthopedic health
If you wish to live a life free of pain and mobility issues, caring for your orthopedic health is essential. A few simple tips involving diet, exercise, and healthy weight goals can help you ensure this.
- Switch to anti-inflammatory foods to prevent arthritis. Cut down on red meat, processed foods, refined carbs, and added sugar. Replace it with whole grains, colorful veggies, fruits, and omega-3-rich foods like salmon.
- Pick exercises you like to keep your joints limber and strong. When exercising is fun, it is highly motivating, and you will be able to stick with your regimen.
- Maintain a healthy body weight so that there is no additional pressure on your knees and other joints. It helps reduce the risk of osteoarthritis significantly.
- Maintain good posture because this keeps your joints in the correct alignment and ensures the proper use of muscles that support them. It can help prevent the wear and tear of joints that often lead to arthritis.
Considerations for choosing the right orthopedic surgeon near you
An orthopedic surgeon will help you with the proper musculoskeletal care, and the following factors will help you choose the right one:
- Credentials and qualifications: Start by looking at the orthopedic surgeon's credentials. Board certification, relevant training, and memberships in professional organizations show that the surgeon has the proper education and skills to deliver expert treatment, helping you feel confident in your abilities.
- Specialization and expertise: Orthopedic surgeons often specialize in joint replacement, sports medicine, or spine surgery. Identifying a healthcare professional whose expertise aligns with your needs can significantly impact your results. For example, an orthopedic surgeon near you with training in joint replacement would be ideal if you need knee surgery. This focus on specific procedures means the surgeon has the experience and skills to provide the best possible care for your condition.
- Experience and success rate: Experience is another critical deciding factor. A surgeon with a substantial history of performing the procedure you need is likely to have developed a refined skill set. Studying the track record and success rates in similar surgeries can offer peace of mind and a better chance of positive results.
- Referrals and recommendations: Personal recommendations from trusted sources—such as healthcare providers, friends, or family members—can guide you toward a reputable orthopedic surgeon near you with good standing in the medical community. These referrals often reflect a surgeon's ability to connect well with patients and build trust, which can be reassuring when undergoing surgery.
- Patient reviews and testimonials: Reading patient reviews and testimonials is a helpful way to understand a surgeon's communication skills, patient care approach, and treatment quality. Patients can add their reviews on Zocdoc and often share their experiences, providing insight into what you can expect regarding care, bedside manner, and overall satisfaction. To make the most out of your session, look for consistent positive feedback on aspects like the surgeon's attentiveness, respect, and effectiveness in addressing patient concerns.
Finding the best orthopedic surgeon near you in Las Vegas, Nevada
Everyone wants to move around freely. Therefore, getting your movement restriction and orthopedic pain checked out is crucial to living your best life. Orthopedic surgeons will identify the primary cause of all your symptoms and suggest a treatment plan. However, finding the best one to meet your needs can be difficult. The purpose of Zocdoc is to match patients with the best providers possible.
On Zocdoc, you can find a provider by entering your symptoms, preferred location and time, and insurance plan. Upon clicking the 'find' button, a comprehensive list will appear. You can also filter to locate doctors based on their gender, language, hospital affiliation, and whether or not they treat children.
Each provider on Zocdoc has a profile that includes essential information like their educational qualifications, certifications, experience, specializations, awards, and licensure. You will also find verified reviews and ratings on the provider's profile. You can check the ratings to find the top-rated orthopedic surgeon in your area.
Zocdoc allows you to book both in-person and online appointments. You can look for a purple-colored video icon button on the provider's profile or filter the search results for video availability.
However, finding the best orthopedic surgeon near you in Las Vegas can be time and effort- consuming. Fortunately, Zocdoc can quickly help you. Create your profile using our website. Start your search by specifying the specialty you seek or your condition. You can use filters for the location, preferred appointment date, and insurance information. Use Zocdoc's patient help center to clarify your insurance details. If your insurance plan isn't shown on Zocdoc, you can upload a photo of your medical insurance card (unfortunately, this feature does not support vision or dental cards). We'll scan the card image to identify your likely plan. If you encounter difficulty uploading the card image, please get in touch with our Zocdoc's service team for assistance.
Booking appointments on Zocdoc is easy, safe, and 100% free!
Orthopedic health statistics of Nevada, USA
The Physician Workforce in Nevada 2018 report by the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine shows nearly 150 licensed orthopedic surgery specialists in Nevada. About 22% belong to ages between 35 to 44 years, and almost 34.7% are of ages between 45 to 54 years. Orthopedic surgeons perform surgery, such as joint replacement, to treat severe arthritis that limits daily activities and causes pain.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported about 2,290 workers in Nevada working in private industry had musculoskeletal disorders in 2020, of which around 1,290 were men and 990 women. The condition was most common in workers working in service-providing industries, with almost 1,950 affected. The number of workers affected by their functionality in arms, knees, feet, and ankles was around 100, 320, 30, and 80, respectively. Also, approximately 220 workers working in local government offices had musculoskeletal disorders in 2020, of which nearly 130 were male and 90 women.
America's Health Rankings Annual Report Edition Year 2023 shows that the percentage of adults in Nevada having some form of arthritis decreased from around 25.7% in 2022 to almost 24.5% in 2023. Also, about 47.2% of adults aged 65+, 29.4% between 45 and 64, and 9.6% between 18 and 44 years had arthritis in 2020.
Sources
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
PennMedicine
Very Well Health
Healthline
Cary Orthopaedics
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Mayo Clinic[1]
Mayo Clinic[2]
Mayo Clinic[3]
Mayo Clinic[4]
Mayo Clinic[5]
Mayo Clinic[6]
Mayo Clinic[7]
Mayo Clinic[8]
Mayo Clinic[9]
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
America's Health Rankings
AICA Orthopedics
Midwest Orthopaedics, P.A.
Genesis Healthcare System
Movement Orthopedics
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