The field of orthopedics includes joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, tendons, and bones, and orthopedic surgeons treat a variety conditions related to those areas. After an orthopedic injury, a Louisiana orthopedic surgeon will analyze conditions, execute surgery if needed, and help with rehabilitation.
Today’s orthopedic surgeons are now focusing their efforts even further by dedicating their practice to particular areas of the body or to multi-specialty fields of study. For example, some may focus on pediatric orthopedics, care for elderly patients, or sports medicine.
Below are some of the most frequent types of treatments Louisiana orthopedic surgeons perform for their patients.
Sports Injury Surgery: There are over 3 million sports-related injuries each year, many of which are strains and sprains. Injuries to the shoulder are common, as are broken bones and dislocated joints.
Soft Tissue Repair: Overusing tendons, ligaments, or muscles can lead to soft tissue injury and should be treated by a Louisiana orthopedic surgeon. A few of the most common soft tissue injuries are bruising, sprains, strains. Wrists, knees, and ankles are more vulnerable to sprains, whereas the legs, back, and feet are more disposed to strains. Surgery may be needed depending on the severity of the strain or sprain.
Stabilizing Fractures: During this procedure, a Louisiana orthopedic surgeon stabilizes a broken bone using wires, screws, nails, and plates. This treatment is more effective and ensures better healing than when using casts or splints, which prevent a broken bone from moving from the outside rather than the inside.
Repairing a Dislocated Joint: Joints can be dislocated easily when a person is playing sports, or even just from a sudden turn or twist. It happens when a bone slips from its correct position and out of the socket and is typically quite painful.
Joints that are often affected are the ankle, shoulder, hip, and knee. If the doctor can’t work the bone back into place, surgery may be required. If the Louisiana orthopedic surgeon does return the bone to the correct position, but it continues to dislocate, corrective surgery may be needed to repair the joint.
Limb Length Disparity: This occurs when the arms or legs are different lengths and can result from a previous fracture, previous infection, trauma to a growth plate, or a birth defect. In the most severe cases of limb length inequality, surgery may be needed to lengthen the shorter limb or shorten the longer limb, so they are equal.
If you have questions regarding what other conditions your Louisiana orthopedic surgeon can treat – or are having an issue that is affecting your orthopedic health – call our office today to schedule a consultation.