Adult Orthopedics - Common Conditions and Treatment

Introduction

Adult orthopedics is a dedicated specialty in medicine that focuses on the diseases and conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system and its interconnecting parts that include muscles and bones, as well as joints, ligaments, tendons, and nerves of an adult.

Who Treats Orthopedic Problems?

Orthopedic doctors treat orthopedic issues, often referred to as orthopedic surgeons, and help resolve issues related to the musculoskeletal system. The duties and responsibilities of an adult orthopedic doctor include the following:

• Diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system of adults.

• Assisting with rehabilitation, which helps range of motion, strength, regain movement, and flexibility after an injury or surgery.

• Rendering care to prevent the worsening of chronic conditions like arthritis.

A few subspecialty areas of adult orthopedics include:

• Spine.

• Hip and knee.

• Hand.

• Shoulder and elbow.

• Foot and ankle.

• Sports medicine.

• Trauma surgery.

​​What Are the Most Common Adult Orthopedic Conditions?

• Bone fractures.

• Trauma from a road traffic accident.

• Muscle strains.

• Arthritis.

• Musculoskeletal oncology (bone cancer).

• Joint, back, neck, or knee pain.

• Spondylitis.

• Carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Injuries to ligaments or tendons include sprains, tendonitis, and ACL tears.

• Orthopedic surgeries for joint replacement.

• Congenital conditions like clubfoot and scoliosis.

• Bursitis.

• Rotator cuff surgery.

• Laminectomy.

• Arthroscopy.

• Osteotomy.

What to Expect During an Appointment at an Adult Orthopedics Visit?

During the first visit, the orthopedist will chart out a diagnosis of the person’s condition and curate a treatment plan to resolve his musculoskeletal condition. The steps include:

Diagnosis: The adult orthopedist will derive an accurate diagnosis by:

• Enquiring about the person’s signs and symptoms,

• Review the person’s medical record to know their medical history, past medical and surgical history, general health status, and medication regimen.

• Conducting a physical examination.

• Prescribing diagnostic tests like blood work, imaging like X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging scan, computed tomography scan, bone density study, ultrasound, and nerve conduction study.

Treatment Planning: The adult orthopedist will craft a treatment plan after deriving an accurate diagnosis. The most common treatments offered by an adult orthopedist depending on the musculoskeletal condition include:

1. For chronic musculoskeletal conditions, such as the back, neck, knee pain, or arthritis, the adult orthopedist offers:

• Prescriptions for anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications can be for oral use, topical application, or injection shots.

• Rehabilitation and physical therapy.

• Home care includes home exercise programs.

• Mobility aids.

• Surgical intervention.

2. For acute injuries, such as fractures and dislocations, the orthopedist does perform the following procedures:

• Manipulates (resets) the bone or joint.

• Immobilizes the affected site using a splint, cast, or brace.

What Are the Treatment Options Offered by an Adult Orthopedic Doctor?

Adult orthopedists offer non-surgical and surgical treatment options to resolve musculoskeletal conditions.

1. Surgical Treatment: Orthopedic surgery is devoted to the surgical treatment of problems involving the musculoskeletal system (bones and connective tissues,like ligaments and tendons).When conservative methods are not beneficial, the orthopedic surgeon opts for surgical interventions. The most common orthopedic surgeries performed are:

• Total Joint Replacement Surgery (TJR): Is also called arthroplasty. It involves replacing the parts of a damaged, deformed, or diseased joint, usually secondary to arthritis. The most common joint replacement surgeries in adults are knee and hip replacement surgery. Total joint replacement is one of the most elective surgeries worldwide.

• Internal Fixation: It is also called fracture repair surgery. It involves the placement of prostheses or implants, usually made of metal, such as pins, plates, screws, and rods, to aid in holding broken bones in place while they are healing.

• Fusion or Bone Grafting Surgery: This procedure involves using bone graft material and any form of internal fixation like pins, screws, plates, and rods to fuse two bones together. This fusion procedure is usually used in neck and spine surgery.

• Osteotomy: In this procedure, a part of the bone is cut and then repositioned. It is used to treat arthritis.

• Release Surgery: This is typically performed for carpal tunnel syndrome. It helps to relieve symptoms by releasing pressure on the median nerve, thus, resolving pain due to carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Soft Tissue Repair: This is used to repair damaged muscles, ligaments, or tendons.

• Spinal Fusion: In this surgical procedure adjoining vertebrae of the spine are fused. This fusion facilitates the vertebrae to heal into a single, solid mass of bone. It is carried out for back or neck issues, including scoliosis and injuries to the intervertebral disks or vertebrae.

2. Non-surgical Orthopedic Treatment: These are the most conservative measures the orthopedic doctors suggest before recommending surgical intervention. Some of the non-surgical treatments include:

• Exercises: For the purpose of maintaining or enhancing the strength, flexibility, and range of motion in the injured area, the orthopedic doctor may suggest a number of specific stretches or exercises.

• Immobilization: Immobilization promotes healing by preventing strain on the affected areas. The immobilization aids used are braces, splints, and casts.

• Medications: The orthopedic doctor may prescribe medications to relieve pain and inflammation. Commonly used medications are NSAIDs. The orthopedic doctor may also prescribe corticosteroids in case of severe conditions.

• Lifestyle Interventions: The orthopedic doctor will recommend a few lifestyle changes like diet modifications, physical activity, posture, and body weight to prevent a worsening of pain and injury or any medical condition related to the musculoskeletal system.

When to Seek Consultation for Adult Orthopedics?

Whether an individual has a simple injury or a complex condition, orthopedic doctors provide innovative solutions and compassionate care. Any person who is experiencing the following symptoms can seek medical supervision from an orthopedic doctor:

• Acute, persistent, or recurring pain or swelling in a joint, bone, or muscle.

• Daily routine activities are limited due to pain.

• Decrease in the mobility of the range of motion of a joint.

• Injury or trauma.

• Trauma from road traffic accidents or falls.

• Nerve-related symptoms such as numbness and tingling in the extremities.

• For sports medicine.

• For rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Conclusion

Adult orthopedics is a medical specialty dedicated to treating acute and chronic injuries, disorders, and diseases of the musculoskeletal system that occur due to injury or age-related wear and tear. Orthopedic surgeons diagnose and treat conditions affecting bones, muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Adult orthopedic treatment can include conservative measures, such as exercise, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and medication, or in some instances, surgeries like total joint replacement, arthroplasty, internal fixation, etc.