Orthopedics

Orthopedics is the medical specialty that focuses on injuries and diseases of your body's musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system includes your bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves and allows you to move, work, and be active.

Orthopedic surgeons treat problems of the musculoskeletal system. This involves:

• Diagnosis of your injury or disorder
• Treatment with medication, injections, casting, bracing, Osteopathic manipulative medicine, surgery or other options
• Rehabilitation by recommending exercises or physical therapy to restore movement, strength, and function.
• Prevention with information and treatment plans to prevent injury or slow the progression of disease

Orthopedic Services

Below are some of the most common conditions that an orthopedist may treat:

• Joint pain from arthritis
• Bone fractures or traumas
• Soft tissue injuries, which are those that affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Foot issues that include heel pain, bunions, hammertoes, ankle sprains, Jones fractures, Achilles’ tendon injuries
• Shoulder pain and problems, such as bursitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Overuse and sports injuries, including sprains, tendinitis, meniscus tears, and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.
• Congenital conditions, such as hindfoot, clubfoot and scoliosis
• Bone cancer
  
  

In addition to in-office treatments, a person’s orthopedist may recommend one or more of the following to treat chronic musculoskeletal conditions:

• Home exercise programs
• Injections
• Integrative Medicine
• Mobility aids
• Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
• Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications
• Pain Management 
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Surgery, when other treatments fail

Orthopedic Subspecialties

While orthopedic surgeons are familiar with all aspects of the musculoskeletal system, many orthopedists specialize in certain areas, such as:

• Foot and ankle
• Hand and wrist
• Hip replacement and reconstruction.
• Knee replacement and reconstruction
• Knee arthroscopy
• Orthopedic oncology (bone tumors)
• Orthopedic trauma
• Shoulder and elbow
• Spine
• Sports medicine

Some orthopedic surgeons may specialize in multiple areas, and several different types of specialists may treat the same conditions. For instance, sports medicine surgeons, shoulder and elbow surgeons, and hand and wrist surgeons all perform surgery on the elbow.

Manchester Memorial Hospital offers 24/7 emergency care for orthopedic injuries and emergencies.