Orthopedics, << `awr` thuh PEE dihks, >> is a branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the bones and muscles and their associated tissues. The word is also spelled orthopaedics. Doctors who practice orthopedics are called orthopedists or orthopedic surgeons. They treat a broad range of medical problems, including fractures, injuries to tendons and ligaments, and deformities of the limbs and spine.
Orthopedists provide care for patients who range from the newborn to the elderly. Some orthopedic disorders are present at birth. Others occur during childhood due to problems of growth or in later life as a result of aging. Still others result from injury or illness. People injured in automobile accidents and athletic or recreational activities account for a large number of the patients treated by orthopedists.
In treating orthopedic disorders, orthopedists prescribe drugs, surgery, or physical therapy. For example, an orthopedist may perform surgery to correct a fracture or deformity. After the surgery, the orthopedist may apply a cast or brace and prescribe physical therapy to aid healing. Such therapy might involve use of a device that produces electrical impulses that promote bone healing. An orthopedist also may perform surgery to replace an injured or arthritic joint with an artificial joint made of plastic, metal, or other materials. Joints most commonly replaced include the hip, the knee, and joints in the hands and feet.
