Orthopedic Surgery in Accidentes 911
The musculoskeletal system, comprising bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage, is essential for movement, stability, and support. Problems in this system can drastically affect daily life, causing pain, reduced mobility, and challenges with even basic activities. Orthopedic surgery addresses these concerns by diagnosing, treating, and preventing conditions of the musculoskeletal system.
At Accidentes 911 in Atlanta, our orthopedic surgeons are highly trained and experienced. We handle a wide range of issues, from fracture repair to chronic pain relief. If you are struggling with pain or mobility issues, contact us at 470-855-4029 to discuss your needs.
What is orthopedic surgery?
Orthopedic surgery involves diagnosing, treating and rehabilitating conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles. Surgeons use surgical and non-surgical methods to relieve pain, restore function and prevent further damage.
Common Reasons for Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic surgery may be necessary when non-surgical treatments, such as physical therapy, medication or assistive devices, do not relieve pain or improve function. The main reasons are:
- Injury: Falls, sports injuries and accidents can cause sprains, fractures, dislocations and torn ligaments.
- Spinal disorders: Conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis and scoliosis may require surgical intervention.
- Arthritis: Severe arthritis may require joint replacement surgery due to pain, stiffness and inflammation.
- Congenital diseases: Some people are born with musculoskeletal abnormalities that must be corrected.
- Tumors: Although rare, bone or soft tissue tumors may require removal or surgical treatment.
When should you see an orthopedic surgeon?
- Chronic pain: Persistent muscle, bone or joint pain lasting more than three months should prompt a visit to an orthopedic surgeon to diagnose any underlying conditions.
- Limited range of motion: Difficulty bending the elbow, raising the arm or squatting could indicate injury or arthritis. An orthopedic surgeon can diagnose the cause and restore smooth motion to the joint.
- Unsteadiness when walking or standing: Feeling unsteady when walking or standing may be a sign of muscle weakness, balance problems or musculoskeletal injury. An orthopedic surgeon can help fix the problem and improve stability.
- Soft tissue injury that has not improved: Mild muscle strains or sprains usually improve with rest and basic first aid. If pain, swelling or bruising persists for more than 48 hours, it is advisable to consult a surgeon to rule out serious injury.
Common Types of Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic surgeons perform a variety of surgical interventions to treat different conditions. Key procedures include:
Bone graft surgery.
Bone grafting involves transplanting healthy bone tissue into areas where bone is missing, damaged or weakened. The bone can be taken from the patient (autograft), from a donor (allograft) or from a synthetic substitute. This procedure is vital in several surgeries, such as:
- Fracture repair: Filling of gaps caused by fractures to promote healing.
- Fusion procedures: In spine or joint fusions, the graft helps bones grow together to improve stability.
- Dental procedures: Providing a base for dental implants.
Fracture repair surgery
Fracture repair surgery depends on the severity of the fracture, its location and the patient’s health status. Complex fractures may require open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), in which plates, screws, pins or rods are used to stabilize the bones. Another method is external fixation, in which wires or pins stabilize the fracture from outside the body.
Spinal fusion
Spinal fusion addresses spinal problems by “welding” several vertebrae together, promoting healing in a single solid bone. This procedure addresses:
- Herniated discs: Prevents new herniations by stabilizing damaged discs.
- Spondylolisthesis: Stabilizes slipped vertebrae, preventing further slippage and pain.
- Spinal stenosis: Creates space within the spinal canal to relieve nerve compression caused by bone spurs or thickened ligaments.
Joint replacement surgery
Joint replacement consists of replacing a damaged joint with an artificial prosthesis. The most common prostheses are:
- Hip replacement: replaces the kneecap with a prosthesis or resurfaces damaged sections to shorten the recovery period.
- Knee replacement: Replaces the knee joint to relieve arthritis-related pain and restore function.
- Shoulder replacement: Similar to hip and knee replacements, but focused on the shoulder joint.
ACL Reconstruction Surgery
ACL reconstruction repairs or rebuilds a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which is often injured in athletes. The procedure restores stability to the knee.
Arthroscopic surgery
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique to diagnose and treat joint problems such as inflammation, torn ligaments or cartilage damage. Small incisions allow for faster recovery and less scarring. Procedures include:
Knee arthroscopy: Repairs torn cartilage, removes loose bone fragments or trims overgrown tissue.
Shoulder arthroscopy: Repairs torn rotator cuff tendons and treats other shoulder joint problems.
Carpal Tunnel Release
Carpal tunnel syndrome involves pain in the wrist due to pressure on the median nerve. Two surgical methods relieve this pressure:
- Endoscopic surgery: A tiny camera visualizes the inside of the carpal tunnel and the ligament is cut through small incisions in the wrist or hand.
- Open surgery: An incision in the palm of the hand allows the surgeon to cut the ligament to relieve pressure on the nerve.
Contact Our Atlanta Orthopedic Surgeons
Orthopedic surgery is vital to diagnosing, treating and managing musculoskeletal conditions. If you experience chronic pain, limited mobility, instability or persistent soft tissue injuries, consult our Atlanta orthopedic surgeons. Contact us at 470-855-4029 to take the first step toward improved health and function.
