Orthopedics

Orthopedics (or orthopaedics) is a branch of medicine that focuses on the care of the musculoskeletal system. This includes the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles that allow you to move, work, and be active.

Saltzmann-Aufnahme, junger Erwachsener

Postoperative X-ray of normal knee prosthesis, lateral view, annotated

After orthopedic surgery

FirstIncision

History

The term "orthopedics" comes from the Greek words "orthos," which means straight, and "paideia," which means raising children. Originally, the field focused on the care of children with spine and limb deformities. Today, orthopedic physicians treat everyone, regardless of age, for a variety of conditions such as fractures and dislocations, tendon injuries, pulled muscles, and bursitis.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Orthopedic physicians use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors, and congenital disorders. They have the expertise to diagnose your condition, identify the type of treatment you need, and provide the necessary care.

Subspecialties

There are several subspecialties within orthopedics, including:

• Sports medicine
• Pediatric orthopedics
• Hand surgery
• Spine surgery
• Joint replacement
• Arthroscopy
• Foot and ankle surgery
• Musculoskeletal oncology

Education and Training

To become an orthopedic physician, one must complete four years of medical school, followed by a five-year residency program. Some physicians also choose to specialize further by completing a fellowship program in one of the subspecialties.

Glossary

This glossary provides definitions for common terms used in the field of orthopedics, the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system.

• ACL reconstruction - A surgical procedure to replace a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee, typically using a graft from another ligament in the patient's body or from a donor.
• ACL tear - An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), one of the key ligaments that help stabilize the knee joint.
• Artificial ligament - A synthetic substitute used to replace a damaged ligament, often made from durable materials that mimic the natural action of human ligaments.
• Bone malrotation - A condition resulting from an improperly healed fracture, where the bone heals in an abnormal alignment, affecting limb function.
• Custom-made medical device - Medical devices specifically designed and manufactured to fit an individual patient's unique anatomy or needs.
• Dorsal intercalated segment instability - A condition characterized by abnormal wrist joint mechanics, often resulting from ligament instability or injury.
• Drehmann sign - A clinical sign associated with hip conditions, particularly slipped capital femoral epiphysis, where the hip rotates externally as it is flexed.
• EOS imaging - A low-dose, 3D imaging system used to assess posture and study skeletal anatomy, particularly useful in orthopedics and spine disorders.
• Foot Levelers - Custom orthotic inserts designed to provide support and improve foot alignment, often used to relieve foot, knee, or back pain.
• Halo-gravity traction device - A device used to apply gentle, continuous traction to the spine, often as a preoperative treatment for complex spinal deformities.
• History of trauma and orthopaedics - The study and documentation of the development and advancements in the field of trauma and orthopedic surgery.
• Index of trauma and orthopaedics articles - A comprehensive list of articles related to trauma and orthopedics.
• MCL reconstruction - Surgical repair or reconstruction of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in the knee, often due to sports injuries.
• Management of scoliosis - Various treatments for scoliosis, a condition characterized by an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, including bracing, physical therapy, and surgery.
• Orthopaedic Nurse Certified - A certification for nurses who specialize in the care of patients with musculoskeletal disorders.
• Orthopaedic Research Society - A professional organization dedicated to advancing orthopedic research and disseminating knowledge to improve patient care.
• Orthopaedic Studio - Facilities or clinics specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of orthopedic conditions.
• Orthopediatrics - A branch of orthopedics focusing on the musculoskeletal issues in children and adolescents.
• Orthopedic surgery - Surgery involving the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
• Orthotics - Devices like braces or shoe inserts used to support, align, prevent, or correct deformities or to improve the function of movable parts of the body.
• Orthotist - A healthcare professional specializing in the design and application of orthoses (orthotics).
• Osgood-Schlatter disease - A condition causing pain and swelling below the knee joint, due to stress on the patellar tendon, common in adolescents undergoing growth spurts.
• Outline of trauma and orthopedics - An overview of key concepts, treatments, and areas of study within the field of trauma and orthopedics.
• Paget's disease of the bone - A chronic disorder that can result in enlarged and misshapen bones, due to abnormal bone destruction and regrowth.
• Prosthetic joint infection - An infection that occurs in the joint of a prosthetic implant, a serious complication that may require surgery.
• SLAP tear - An injury to the superior labrum of the shoulder, from anterior to posterior, often affecting athletes in sports requiring overhead motions.
• Shoulder reduction - The process of returning a dislocated shoulder to its normal alignment, often through manual manipulation or surgery.
• Sling (medicine) - A device used to support and immobilize an injured arm or shoulder, consisting of a bandage or fabric that wraps around the neck and cradles the arm.
• Spurling's test - A diagnostic test used to assess nerve root compression or cervical radiculopathy in the neck.
• Sulcus sign - A clinical sign indicating instability of the shoulder joint, observed as a depression or sulcus below the acromion when downward traction is applied to the arm.
• Tenodesis grasp - A surgical procedure to improve hand function, especially in patients with spinal cord injuries, by fixing the tendon of a muscle in a new position.
• UCL reconstruction - Surgery to repair or replace the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow, commonly known as Tommy John surgery, often performed on athletes, particularly baseball pitchers.
• Veterinary orthotics - Custom-made devices used to support, align, stabilize, protect, and correct musculoskeletal disorders in animals.
• X-ray - A diagnostic tool using electromagnetic radiation to produce images of internal structures of the body, widely used in orthopedics to view bones and joints.
• acetabular fracture - A break in the acetabulum, the part of the pelvis that forms the hip joint.
• allograft - A tissue graft taken from a donor of the same species as the recipient, used in various orthopedic surgeries including ligament reconstruction and bone grafting.
• ankle arthroplasty - Surgical replacement of a damaged ankle joint with an artificial implant, also known as ankle replacement surgery.
• ankle replacement surgery - See ankle arthroplasty.
• anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) - A key ligament that helps stabilize the knee joint, often subject to injury, especially in athletes.
• anterior tibial tubercle - A prominence on the tibia, serving as the attachment point for the patellar ligament.
• arthritis - Inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness that can worsen with age.
• arthrography - A type of medical imaging used to visualize the inside of a joint using X-ray technology after injecting a contrast medium.
• arthroscopy - A minimally invasive surgical procedure on a joint in which examination and sometimes treatment of damage is performed using an arthroscope.
• bone deformity - An abnormality in the shape or size of a bone, often resulting from disease, injury, or congenital condition.
• bone scan - A nuclear imaging test that helps diagnose and track several types of bone disease by injecting radioactive material that concentrates in bones.
• bone spur - A bony growth formed on normal bone, often in response to pressure, rubbing, or stress over a prolonged period.
• bone tumor - An abnormal growth of cells within a bone, which can be benign or malignant (cancerous).
• bunion - A bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of the big toe, causing the big toe to point excessively towards the second toe.
• bursitis - Inflammation of a bursa, small fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between moving parts in the body's joints.
• carpal tunnel syndrome - A condition caused by pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel, leading to numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and arm.
• cartilage - A resilient and smooth elastic tissue, a rubber-like padding that covers and protects the ends of long bones at the joints.
• cervical spine - The upper part of the spine, consisting of the first seven vertebrae that form the neck.
• computed tomography (CT) - An imaging procedure that uses special x-ray equipment to create detailed pictures, or scans, of areas inside the body, including bones.
• degenerative disc disease - A condition in which pain is caused by a damaged disc in the spine.
• discography - An imaging test that uses x-rays and a contrast dye to view the discs between the vertebrae, used to diagnose back pain.
• dislocation - An injury where the ends of your bones are forced from their normal positions.
• electromyography (EMG) - A diagnostic procedure to assess the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them.
• fascia - A band or sheet of connective tissue, primarily collagen, beneath the skin that attaches, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs.
• fasciitis - Inflammation of the fascia, particularly plantar fasciitis affecting the bottom of the foot.
• femoral-acetabular impingement - A condition where extra bone grows along one or both of the bones that form the hip joint, giving the bones an irregular shape.
• femur - The thigh bone, the longest and strongest bone in the body.
• fibromyalgia - A condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory, and mood issues.
• fracture - A break, usually in a bone. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an "open" or "compound" fracture.
• frozen shoulder - A condition characterized by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint.
• ganglion cyst - A noncancerous lump, often on the tendons or joints of wrists and hands, but can also appear on ankles and feet.
• golfer’s elbow - A condition that causes pain where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to the bony bump on the inside of your elbow.
• hemiarthroplasty - A surgical procedure that replaces one half of the joint with an artificial surface and leaves the other part in its natural (pre-operative) state.
• herniated disc - A problem with one of the rubbery cushions (discs) between the individual bones (vertebrae) that stack up to make your spine.
• hip arthroplasty - Also known as hip replacement surgery, it involves replacing a diseased or damaged hip joint with an artificial one.
• hip arthroscopy - A surgical procedure that allows doctors to view the hip joint without making a large incision through the skin and other soft tissues.
• hip dysplasia - A condition in which the hip socket doesn't fully cover the ball portion of the upper thighbone, allowing the hip joint to become partially or completely dislocated.
• hip joint replacement - See hip arthroplasty.
• hip resurfacing - A surgical procedure that involves trimming and capping the femoral head with a smooth metal covering.
• joint aspiration - A procedure to remove fluid from the space around a joint using a needle and syringe, often used for diagnostic purposes.
• joint replacement - Surgery to remove and replace an arthritic or damaged joint with an artificial joint, called a prosthesis.
• knee arthroplasty - Also known as knee replacement surgery, it involves cutting away damaged bone and cartilage from your thighbone, shinbone, and kneecap and replacing it with an artificial joint.
• knee arthroscopy - A surgical technique that can diagnose and treat problems in the knee joint through small incisions using a camera.
• knee joint replacement - See knee arthroplasty.
• kyphoplasty - A minimally invasive surgery used to treat a spinal compression fracture.
• kyphosis - A forward rounding of the back. Some rounding is normal, but the term "kyphosis" usually refers to an exaggerated rounding, often associated with age.
• labrum - A ring of cartilage that surrounds the socket of the hip joint.
• laminectomy - A surgery that creates space by removing the lamina — the back part of a vertebra that covers your spinal canal.
• lateral collateral ligament (LCL) - A ligament located on the outer side of the knee, providing stability to the outer knee.
• ligament - A short band of tough, flexible, fibrous connective tissue that connects two bones or cartilages or holds together a joint.
• ligament tear - An injury to one of the bands of fibrous tissue that connect bones to each other inside a joint.
• long bone - Bones that are longer than they are wide and are mainly found in the arms (humerus, ulna, radius) and legs (femur, tibia, fibula).
• lumbar spine - The lower part of the spine between the rib cage and the pelvis.
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - A medical imaging technique used in radiology to form pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body.
• medial collateral ligament (MCL) - A ligament on the medial (inner) side of the knee, connecting the femur to the tibia.
• minimally invasive hip replacement - A hip replacement surgery performed through one or two smaller incisions rather than the single long incision used in traditional hip replacement.
• minimally invasive surgery - Procedures performed through tiny incisions instead of one large opening, resulting in potentially shorter recovery time and less pain.
• nerve conduction study (NCS) - A medical diagnostic test commonly used to evaluate the function, especially the ability of electrical conduction, of the motor and sensory nerves of the human body.
• osteoarthritis - A type of arthritis that occurs when flexible tissue at the ends of bones wears down.
• osteochondral allograft transplantation - A procedure in which damaged cartilage and underlying bone are replaced with healthy tissue from a donor.
• osteonecrosis - The death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply, also known as avascular necrosis.
• osteoporosis - A medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue, typically as a result of hormonal changes, or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D.
• partial knee replacement - A surgery that replaces only the most damaged portion of the knee with parts made of metal and plastic. The surgery can replace either the inside (medial), outside (lateral), or kneecap part of the knee.
• partial shoulder replacement - A surgical procedure where only part of the shoulder joint is replaced, typically involving the humeral head, to preserve as much natural anatomy as possible.
• patella - The kneecap, a small bone located in front of the knee joint.
• patellofemoral syndrome - A condition characterized by knee pain ranging from mild to severe, associated with damage to the cartilage under the kneecap.
• periosteum - A dense layer of vascular connective tissue enveloping the bones except at the surfaces of the joints.
• physical therapy - A branch of rehabilitative health that uses specially designed exercises and equipment to help patients regain or improve their physical abilities.
• post-traumatic arthritis - Arthritis that forms after an injury to the joint, where the cartilage may wear away and lead to pain and stiffness.
• posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) - A ligament in the knee that connects the femur to the tibia, helping to stabilize the knee.
• radiculopathy - A condition caused by compression, inflammation, and/or injury to a spinal nerve root, resulting in pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness along the course of the nerve.
• range of motion testing - A physical examination technique that measures the extent of a joint's movement in various directions to assess for damage or disease affecting the joint or its surrounding structures.
• reverse total shoulder replacement - A type of shoulder replacement in which the natural ball-and-socket structure of the shoulder is reversed, placing a ball where the socket should be and a socket where the ball usually is.
• rheumatoid arthritis - An autoimmune disorder that primarily affects joints, causing warm, swollen, and painful joints.
• robot-assisted surgery - Surgical procedures performed using robotic systems, which provide the surgeon with enhanced capabilities such as high-definition 3D vision and magnified view.
• rotator cuff - A group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, keeping the head of your upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder.
• sciatic nerve - The longest and largest nerve in the human body, running from the lower back down the back of each leg, responsible for controlling the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg and providing sensation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg, and the sole of the foot.
• sciatica - Pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg.
• scoliosis - A medical condition in which a person's spine has a sideways curve, usually shaped like an "S" or "C".
• sesamoid bones - Small, round bones that are embedded in tendons; they are found in locations where a tendon passes over a joint, such as the hand, knee, and foot.
• sesamoiditis - Inflammation of the sesamoid bones, often caused by repetitive stress or overuse, particularly among dancers and athletes.
• shoulder arthroplasty - Shoulder replacement surgery, involving the replacement of the end of the upper arm bone (humerus) with a metal ball, and the shoulder socket (glenoid) with a plastic surface.
• shoulder resurfacing - A less invasive form of shoulder replacement that involves replacing only the damaged surface of the humeral head with a cap-like prosthesis without removing the entire head of the bone.
• spinal deformity - Abnormal curvature or misalignment of the spine, which can include conditions such as scoliosis, kyphosis, and lordosis.
• spinal fusion - A surgical procedure used to correct problems with the small bones in the spine (vertebrae). It essentially “welds” together painful vertebrae so that they heal into a single, solid bone.
• spinal stenosis - A condition, often age-related, in which the spaces within your spine narrow, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine.
• spinal tumors - Abnormal growths that develop on the bones and ligaments of the spine, within the spinal cord, or the nerve roots. These growths can be benign or malignant.
• spine - The vertebral column or backbone, consisting of multiple vertebrae, which houses and protects the spinal cord, supports the head, and provides an attachment point for ribs and muscles of the back.
• spine surgery - Surgical procedures that are performed on the spinal column for various reasons, including treating injuries, deformities, and conditions such as spinal stenosis and herniated discs.
• spondylolisthesis - A condition where one of the vertebrae slips out of place onto the bone below it, which can cause pain and potentially affect nerve function.
• spondylosis - A broad term for degenerative changes in the spine, such as bone spurs and degenerating intervertebral discs, often associated with aging.
• sports medicine - A branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness, treatment, and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise.
• sprain - An injury to a ligament caused by tearing of the fibers of the ligament, which can occur when it is stretched beyond its capacity.
• stem cell injection - A treatment option that involves using stem cells (cells that can differentiate into different types of cells) to treat or prevent a disease or condition, including orthopedic conditions.
• stress fracture - A small crack in a bone, or severe bruising within a bone, often caused by overuse and repetitive activity.
• tarsal tunnel syndrome - A condition caused by compression of the posterior tibial nerve as it runs through the tarsal tunnel on the inner side of the ankle, leading to pain and numbness.
• tendinitis - Inflammation or irritation of a tendon, the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone.
• tendon - A flexible but inelastic cord of strong fibrous collagen tissue attaching a muscle to a bone.
• tennis elbow - A painful condition caused by overuse of the arm, forearm, and hand muscles, resulting in elbow pain.
• thoracic spine - The middle section of the vertebral column, known as the upper back, which consists of twelve vertebrae.
• tibia - The shin bone, the larger and stronger of the two bones in the lower leg.
• total elbow replacement - A surgical procedure to replace the damaged parts of the elbow joint with artificial components.
• total hip replacement surgery - A surgical procedure in which the hip joint is replaced by a prosthetic implant.
• total knee replacement surgery - A surgical procedure in which a knee joint is replaced by a prosthetic implant, also known as knee arthroplasty.
• total shoulder replacement surgery - A surgical procedure to replace damaged parts of the shoulder joint with artificial components.
• trauma - Physical injury or wound caused by external force or violence.
• turf toe - A sprain of the main joint of the big toe, usually resulting from sports activities that involve pushing off forcefully with the foot.
• ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction - Also known as Tommy John surgery, a procedure to replace a torn ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow with a tendon from elsewhere in the body.
• vertebroplasty - A minimally invasive surgical procedure to stabilize vertebral compression fractures by injecting bone cement into the vertebra.

See Also

• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Rheumatology
• Podiatry

External Links

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Orthopedics Resources
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