Here are the types of surgeries orthopedic surgeons do. If you have ever experienced pain in your joints, muscles, or bones, your general practitioner may have suggested you see an orthopedic surgeon. Orthopedic surgeons take on a large number of procedures to help their patients recover from joint and muscle issues. Here are some of the most common orthopedic procedures orthopedic surgeons complete:
- Soft Tissue Repair – A routine orthopedic surgery is soft tissue repair completed on a joint, bone, muscle, cartilage, ligament, tendon, or tissue. While most tears to soft tissue can be healed through rest and physical therapy, some require surgery to repair the connective tissues.
- Joint Replacement – As we age and in certain professions, our joints are overused and the cartilage that allows mobility can become injured beyond repair. In these cases, a joint replacement is required to allow the regaining of movement. Orthopedic surgeons will partially or completely replace shoulder, hip, and knee joints with artificial alternatives.
- Revision Joint Surgery – Also known as a “repeat joint replacement,” a revision joint surgery is required when a joint that has already been replaced with an artificial option needs to be replaced again. This is required when the replacement joint becomes worn out, is infected, or is not positioned well for mobility.
Bone Fracture Repair – If you have broken a bone and it is not able to heal through traditional casting or bracing methods, a bone fracture repair may be required. This surgery requires internal fixation meaning the bones are placed back in the right location and fixed with screws, pins, plates, or rods.- Arthroscopy – Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure often required prior to shoulder and knee repairs. By using a small camera device, an orthopedic surgeon can view a tear up close and assess the damage. This allows the surgeon to be fully prepared for the methods needed to properly complete the repair surgery.
- Debridement – Debridement is a procedure used to treat a wound in the skin. The type of surgery enables an orthopedic surgeon to remove dead or infected tissue from a joint or smooth the surface of a joint to allow better healing.
- Joint Fusion – If you suffer from arthritis for an extended period of time, joint fusion might become a good option for your treatment. Joint fusion takes cartilage from a healthy portion of your joint and relocates, or grafts, it to a location that has become damaged and worn down. The bones on each side of the graft are then fused together for further stabilization.
If you are in need of an orthopedic consultation or surgery in the Ann Arbor or Detroit areas, contact Great Lakes Orthopaedics today! With an expert staff comprised of four board certified orthopedic surgeons, we are able to provide the services needed to treat or repair your bone, muscle, joint, and tissue complications.
