Orthopedics and Traumatology, also called Orthopedics or Orthopedic Surgery in short, is the science that specializes in maintaining and treating the health of bone, muscle, joint and connective tissues that make up the movement system of the human body.
Orthopedics refers to the section dealing with disorders and diseases of the movement system, while Traumatology refers to the section dealing with the treatment of movement system tissues injured as a result of accident or impact. In the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, both surgical and non-surgical treatments of human movement system disorders, diseases and injuries are studied. It is a branch that is rapidly advancing, changing and even expanding in the light of technology and scientific advances in recent years.
The diseases that the orthopedics and traumatology department is generally interested in can be listed as follows;
- Bone fractures
- Neck hernias
- Lumbar herniated discs
- Leg inequalities
- Congenital hip dislocations
- Meniscus injuries
- Joint pain
- Rheumatism
- Nerve compression
- Sprains and strains of the joint ligaments
- Trigger finger disease v Joint arthritis
- Heel spur
- Cartilage injuries
- Tennis elbow
- Fiber breaks
- Bone inflammation
- Sciatica
- Dislocations in different joints
Areas of orthopedic surgery and treatment include
Bone Fractures and Injuries: Bone fractures, fracture treatment, and healing processes form the basis of traumatology.
Joint Problems: Joint inflammations (arthritis), joint pains, degenerative joint diseases (e.g., osteoarthritis), joint capsule injuries, and other joint issues may require orthopedic intervention.
Spinal Disorders: Spinal fractures, scoliosis (spinal curvature), back and neck pains are other significant areas that orthopedists deal with.
Sports Injuries: Sports injuries, especially muscle, ligament, and joint injuries, are common conditions treated by orthopedists. These include meniscus tears, ligament injuries (e.g., anterior cruciate ligament tears), tendon tears, and muscle tears.
Muscle and Ligament Injuries: Muscle tears, ligament strains, and other soft tissue injuries are also common conditions treated by orthopedists.
Fracture Surgeries and Prosthetic Surgery: Some severe fractures and joint diseases may require surgical intervention. Such surgeries may involve repositioning fractured pieces, using fixation devices like plates, nails, or screws. Joint prostheses can help restore joint function by replacing damaged or painful joints.
Pediatric Orthopedics: Treatment of congenital anomalies, growth disorders, and general orthopedic issues in children falls under the domain of pediatric orthopedics specialists.
Orthopedic Rehabilitation: Post-operative rehabilitation and physical therapy are important to help patients regain function.
Orthopedics and traumatology focus on the treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of diseases and injuries to improve quality of life. Therefore, they adopt a multidisciplinary approach to create appropriate treatment and management plans, often collaborating with physiotherapists, rehabilitation specialists, and other healthcare professionals.
