The musculoskeletal system comprises bones, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and connective tissues. These parts support your weight, facilitate movement, and maintain your posture. Conditions such as ageing, congenital anomalies, injuries, and arthritis can cause problems in your musculoskeletal system.
Some musculoskeletal problems can be treated with rest, cold press, and over-the-counter medicine. However, if the problems cause chronic pain and affect your daily activities, you should see an orthopaedic surgeon. The surgeon will give you a diagnosis, treat the problem, either by orthopaedic surgery or by non-surgical techniques and offer rehabilitation and post-surgery tips to keep you healthy.
If your musculoskeletal system is acting up, contact us at Sforzo|Dillingham|Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine to set an appointment with one of our doctors. We have a team of qualified and skilled surgeons specializing in musculoskeletal injuries.
Definition of Orthopedics Surgery
Orthopaedic Surgeries is a category of medicine that addresses all issues of the skeletal system and its interconnecting parts, such as bones, ligaments, nerves, muscles, tendons, and joints. Some of the most common musculoskeletal conditions that orthopaedic surgeon treat are:
- Bone fractures
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Joint pain due to arthritis
- Soft tissue injuries
- Shoulder pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Sports injuries
- Bone cancer
- Tendonitis
- Congenital anomalies such as scoliosis and club foot
Our doctors treat all these conditions differ depending on the patient’s age, symptoms, level of chronic pain, and what the patient wants. The surgeries for the condition can also range from less invasive to total replacement, depending on the affected area.
Image source: Central Carolina Othopaedic
What are the Most Common Orthopaedics Surgeries?
The surgery you undergo depends on the affected area. Most surgeries, such as knee, hip, and shoulder surgeries, can be partial or total replacements. The following are the most common orthopaedic surgeries.
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Knee Replacement Surgery
Depending on your injury, you might need partial or total knee replacement surgery. Direct injuries, obesity, repetitive motions, bursitis, or arthritis cause knee injuries. The factors leading to knee injuries damage the cartilage hence, pain and limited movement.
Dr. Stewart, who specializes in knee surgery, will diagnose whether you need partial or complete replacement. In a partial knee replacement, Dr. Stewart will only replace the damaged part of the knee with metal parts. In a complete knee replacement, the entire knee joint will be replaced.
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Spinal Surgeries
Spinal surgeries such as spinal fusion, kyphoplasty, discectomy, and laminectomy address problems affecting your skeletal system’s central system. Dr Meinhardt, who specializes in spinal surgeries, is skilled in performing these spinal surgeries using minimally invasive procedures.
Video title; Minimally Invasive Surgical Technique Animation
Video source: K2MInc
Spinal fusion is preferred for a variety of conditions of the spine:
- Scoliosis
- Spondylolistheses
- Fractured vertebrae
- Tumours
In spinal fusion, the vertebrae are fused to heal as one solid bone. This surgery will eradicate pain and restore the stability of your spine.
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Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Just like knee replacement surgery, shoulder replacement surgery is categorized into partial and total shoulder replacement surgery. Dr Dillingham, who specializes in shoulder injuries will remove the upper arm bone and replace it with a metal implant.
He will then remove the affected portion of the socket and use a plastic prosthesis. This way, the rotator cuff will hold everything in place.
Suppose your rotator cuff is injured. Dr. Dillingham would have to perform a reverse shoulder replacement. In this procedure, the doctor will place a metal in the socket and a plastic prosthesis on top of the upper arm bone. He will then use plates and screws to hold the implants in place.
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Hip Replacement Surgeries
There are two main hip replacement surgeries; the traditional procedure and the Birmingham’s hip resurfacing procedure. With the traditional method, the surgeon replaces the whole ball and socket with a plastic or metal prosthesis.
The Birmingham hip resurfacing procedure leans more on the partial side. Dr Stewart will only replace the affected part of the hip. This way, the repair will last longer than the traditional method. Our doctors recommend the Birmingham hip resurfacing method for younger patients and patients involved in heavy physical activities.
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Ankle Repair
One of the most common factors that lead to ankle problems is direct injuries. When you fracture your ankle, the bone alignment changes. Ankle repair focus on the repositioning of the bones.
Dr. Dillingham uses implants to hold the bones together. You might have to wear a boot or a cast for a few weeks to support and relieve pressure from the affected ankle.
Image source: ScienceDirect
Different Types of Orthopedics Surgeries
Once you visit our clinic, our doctors make a diagnosis. The next step is to decide the type of surgery you will undergo. Our doctors have to factor in the following factors when choosing the type of orthopaedic surgery you will undergo
- The affected area
- The symptoms you experience
- Your general health
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Osteotomy
Osteotomy is an orthopaedic surgery that involves cutting a bone or adding bone tissues to realign your affected bones. This surgery can be done on bones in your elbow, spine, hips, knees, shoulders, legs, and toes.
Video title: The Procedure| Osteotomy
Video source: HipandKneeTV
The purpose of osteotomy is to
- Repair damaged joints
- Correct the angle and rotation of your bones
- Shorten bones
- Lengthen bones
- Reposition your weight from an affected area to a healthy cartilage
- Eradicate pain caused by osteoarthritis
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Laminectomy
Laminectomy is a surgical procedure involving removing the posterior bony arch to give access to the disk. This surgery helps to relieve pressure on the never roots or the spinal cord. It is also used to treat a herniated disk and stenosis of the spine.
Image source: Florida Surgery Consultants
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Synovectomy
The synovial membrane, or synovium, is the membrane on the surface of the synovial joint capsule. This membrane is made of soft tissues. If the synovium is diseased, it has to be removed through a procedure known as synovectomy. Synovectomy relieves pain and inflammation and restores movement of the affected region.
How Long Does it Take for a typical Orthopedic Surgery to Heal?
The healing period of an orthopaedic surgery depends on your general health, the condition being treat, and the type of surgery you have undergone. Typically, most surgeries heal within three to six weeks.
However, surgeries such as spinal fusion, knee replacement, hip replacement, and ACL surgery can take up to six months to fully recover. Shoulder replacement can also take a few months to recover. Our doctors advise you to follow the prescription and guidelines provided for easier and more successful recovery.
Orthopaedic surgery is one of the best methods to treat musculoskeletal problems. The surgery helps to relieve inflammation and pain and restores normal movement in the affected area. If you have any musculoskeletal problems, contact us at Sforzo|Dillingham|Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine at (941) 378-5100 to set an appointment with one of our doctors. We specialize in shoulder, elbow, wrist & hands, hips & thighs, neck & spine, and foot & ankles problems. Our doctors employ minimally invasive techniques and offer guidance on post-surgery care. We also perform non-surgical treatment methods such as platelet-Rich plasma (PRP).