What is Orthopedic Surgery? What Diseases Does It Treat?
Musculoskeletal system; It consists of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves and provides movement, stability and support of the body. Damage to this system may occur as a result of accidents encountered in daily life, sports injuries, congenital structural defects or age-related wear. Orthopedic surgery is a branch of medicine that aims to treat disorders, injuries and diseases occurring in the musculoskeletal system with surgical methods. It is applied to preserve patients’ mobility, reduce pain and improve quality of life.
What is Orthopedic Surgery?
It is a branch of medicine that includes surgical procedures used in the treatment of structural problems and injuries occurring in the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system, consisting of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves, provides movement, balance and endurance of the body. However, damage to this system may occur due to trauma, congenital anomalies, chronic diseases or aging. The aim of orthopedic surgery is to repair these damages, eliminate functional losses and enable patients to remain active in daily life. The procedures performed in orthopedic surgery vary depending on the type of disease and the needs of the patient. Orthopedic surgery treats problems occurring in various parts of the body in many areas, from fracture repairs to prosthetic surgery, from arthroscopic procedures to spine surgery. Today, advanced surgical techniques, minimally invasive methods and technologies such as robotic surgery increase the safety and effectiveness of orthopedic surgery, allowing patients to recover in a shorter time and return to their normal lives.
In Which Diseases Is Orthopedic Surgery Used?
It is applied in the treatment of many disorders occurring in the musculoskeletal system. These diseases include traumatic injuries, congenital bone deformities, joint disorders and musculoskeletal tumors. The main application areas of orthopedic surgery are:
- Fracture and Dislocation Treatment: Bone fractures and joint dislocations that occur as a result of trauma are one of the areas where orthopedic surgery is most frequently applied. Bone repair is performed using special medical materials such as plates, screws or nails to stabilize fractures and heal bones. In case of dislocation, the joint is brought to its normal position. Joint stability is maintained with surgical intervention, if necessary.
- Prosthesis Surgery: Joints that wear out or have damaged cartilage tissue, especially due to age, can cause pain and limitation of movement. In large joints such as hip, knee and shoulder, the joint is completely or partially replaced by prosthetic surgery. Prosthetic surgery is also an effective treatment option for patients with excessive wear and tear on their joints as a result of chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Spine Diseases: Disorders such as hernias, scoliosis, stenosis and fractures in the spine are other important areas of orthopedic surgery. Spine surgery is performed to prevent nerve compression, reduce pain and preserve the structural integrity of the spine. Spine surgery performed with microsurgery and minimally invasive techniques helps patients recover in a shorter time.
- Arthroscopic Surgery: Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical method performed through small incisions. Meniscus tears, ligament injuries, cartilage damage and other joint problems are treated using arthroscopic techniques, especially in joints such as the knee, shoulder and ankle. Arthroscopy is a frequently preferred method due to its rapid healing process and low risk of infection.
- Muscle and Tendon Injuries: Tears in muscles and tendons may occur as a result of sports injuries or trauma. Conditions such as tendon ruptures, ligament injuries or muscle tissue damage may require surgical intervention. In the treatment of such injuries, tissue repair is performed through surgery and the patient’s normal mobility is provided.
- Congenital Orthopedic Disorders: Structural disorders such as congenital hip dislocation, clubfoot or scoliosis are within the scope of orthopedic surgery. In such cases, early surgical interventions support the healthy growth and development of the child. When treating congenital disorders, surgeons take into account the child’s age, developmental level, and degree of disease progression.
- Musculoskeletal System Tumors: Tumors that develop in bone or soft tissue can be removed by surgical intervention. Surgery plays a major role in the treatment of both benign and malignant tumors. These operations protect the patient’s health and prevent the spread of cancerous tissues by eliminating abnormal cell growths in bone or soft tissue.
Orthopedic surgery is performed using various surgical techniques depending on the patient’s age, physical activity level and type of disease. This area helps the person live a pain-free life by preserving their mobility and allows patients to quickly return to their daily activities.
Who Can Have Orthopedic Surgery?
It is applied to individuals who experience limitation of movement, pain or loss of function due to musculoskeletal system problems. However, surgical intervention is not suitable for every patient. The decision for surgery is made after a multifaceted evaluation process. To determine who is suitable for orthopedic surgery, factors such as the patient’s age, general health condition, physical activity level and risks of surgery are taken into consideration. Suitable patient profiles for orthopedic surgery are as follows:
- Patients Experiencing Chronic Pain and Movement Restriction: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis Patients with chronic joint diseases, such as rhinoplasty, and those who experience long-term pain, stiffness or limitation of movement, are suitable candidates for orthopedic surgery. Joint pain in these patients can seriously affect daily life. Surgical intervention aims to reduce pain and restore mobility by repairing damage to the joint.
- Patients Suffering from Traumatic Injuries: Fractures, dislocations, ligament and tendon injuries resulting from accidents, falls or sports injuries may require surgical intervention. The healing process of such injuries can be accelerated by surgical intervention and the function of the damaged area can be restored. Post-traumatic surgery aims to enable the patient to return to normal life in a short time.
- Dialysis and Elderly Patient Group: Elderly patients may especially face age-related conditions such as joint degeneration or osteoporosis. When deciding on surgical intervention for the elderly patient group, the patient’s general health condition and risks of surgery are evaluated in detail. In addition, osteoporosis and musculoskeletal system problems are more common in patients who undergo dialysis due to kidney diseases. In this case, a multidisciplinary evaluation is required before surgery.
- Patients Born with Orthopedic Disorders or Had Bone Problems in Childhood: Orthopedic surgery may be needed due to congenital structural disorders or bone problems that develop during childhood. Problems such as hip dislocation, clubfoot or scoliosis in childhood are corrected with early surgical intervention. Orthopedic surgery performed on children can prevent serious skeletal problems that may arise in the future by supporting bone development.
- Patients Who Do Not Respond to Medication and Physical Therapy: For musculoskeletal system problems, non-surgical methods such as physical therapy, rehabilitation and drug therapy are primarily applied. However, when these methods do not provide sufficient recovery and the patient’s symptoms persist, surgical intervention is considered.
- Athletes and Young Patients with High Physical Activity Levels: Musculoskeletal problems in professional athletes or young age patients can affect their careers or active lives. Surgical intervention in ligament tears, meniscus damage or tendon injuries resulting from sports injuries helps the patient quickly regain his/her former form. Since patients in the younger age group have a higher recovery capacity, their success rates after surgery are higher.
- Patients with Nerve Compression and Muscle Problems Causing Pain: Patients suffering from nerve compression or chronic muscle pain may benefit from surgical intervention. Nerve compression causes numbness, weakness and pain in the hands and feet. Surgical intervention relieves the patient by removing the pressure on the nerves and aims to regain normal mobility.
Orthopedic surgery is a comprehensive treatment option performed by applying different techniques depending on the patient’s health problem, age and general health condition. Detailed evaluations and appropriate patient selection before surgery increase the success of surgery.
