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Orthopedics
Orthopedics - also spelled orthopaedics - involves the treatment and prevention of injuries to the musculoskeletal system, which includes:
- Bones - the hard living tissues that make up the body's skeleton (Read about "Skeletal System")
- Joints - where the ends of two or more bones meet
- Muscles - which produce motion by contractions
- Ligaments - which connect the bones and keep joints stable
- Tendons - which connect muscle to bone or other tissue
- Nerves - bundles of fibers which transmit nervous impulses (Read about "Nervous System")
An orthopaedic surgeon is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and rehabilitation (Read about "Rehabilitation") of the musculoskeletal system. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, over 28 million Americans develop some kind of musculoskeletal problem every year, and three million people require hospitalization for their problems every year. These problems can range from back, shoulder and knee pain (Read about "The Spine" "The Shoulder" "The Knee") to sprains, strains and overuse injuries. (Read about "Sprains" "Strains" "Repetitive Stress") Treatment options often start with more conservative therapies such as medications, exercise and other rehabilitative or alternative therapies. If necessary, the doctor may also recommend surgical diagnostic and treatment options, such as arthroscopy. (Read about "Arthroscopy") In some cases, an entire joint may need to be replaced. (Read about "Joint Replacement")
Below are links to some common orthopedic problems and articles on injury prevention. Following these links can lead you to more information on your particular problem.
You can also move your mouse over the picture of the skeleton on this page for links to orthopedic-related topics.
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ACL injury: see The Knee Ankles: see Feet, Ankles & Legs Ankylosing spondylitis: see Ankylosing Spondylitis Anterior cruciate ligament injury: see The Knee Arthritis: see Arthritis & Rheumatic Diseases Arthroscopy, knee: see The Knee Arthroscopy: see Arthroscopy Avascular necrosis: see Osteonecrosis Back pain, avoiding: see Avoid Back Pain Back pain, school & work-related: see Back Tips Back pain: see Back Pain, The Spine Bone cancer: see Bone Cancer Bone cyst, unicameral: see Bone Tumors - Benign Bone fracture: see Bone Fracture Bone loss, age-related: see Age & Bone Loss Bunions: see Feet, Ankles & Legs Bursitis: see Tendinitis and Bursitis Calcium and osteoporosis: see Calcium and Osteoporosis Cancer, bone: see Bone Cancer Carpal tunnel syndrome: see Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Cast: see Bone Fracture Cervical spondylotic myelopathy: see The Spine Chondromalacia: see The Knee Clubfoot: see Clubfoot Curvature of the spine: see Curvature of the Spine Cysts, spinal: see The Spine Degenerative disk disease: see The Spine DEXA scan: see DEXA Scan - Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry/Densitometry Discectomy: see The Spine Falls: see Accidental Falls Feet: see Feet, Ankles & Legs Fibrous dysplasia: see Bone Tumors - Benign Fractures: see Bone Fractures Frozen shoulder: see The Shoulder Giant cell tumor: see Bone Tumors - Benign Hammertoe: see Feet, Ankles & Legs Herniated disk: see The Spine Hip: see The Hip Hip fracture: see Hip Fractures Hip replacement: see Joint Replacement Joint replacement: see Joint Replacement Knee replacement: see Joint Replacement Knee: see The Knee Kyphoplasty: see The Spine Kyphosis: see Curvature of the Spine Laminectomy: see The Spine Laminoplasty: see The Spine Laminotomy: see The Spine Lateral collateral ligament injury: see The Knee LCL injury: see The Knee Legs: see Feet, Ankles & Legs MCL injury: see The Knee Medial collateral ligament injury: see The Knee Neck pain: see Neck Pain at Work Osgood-Schlatter disease: see The Knee Osteoarthritis: see Osteoarthritis Osteochondritis dissecans, knee: see The Knee Osteochondroma: see Bone Tumors - Benign Osteoid osteomas: see Bone Tumors - Benign Osteomalacia: see Osteomalacia & Rickets Osteonecrosis: see Osteonecrosis Osteopenia: see Osteoporosis Osteopetrosis: see Osteopetrosis Osteoporosis: see Osteoporosis Paget's disease of bone: see Paget's Disease of Bone PCL injury: see The Knee Plantar fasciitis: see Feet, Ankles & Legs Posterior cruciate ligament injury: see The Knee Rehabilitation: see Rehabilitation Rehab, hip: see The Hip Rehab, knee: see The Knee Rehab, shoulder: see The Shoulder Reiter's syndrome: see Reactive Arthritis Repetitive stress: see Repetitive Stress RICE: see The Knee Rickets: see Osteomalacia & Rickets Rotator cuff: see The Shoulder Ruptured disk: see The Spine Scheuermann's disease: see Curvature of the Spine Sciatica: see The Spine Scoliosis: see Curvature of the Spine Shin splints: see Feet, Ankles & Legs Shoulder: see The Shoulder Spinal fusion: see The Spine Spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis: see The Spine Sports injury: see Avoid Sports Injury Sprain: see Sprains Stenosis, spinal: see The Spine Strains: see Strains Stress fractures: see Bone Fractures Synovitis: see Synovitis Tendinitis: see Tendinitis and Bursitis Tumors, bone: see Bone Tumors - Benign Tumors, spinal: see The Spine Unicameral bone cyst: see Bone Tumors - Benign Vertebroplasty: see The Spine |
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