Orthopedics is the study of the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic doctors help patients with the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of problems associated with the bone, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves of the body. Orthopedics is one of many medical specialties.
Joint replacement surgery replaces damaged joints or resurfaces damaged bones in a joint to create new joint surfaces. Learn more about the most common types of joint replacement surgery
* Knee replacement
* Shoulder replacement
* Hip Replacement
If you have a hip that has been damaged by arthritis, injury or other conditions, you might consider total hip replacement surgery. Hip replacement surgery can relieve pain and increase the range of motion in the hip.
To perform a hip replacement, a surgeon replaces the upper end of the thighbone (femur) with a metal ball and resurfaces the hip socket with a liner made of metal and plastic. Artificial hip joints are available in many types and designs. Your surgeon will select the one that is best for you.
* Shoulder replacement
* Hip Replacement
If you have a hip that has been damaged by arthritis, injury or other conditions, you might consider total hip replacement surgery. Hip replacement surgery can relieve pain and increase the range of motion in the hip.
To perform a hip replacement, a surgeon replaces the upper end of the thighbone (femur) with a metal ball and resurfaces the hip socket with a liner made of metal and plastic. Artificial hip joints are available in many types and designs. Your surgeon will select the one that is best for you.
Hip replacement are of two types...
Traditional Hip Replacement
In this surgery, the surgeon makes a 10-to-12-inch incision on the side of the hip. The surgical team dislocates the hip to expose the joint surfaces. The hip socket is resurfaced and the top of the femur is replaced.
Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement
This surgery uses the same implants as traditional hip replacement, but requires either one 3-to-6-inch incision superficial or on the hip region or two smaller incisions, one over the groin and other over the buttock.
Minimally invasive hip replacement can benefit patients through:
* Reduced injury to the muscle tissue around the hip
* Less time in the hospital after surgery
* Less pain during recovery
* Faster rehabilitation and return to normal activities
Talk with your surgeon to find out if you are a good candidate for minimally invasive hip replacement
Knee Replacement
If you have a knee that has been severely damaged by arthritis, injury or simple wear and tear, and if knee pain and stiffness limits your activity, you might consider a total knee replacement. Most people who have total knee replacement surgery experience improvement in knee pain, range of motion and the ability to perform the activities of daily life.
To perform a knee replacement, a surgeon caps the ends of the damaged thigh bone (femur) and lower leg bone (shin), and usually the kneecap (patella), with artificial surfaces lined with metal and plastic.
Many different types of implant designs and materials are used in knee replacement surgeries. Your surgeon will select the best type for you based on factors such as your age, weight and desired level of activity.
Knee replacement surgeries can be divided into three basic types: partial, traditional and minimally invasive.
Partial Knee Replacement
Partial, or unicompartmental, knee replacement is not as common as total knee replacement but is an alternative in some situations. This surgery might be used when just one part, or “compartment,” of a knee joint is damaged. Only that part of the knee joint is replaced.
Traditional Knee Replacement
In this surgery, an incision of about 8 to 10 inches made down the front of the knee. The surgery team resurfaces the worn-out surfaces of the knee, replacing lost cartilage and diseased bone with metal and plastic implants. The surgical team carefully positions the implants to assure that the replacement knee will function well.
Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement
Minimally invasive knee replacement involves all the same steps as a traditional knee replacement, but accomplishes the surgery through a smaller incision. The surgeon uses an advanced computer system to determine exact positioning for the implants.
Minimally invasive knee replacement surgery can benefit patients through:
* Reduced injury to the muscle tissue around the knee
* Less time in the hospital after surgery
* Less scarring from the incision
* Faster rehabilitation and return to normal activities
Talk with your physician and surgeon to find out if you are a good candidate for minimally invasive knee replacement
Shoulder Replacement
Shoulder replacement surgery is not as common as hip or knee replacement, but can be just as effective in relieving pain, increasing range of motion and improving strength in the shoulder.
Shoulder replacement may be an option for you if you have shoulder pain or stiffness resulting from:
* Osteoarthritis
* Rheumatoid arthritis
* Arthritis resulting from an injury
* Arthritis combined with a non-reparable rotator cuff tear
To perform a shoulder replacement, a surgeon replaces the damaged ends of the upper arm bone and shoulder bone, or caps them with implants made of plastic and/or metal.
Two common types of shoulder replacement are traditional and reverse.
Traditional Shoulder Replacement
This type of shoulder replacement is generally used with patients whose rotator cuff tendons are intact. The joint surfaces are replaced with a metal ball and a plastic socket. Sometimes, if the shoulder socket is not damaged, the surgeon replaces only the ball of the joint.
Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
This type of shoulder replacement is generally used for people who have torn rotator cuffs or who had a previous shoulder implant that failed. This surgery is very similar to a traditional shoulder replacement, except it switches the positions of the ball and socket of the shoulder joint. After surgery, this allows the patient to use the deltoid muscle, rather than the torn rotator cuff, to lift the arm.
Talk with your surgeon to find out if you are a good candidate for reverse total shoulder replacement.
In addition to joint replacement, the surgeons, operating room teams, nurses and caregivers at our affiliated hospitals have expertise with many other types of orthopedic surgery. These include:
* Hand surgery
* Shoulder surgery
* Foot and ankle surgery
* Bone oncology surgery
* Trauma and fracture care
* Spine and back surgery
Hand Surgery
Hand surgery deals with problems of the hand, wrist and forearm. Some of the conditions that can be treated by hand surgery are carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist pain and injuries to the hand and wrist.
Shoulder Surgery
The shoulder is the most flexible joint in the human body. However, that flexibility makes this joint susceptible to instability and injury. Surgeons may use arthroscopic surgery – using a camera and surgical instruments inserted through tiny incisions – or open surgery to repair shoulder joints and tendons.
Foot and Ankle Surgery
Surgery of the foot and/or ankle can treat a number of conditions, including:
* Achilles Tendonitis: The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It is the largest tendon in the human body, and the one most frequently ruptured. Surgery may be an option after other, nonsurgical treatments are tried.
* Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle: The foot has more than 30 joints that can be affected by arthritis, causing pain, stiffness and swelling. Surgical options include debridement (cleaning joint of foreign tissue and bone spurs), fusion of the bones in a joint and even ankle joint replacement.
* Bunions: There are many different surgical procedures to treat bunions: painful bumps that form just below the big toe on the inner border of the foot. Each of these procedures can improve the alignment of the big toe and relieve pain.
Bone Oncology Surgery
Cancer that originates in bone is relatively rare, but when it occurs it is often treated with surgery. This surgery usually involves removing the cancer and a small amount of healthy bone surrounding it. Surgical treatment may be combined with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
Trauma and Fracture Care
Treatment for fractured bones depends on the bone involved, the severity of the fracture and whether the fracture is “open” (showing through broken skin) or “closed” (covered by unbroken skin). Treatment can range from a cast that immobilizes the bones as they heal to surgical repositioning of bone fragments.
Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement
This surgery uses the same implants as traditional hip replacement, but requires either one 3-to-6-inch incision superficial or on the hip region or two smaller incisions, one over the groin and other over the buttock.
Minimally invasive hip replacement can benefit patients through:
* Reduced injury to the muscle tissue around the hip
* Less time in the hospital after surgery
* Less pain during recovery
* Faster rehabilitation and return to normal activities
Talk with your surgeon to find out if you are a good candidate for minimally invasive hip replacement
Knee Replacement
If you have a knee that has been severely damaged by arthritis, injury or simple wear and tear, and if knee pain and stiffness limits your activity, you might consider a total knee replacement. Most people who have total knee replacement surgery experience improvement in knee pain, range of motion and the ability to perform the activities of daily life.
To perform a knee replacement, a surgeon caps the ends of the damaged thigh bone (femur) and lower leg bone (shin), and usually the kneecap (patella), with artificial surfaces lined with metal and plastic.
Many different types of implant designs and materials are used in knee replacement surgeries. Your surgeon will select the best type for you based on factors such as your age, weight and desired level of activity.
Knee replacement surgeries can be divided into three basic types: partial, traditional and minimally invasive.
Partial Knee Replacement
Partial, or unicompartmental, knee replacement is not as common as total knee replacement but is an alternative in some situations. This surgery might be used when just one part, or “compartment,” of a knee joint is damaged. Only that part of the knee joint is replaced.
Traditional Knee Replacement
In this surgery, an incision of about 8 to 10 inches made down the front of the knee. The surgery team resurfaces the worn-out surfaces of the knee, replacing lost cartilage and diseased bone with metal and plastic implants. The surgical team carefully positions the implants to assure that the replacement knee will function well.
Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement
Minimally invasive knee replacement involves all the same steps as a traditional knee replacement, but accomplishes the surgery through a smaller incision. The surgeon uses an advanced computer system to determine exact positioning for the implants.
Minimally invasive knee replacement surgery can benefit patients through:
* Reduced injury to the muscle tissue around the knee
* Less time in the hospital after surgery
* Less scarring from the incision
* Faster rehabilitation and return to normal activities
Talk with your physician and surgeon to find out if you are a good candidate for minimally invasive knee replacement
Shoulder Replacement
Shoulder replacement surgery is not as common as hip or knee replacement, but can be just as effective in relieving pain, increasing range of motion and improving strength in the shoulder.
Shoulder replacement may be an option for you if you have shoulder pain or stiffness resulting from:
* Osteoarthritis
* Rheumatoid arthritis
* Arthritis resulting from an injury
* Arthritis combined with a non-reparable rotator cuff tear
To perform a shoulder replacement, a surgeon replaces the damaged ends of the upper arm bone and shoulder bone, or caps them with implants made of plastic and/or metal.
Two common types of shoulder replacement are traditional and reverse.
Traditional Shoulder Replacement
This type of shoulder replacement is generally used with patients whose rotator cuff tendons are intact. The joint surfaces are replaced with a metal ball and a plastic socket. Sometimes, if the shoulder socket is not damaged, the surgeon replaces only the ball of the joint.
Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
This type of shoulder replacement is generally used for people who have torn rotator cuffs or who had a previous shoulder implant that failed. This surgery is very similar to a traditional shoulder replacement, except it switches the positions of the ball and socket of the shoulder joint. After surgery, this allows the patient to use the deltoid muscle, rather than the torn rotator cuff, to lift the arm.
Talk with your surgeon to find out if you are a good candidate for reverse total shoulder replacement.
In addition to joint replacement, the surgeons, operating room teams, nurses and caregivers at our affiliated hospitals have expertise with many other types of orthopedic surgery. These include:
* Hand surgery
* Shoulder surgery
* Foot and ankle surgery
* Bone oncology surgery
* Trauma and fracture care
* Spine and back surgery
Hand Surgery
Hand surgery deals with problems of the hand, wrist and forearm. Some of the conditions that can be treated by hand surgery are carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist pain and injuries to the hand and wrist.
Shoulder Surgery
The shoulder is the most flexible joint in the human body. However, that flexibility makes this joint susceptible to instability and injury. Surgeons may use arthroscopic surgery – using a camera and surgical instruments inserted through tiny incisions – or open surgery to repair shoulder joints and tendons.
Foot and Ankle Surgery
Surgery of the foot and/or ankle can treat a number of conditions, including:
* Achilles Tendonitis: The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It is the largest tendon in the human body, and the one most frequently ruptured. Surgery may be an option after other, nonsurgical treatments are tried.
* Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle: The foot has more than 30 joints that can be affected by arthritis, causing pain, stiffness and swelling. Surgical options include debridement (cleaning joint of foreign tissue and bone spurs), fusion of the bones in a joint and even ankle joint replacement.
* Bunions: There are many different surgical procedures to treat bunions: painful bumps that form just below the big toe on the inner border of the foot. Each of these procedures can improve the alignment of the big toe and relieve pain.
Bone Oncology Surgery
Cancer that originates in bone is relatively rare, but when it occurs it is often treated with surgery. This surgery usually involves removing the cancer and a small amount of healthy bone surrounding it. Surgical treatment may be combined with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
Trauma and Fracture Care
Treatment for fractured bones depends on the bone involved, the severity of the fracture and whether the fracture is “open” (showing through broken skin) or “closed” (covered by unbroken skin). Treatment can range from a cast that immobilizes the bones as they heal to surgical repositioning of bone fragments.