The musculoskeletal system includes the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves that allow the body to move. An injury, degenerative change, or structural abnormality in one of these areas has the ability to limit one’s mobility, and it may interfere with daily tasks such as walking, lifting, or sitting. Orthopedic surgeons evaluate and manage these concerns with a range of surgical and non-surgical approaches. Learning what orthopedic surgery covers, as well as which conditions it addresses, can help patients take part in informed discussions about their care.
What Is Orthopedic Surgery?
Orthopedic surgery is a branch of medicine focused on diagnosing, treating, and managing disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The field spans the entire body, from the neck and spine to the shoulders, hands, hips, knees, and feet. Some orthopedic surgeons provide general care for a wide variety of bone and joint concerns, and others focus on a specific region. Spine surgery is one such focus area, addressing problems involving the vertebrae, the discs that cushion them, and the nerves that branch out to the arms and legs.
What Conditions Does It Treat?
An orthopedic surgeon evaluates a broad range of conditions. Conditions in the spine may produce symptoms beyond the back, and this often includes numbness, tingling, or weakness in the limbs. There are many common spine concerns that can be treated, including:
- Herniated or Bulging Discs: The soft inner material of a disc pushes outward and may press on nearby nerves.
- Sciatic Pain: Irritation of the sciatic nerve can cause discomfort that travels from the lower back into the leg.
- Spinal Stenosis: Spaces within the spine narrow, which may place pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.
- Scoliosis: The spine curves sideways in an abnormal pattern.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: Discs gradually lose height and flexibility over time.
- Slipped Disc: One vertebra slips forward over the one beneath it.
Orthopedic care also extends beyond the spine. Surgeons also evaluate fractures and arthritis in various joints.
What Can Orthopedic Surgery Involve?
Treatment planning typically begins with a physical examination and imaging tests, and this may include X-rays or MRI scans. Non-surgical options, including physical therapy, medication, injections, and activity changes, can be part of the initial plan. Surgery may be recommended when these approaches do not provide adequate relief or when a structural problem requires correction.
Minimally invasive surgery uses specialized instruments to perform procedures through small incisions instead of one larger opening. A surgeon may use a tubular retractor to hold soft tissue aside and an endoscope to view the surgical area. Percutaneous techniques involve reaching the spine through the skin with a needle or similar narrow instrument. There are many procedures that are performed this way, and notable ones include:
- Laminectomy: Removal of part of the vertebral bone to create more space for nerves.
- Discectomy: Removal of disc material pressing on a nerve.
- Foraminotomy: Widening of the openings where nerve roots exit the spine.
- Spinal fusion: Joining two or more vertebrae to limit motion between them.
Smaller incisions generally involve less disruption to surrounding muscle and tissue than traditional open surgery.
Consult an Orthopedic Surgeon
Certain symptoms, such as persistent pain, numbness, weakness, or reduced range of motion in the back or neck, may warrant an evaluation. An orthopedic surgeon will review your symptoms, and they can discuss both surgical and non-surgical options. Contact an orthopedic surgeon to learn more about the treatment approaches available for your condition.
