Orthopedics Unit
Orthopedics is a medical specialty that deals with the musculoskeletal system. An orthopedist is a physician who specializes in treating disorders of the musculoskeletal system - the system of the body that includes bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, skin and any structures related to them.
The orthopedist performs surgery for those conditions requiring it, however AMC orthopedic practice involves much more than surgery. Today, the orthopedist works with people of all ages helping to restore function lost because of disease or injury, correcting birth abnormalities, and educating patients in the prevention of injury and disease. Qualified through years of training to provide many forms of treatment, the AMC orthopedic team uses casts for broken bones; prescribes exercises or medication for musculoskeletal injury or disease; and also performs surgery.
AMC orthopedic surgeons devote their talents to helping patients in four major areas: diagnosis, treatment (including surgery), rehabilitation, and a frequently overlooked practice, prevention.
Once a patient is diagnosed, treatment may include counseling, a simple cast, medication, surgery, or other types of therapy, depending on the condition. Rehabilitation can include exercise or physical therapy: helping the patient restore normal movement and increase bone/muscle strength. Our surgeons also focus on preventive care and talk to patients about avoiding injury and older individuals about fall prevention.
Among the many musculoskeletal conditions that the orthopedist treats most often are such common problems as those caused by injuries from accidents that occur at home, at work, in athletic contests or on the highway. Some of the most frequent of these are: broken bones, torn ligaments, dislocations, sprains, tendon injuries, pulled muscles, ruptured discs and sciatica.
In addition to injuries, the orthopedic surgeon is also an expert in treating more chronic conditions, such as complaints with the back, legs and feet. These include low back pain, scoliosis (curvature of the spine), knock knees or bow legs, bunions and knee malfunction.
Another important aspect of orthopedic practice is the treatment of arthritis and bursitis. Arthritis (joint inflammation) is one of the most common and most disabling disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
The orthopedics unit will have at its disposal a treatment room dedicated to orthopedic surgical procedures. This treatment room will see less complicated yet no less imperative operations. AMC utilizes advances in minimally invasive and arthroscopic technologies allowing rapid recovery from all procedures. The most common arthroscopies that will be performed at AMC are of the knee, shoulder, and wrist. Other joints, which are arthroscoped by some of the specialty surgeons, include the ankle, hip and elbow.