Orthopedic surgery, or orthopedics, focuses on the treatment of the musculoskeletal system. That includes bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, and even the skin.
There are many different types of orthopedic surgery that can treat anything from a birth defect to an injury to arthritis. Below are some of the more common types of orthopedic surgery procedures.
5 Common Orthopedic Surgery Options
Hip replacement surgery
The hip is made up of a ball and socket, which accumulate a lot of wear and tear over the course of a lifetime. The cartilage in the hip breaks down as we age and as a result, hip replacement surgery is a very common type of orthopedic surgery among older adults. During the procedure, the natural ball and socket are replaced with metal or plastic ones.
Knee replacement or arthroscopic surgery
A total knee replacement surgery involves replacing the entire knee with metal components. Partial replacement requires only the damaged parts of the knee to be replaced. Knee arthroscopy is a common type of orthopedic procedure that uses a tiny camera to find and correct minor problems within the knee.
Shoulder and rotator cuff surgery
Replacement surgeries to the shoulder and rotator cuff are much much like hip and knee replacement surgery. Metal parts are used to replace the entire ball and socket that make up the shoulder (total replacement) or just the damaged parts (partial replacement). Arthroscopic procedures are a minimally invasive way of “cleaning up” damaged cartilage without installing any artificial parts.
Hand and wrist surgeries
Because the hands and wrists are used so often in everyday life, they are vulnerable to damage through injuries, wear and tear, and arthritis. Fractures and dislocations to the wrist, hand or fingers, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome are some of the problems that can be rectified with orthopedic surgery.
ACL surgery
The ACL, or Anterior Cruciate Ligament, is one of the major ligaments in the knee and one that is often damaged or torn when playing sports. This type of orthopedic procedure involves taking a tendon from another part of your body and using it to build a new ACL for your knee.
Schedule Your Consultation
To learn more about any of the common types of orthopedic surgery procedures listed above or to see how our team can address your problem, schedule a consultation today. Carolina Center for Surgery is your source for orthopedic surgery in Jacksonville, NC, and we offer a number of different procedures to help you restore your quality of life.