WhatsAppMusculoskeletal Disorders and Trauma Surgery
Orthopaedics and Traumatology is the specialty that covers the diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases and injuries affecting bone, joint, muscle, tendon, ligament and cartilage tissue. Care is provided across a broad clinical spectrum, from the fixation of a fracture after a traffic accident to the treatment of knee osteoarthritis that has developed over many years with a joint replacement, and from sports injuries to the correction of congenital deformities. With 3D planning software, arthroscopic and minimally invasive surgical equipment and a specialist surgical team, the Academic Hospital Orthopaedics and Traumatology department manages both elective and emergency cases. The department works in coordination with sports medicine for sports injuries, with hand surgery for hand and wrist problems, and with physical medicine and rehabilitation for recovery in the postoperative period.
Contents
- What Is Orthopaedics and Traumatology?
- Which Diseases and Conditions Are Treated Surgically?
- When Should You Consult Us?
- Preoperative Assessment and Diagnostic Methods
- Operations and Surgical Procedures Performed
- The Postoperative Period
- Orthopaedics and Traumatology at Academic Hospital
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References
What Is Orthopaedics and Traumatology?
Orthopaedics and Traumatology is the specialty that covers the treatment of diseases and injuries involving all of the structures of the musculoskeletal system, by surgical methods and, where appropriate, by conservative methods. Elective orthopaedics addresses degenerative joint disease, spinal problems and sports injuries, while traumatology focuses on acute injuries such as fractures and joint dislocations. The department works in coordination with physical medicine and rehabilitation and with the orthotics and prosthetics unit in order to support the patient in regaining functional capacity after surgical treatment.
Which Diseases and Conditions Are Treated Surgically?
The Orthopaedics and Traumatology department performs surgical treatment across the broad group of conditions listed below.
- Fractures: acute fractures of all bones and regions (including fractures of the femur, tibia, humerus, radius and vertebrae)
- Joint dislocations and ligament injuries: dislocations of the knee, shoulder and elbow; ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
- Cartilage damage and meniscal tears
- Knee arthritis: advanced knee osteoarthritis causing pain and restricted movement
- Hip arthritis and necrosis of the femoral head: including avascular necrosis
- Spinal disorders: lumbar and cervical disc herniation, spinal stenosis, spinal curvature (scoliosis, kyphosis)
- Rotator cuff tears and shoulder instability
- Tendon ruptures: ruptures of the Achilles tendon, the quadriceps tendon and the biceps tendon
- Disorders of the hand and wrist: carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren contracture, finger fractures
- Foot and ankle: hallux valgus (bunion) surgery, flatfoot (pes planus) surgery, ankle instability
- Bone and soft tissue tumours (primary or metastatic)
- Osteotomies: bone realignment operations performed in order to correct load distribution across a joint
When Should You Consult Us?
Consult the Orthopaedics and Traumatology outpatient clinic in the situations listed below; some of these situations should be assessed through the emergency department.
- Suspected fracture after a fall, a blow or an accident (severe pain, swelling, inability to move the limb)
- Sudden locking of a joint, a dislocation or a feeling of the joint giving way
- Swelling of the knee together with restricted movement (this may indicate a meniscal or ligament injury)
- Progressive pain and restricted movement in the shoulder, knee or hip joint
- Low back or neck pain accompanied by pain, numbness or loss of strength radiating into the leg or the arm
- Difficulty walking, limping, or one leg appearing shorter than the other
- Inability to bear weight after a sports injury, or joint movement that differs from normal
- A painless but enlarging mass around a bone or a joint
- Pain, redness or swelling around an existing implant (suspected implant infection: this requires emergency assessment)
Preoperative Assessment and Diagnostic Methods
Planning for orthopaedic surgery involves a systematic assessment in every case, from a fracture to an elective operation.
| Assessment | Scope |
|---|---|
| Conventional radiography (plain X-ray), CT (with 3D reconstruction for fracture planning), MRI (assessment of soft tissue, cartilage and ligaments) | |
| Full blood count, coagulation, biochemistry, CRP and ESR (to rule out infection) | |
| Used in the assessment of osteoporosis and arthropathy | |
| Joint range of motion, muscle strength, neurovascular status | |
| Implant sizing by digital templating in knee or hip arthroplasty | |
| ASA risk classification, choice between spinal and general anaesthesia | |
| Planning of the postoperative rehabilitation programme in advance |
Operations and Surgical Procedures Performed
The Academic Hospital Orthopaedics and Traumatology department performs the procedures listed below.
| Procedure | How it is performed |
|---|---|
| Fractures are stabilised with an intramedullary nail (IM nail), a plate and screw system or external fixation, depending on the type of fracture and the age and functional status of the patient. In stable, closed fractures a cast or a functional brace may be sufficient; in unstable, comminuted or intra-articular fractures surgical fixation is mandatory. | |
| In advanced knee osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or post-traumatic arthrosis, the damaged joint surfaces of the knee are replaced with metal and polyethylene implants. Implant position is optimised with navigation-assisted or robotically assisted planning. | |
| In hip osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis or a femoral neck fracture, the hip joint is replaced entirely with an implant. Minimally invasive approaches are preferred in order to reduce muscle damage and shorten the recovery period. | |
| These are minimally invasive procedures carried out with a small camera and instruments placed inside the joint. Knee arthroscopy is used for ACL and PCL reconstruction, meniscal repair or partial meniscectomy and cartilage restoration. Shoulder arthroscopy allows rotator cuff repair, repair of a SLAP lesion and shoulder stabilisation. | |
| Microdiscectomy or minimally invasive discectomy is performed for lumbar and cervical disc herniation. Decompressive laminectomy for spinal stenosis, fusion with a screw and rod system for spinal instability, scoliosis correction surgery and vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty also fall within this group. | |
| Carpal tunnel release, tendon repairs, fixation of finger fractures and fasciectomy for Dupuytren contracture are performed. | |
| Correction of hallux valgus (osteotomy), fixation of metatarsal fractures, repair of the ankle ligaments and flatfoot surgery are assessed within this scope. | |
| This is the procedure of cutting and reshaping a bone in order to change load distribution across a joint. It is preferred in early stage knee osteoarthritis, particularly in young patients, in order to postpone a joint replacement. |
The Postoperative Period
Recovery after orthopaedic surgery differs according to the operation performed; however, rehabilitation is started early in every case.
- Knee and hip replacement: standing and walking exercises on the day of surgery or the following day; a hospital stay of 3 to 5 days; a physiotherapy programme of 6 to 12 weeks.
- Arthroscopy: usually a hospital stay of 1 day; return to daily activities within 2 to 4 weeks; after ACL reconstruction, a full return to sport may take 6 to 9 months.
- Fracture fixation: a period of 4 to 12 weeks without weight bearing, depending on the type of fracture; union is monitored with monthly radiographs.
- Spine surgery: a hospital stay of 1 to 2 days after microdiscectomy; physiotherapy begins at 4 to 6 weeks.
- For all patients the first review after discharge is generally in the second to fourth week; imaging at 3 months and at 1 year is planned in order to check the implant.
Book an appointment with the Academic Hospital Orthopaedics and Traumatology department.
Book an AppointmentOrthopaedics and Traumatology at Academic Hospital
The Academic Hospital Orthopaedics and Traumatology department manages elective orthopaedic operations and emergency trauma cases under one roof; preoperative planning, surgery and rehabilitation are followed by a single team. The department works routinely with the following units:
- Sports Medicine: assessment of sports injuries and planning the return to sport
- Hand Surgery: injuries of the hand, wrist and fingers, and nerve compression syndromes
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: delivery of the postoperative rehabilitation programme
- Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery: arthroplasty planning in advanced hip and knee arthritis
- Sports and Knee Injuries: arthroscopic approach in meniscal, cartilage and ligament injuries
- Shoulder and Elbow Surgery: surgery for rotator cuff tears and shoulder instability
- Scoliosis and Spine Center: surgical planning in spinal curvature and disc disease
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions most frequently asked about the Orthopaedics and Traumatology department are given below.
References
The general information given on this page about musculoskeletal disorders, surgical procedures and postoperative recovery is supported by the reliable health sources listed below.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, "OrthoInfo Patient Education", orthoinfo.aaos.org
- National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus), "Knee Replacement", medlineplus.gov
- Mayo Clinic, "Broken Leg: Symptoms and Causes", mayoclinic.org
The information on this page is for general information only; it does not replace medical examination, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a healthcare institution regarding your symptoms.
