Orthopaedic services involve the treatment of injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. They use surgical and nonsurgical methods to address musculoskeletal trauma and conditions, including sports injuries, degenerative diseases, tumors, and congenital disorders. Read on to find out more about the types of procedures available at your local orthopaedic clinics.
Office visits to orthopaedic surgeons
An office visit to an orthopaedic surgeon will help you understand your condition and determine the Dr Navi Bali appropriate treatment. While some conditions aren’t diagnosed immediately, they may be treatable with medication, physical therapy, or surgery. Your orthopedic surgeon will ask questions about your history and symptoms, and may perform tests and physical exams to get a more accurate diagnosis.
An orthopaedic evaluation comprises 3 key components: history, physical examination, and medical decision-making. Additionally, you may receive counseling to help you understand the diagnosis and treatment plan. The history component includes your chief complaint, current illness, and review of systems.
Waiting times for orthopaedic surgery
The current waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery are among the longest in the country. As of March 31, there were 25,526 people waiting for treatment. These waits are caused by a lack of standardisation and transparency in the process. In addition, some clinicians are able to pre-empt patients’ future status to make up for the excessive waiting lists. Although this practice is not ethically questionable, it adds a layer of complexity to the problem of excessive waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery.
Since 2007, the number of patients waiting more than 26 weeks for orthopaedic surgery in England has decreased. However, it has steadily risen from a low of 10% in 2013 to 25 percent by 2019. In Wales, waiting times have risen from 12% in 2009 to 35% in 2019.
Need for orthopaedic surgery in older people
Frailty is a key risk factor for fractures among older patients. These patients usually have complex health issues, increased dependence on caregivers, and comorbidities. As a result, they face additional challenges in the acute care setting. Patients with frailty are more likely to require longer hospital stays, have more complication rates, and have lower chances of returning home within 30 days after their hip fracture.
Patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery must make sure that their homes are safe and conducive to healing. Some seniors already have balance and mobility issues, so it is crucial to ensure that the home environment is safe for them during the recovery process. Falls or trips after orthopaedic surgery are dangerous for anyone, but even more so for older patients.
Need for orthopaedic surgery in those with low SES
There is a growing demand for orthopedic care, especially among patients with low socioeconomic status. As health care coverage expands, so does the need for orthopaedic care for this population. This article provides a scoping review of the literature on the topic of rotator cuff repair surgery among individuals with low SES.
As the burden of musculoskeletal disease and injury increases globally, low-income countries are the most affected. These countries have limited health-care capacity and infrastructure. As a result, orthopaedic surgeons are increasingly looking for humanitarian opportunities. While many of these initiatives provide significant short-term benefits, their primary focus must be on training local surgeon-leaders in low-income countries.