A licensed orthopedist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal complications. Many patients visit hospitals to get solutions for their conditions relating to the bones, muscles, and joints. The role of experts in orthopedics is therefore to care for patients who may have problems with their bones, body joints, ligaments, or tendons.
These are common situations, especially in the elderly, and sportspeople such as athletes. In order to be a qualified orthopedic surgeon, one has to graduate from a medical school and get a substantial level of experience before practicing. One becomes qualified after approval by the board.
Which Conditions Do Orthopedists Address?
The conditions addressed by an orthopedic surgeon vary from one case to another. However, in most cases, patients who go for orthopedic treatment experience chronic or acute pain because of some injury or systemic disease. Chronic conditions are more likely to result from a disease condition that is already present in the body of the patient.
Such conditions may include arthritis, lower back pain or other conditions, which may lead to chronic pain. The conditions may also develop because of an injury that occurs at birth, as in the case of dystrophy or clubfoot. For patients with acute pain, this will require urgent attention and services of an orthopedic surgeon. Such conditions may include fractures, muscle pulls and others. In the hands of an expert, patients suffering from such conditions can receive adequate treatment.
Some Facts About the Human Bones
Right from birth, the body of a human contains three hundred bones. However, as one grows to adulthood, the number of bones decreases to 206. Some of the bones merge into a single piece. The only fully developed bone at birth is found in the ear. Ironically, it is the smallest bone in the human body—the stapes bone.
A human bone has the same strength as granite, especially when it comes to supporting weight. A small piece of bone the size of a matchbox can support up to nine tons of weight. The strongest bone in the human body is the thigh bone—ironically, it’s hollow.
Every second, the bone marrow generates up to 2 million red blood cells. The bones in the body of an adult account for 14% of the total body weight. More than half of the bones in the human body are found in the hands and feet.
With these facts, it is easy to see how orthopedic specialists perform important tasks on the human body. When choosing a musculoskeletal specialist, it is advisable to consult widely to discover various providers in your area. Specialists for orthopedics in the Fox Valley, from Green Bay, to Appleton, to Oshkosh are available in mainstream medical facilities and independent outlets.
If you would like to request a consultation with one of the orthopedic specialists at the Orthopedic & Sports Institute (OSI), please call (920) 560-1000 or request an appointment online. OSI is Northeast Wisconsin’s exclusive provider of Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery for Hips & Knees. OSI has convenient locations to serve you. In addition to the flagship facility in Appleton, you will find outreach clinics in New London, Ripon, Shawano, Waupaca, and the newest location serving the Green Bay area, inside the NOVO Health Clinic in De Pere. The Appleton location also has a walk-in clinic that provides care for new orthopedic injuries.
OSI is a proud member of NOVO Health.