When might I need orthopedic surgery?
Complex fractures require immediate surgery to realign and stabilize the bones. Ruptured ligaments seldom regain optimum strength without surgical reconstruction. And other injuries may need surgery as the first treatment because they affect tissues that don’t have a blood supply.
For most orthopedic injuries and conditions, however, orthopedic surgery is the last treatment option. Your provider at Mid Atlantic Orthopedic Associates, LLP, recommends surgery when other treatments, such as immobilization and physical therapy, fail to improve your symptoms.
The musculoskeletal conditions that have a higher chance of needing orthopedic surgery include:
- Arthritis
- Fractures
- Dislocated joints
- Tendon and ligament tears
- Meniscus tears
- Cartilage injuries
- Labral tears
- Rotator cuff tears
- Hip dysplasia
This list is far from comprehensive, but it gives you a general idea of the many orthopedic problems that may ultimately require surgical repair.
What type of orthopedic surgery is arthroscopy?
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique for diagnosing and repairing problems in your joints. Minimally invasive surgery is possible thanks to today’s advanced instruments that are narrow enough to fit through tiny incisions.
By comparison, open surgery requires a long incision. Then the skin, muscles, and other tissues are pulled back to create an opening that’s large enough for the surgeon’s hands and instruments.
The orthopedic surgeons at Mid Atlantic Orthopedic Associates, LLP, can take care of most joint problems using arthroscopic surgery. For example, they can:
- Repair or remove torn cartilage
- Reconstruct ligaments
- Repair or release tendons
- Remove loose bodies in the joint
- Remove infected or injured tissues
- Realign and stabilize fractures
You can have arthroscopic surgery for many conditions affecting virtually every joint, including your knees, shoulders, hips, elbows, wrists, and ankles.
What other types of orthopedic surgery might I receive?
The list of possible orthopedic surgeries is long, but a few of the most frequently performed include:
Joint replacement surgery
Mid Atlantic Orthopedic Associates, LLP, has helped many people overcome arthritis-related pain with knee replacement and hip replacement surgeries.
Foot surgery
From foot and ankle fractures to conditions such as hammertoes, Morton’s neuroma, and a torn Achilles tendon, the team provides comprehensive foot surgery.
Spine surgery
As experts in spine surgery, Mid Atlantic Orthopedic Associates, LLP, performs many different procedures, including:
- Kyphoplasty
- Spinal cord stimulation implantation
- Cervical and lumbar discectomies
- Cervical and lumbar disc replacements
- Cervical and lumbar fusions
- Cervical and lumbar laminectomy
