What does an orthopaedic traumatologist treat?

An orthopaedic traumatologist is a doctor who simultaneously treats injuries and various pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.

Orthopaedics and traumatology today act as a common direction in medicine. This is a branch of surgery, which is aimed at correcting pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. As a rule, both orthopaedics and traumatology are engaged in one doctor - an orthopaedist-traumatologist.

You should see a traumatologist for the following problems:

• Primary and repeated bone fractures, postoperative complications.

• Periodic and constant pain in the joints, legs and arms, spine, increasing with the arms

• Spinal problems, poor posture.

• Sprains, sportsman's injuries, contusions.

• Deformation of the joints of the hands and feet, their enlargement, redness.

• Abnormal development of the chest, flat feet.

• When walking, pain appeared, all shoes began to pinch.

This list is longer and covers all problems related to joints, bones, joints or most importantly pain or stiffness of movement. One should immediately see a specialist for an examination. If treatment is started in time, you can quickly manage the problem and prevent redness.

Consultation and diagnosis

The initial consultation of an orthopedic traumatologist includes collecting the patient's complaints, clinical examination of the area of the body that brings discomfort and determining its localisation. It is also possible to perform tests aimed at determining the characteristic features and degree of the disease (presence of extra sounds, difficulty in flexion/extension of the joint, swelling).

If necessary, the patient is carried out additional examinations - X-ray, MRI, ultrasound and analyses. It is worthwhile to consult a doctor a second time after receiving the results of analyses.

Urgent appointment to a traumatologist-orthopedist in trauma, includes examination of the damaged area and the performance of necessary interventions: plastering, splints, etc.

After the appointment, examination and consultation, the orthopaedic trauma surgeon may prescribe a diagnostic examination of the patient, the purpose of which is to thoroughly examine the patient's complaint and determine the cause of the complaint.

Depending on the area of examination, the orthopaedic surgeon may prescribe:

• X-rays;

• MRI (soft tissue examination of muscles, ligaments, tendons, soft tissues of joints of muscles)

• CT (study of bone structures in several cross-sections, planes);

• Ultrasound (superficial damage to the structure of the limb);

• Arthrophonography (sounds of friction of parts of the knee joint, which indicates inflammation of the rubbing parts of the knee joint, which indicates fatigue)

• Biomechanical examination (control of movement rhythm, determination of dynamics).

Complex treatment:

• Invasive procedures: intra-articular and periarticular injections (corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid preparations, platelet-rich plasma). Their main effect is to relieve inflammation and pain syndrome;

• Physiotherapy: manual, ultrasound and electrotherapy;

• Massage (stimulates blood circulation);

• Physiotherapy exercises, customised and designed to strengthen muscles;

• Use of orthopaedic products (orthopaedic insoles, foot correctors, bandages, etc.).