What are common orthopedic procedures?

Medical disciplines have their own set of procedures designed to treat their specific area of the body. A prefix often identifies the part of the body involved. Cardiologists have angioplasty, orthopedics have arthroscopy.

Angioplasty is a procedure to remove something blocking an artery and is most common for cardiologists to perform. “Angio” denotes blood or lymph vessels. Meanwhile, “arthroscopy” is a procedure using special cameras and equipment to visualize, diagnose and treat problems inside a joint. “Arthro” means “joint.”

Another example in orthopedics is “osteotomy,” the correction of bone deformity by cutting and re-positioning the bone. “Osteo” means bone.

Arthroscopy and osteotomy are two common procedures in orthopedics that we perform here at Welia Health. Other common orthopedics procedures we perform include:

• Fusion: A “welding” process by which bones are fused together with bone grafts and internal devices (such as metal rods) to heal into a single solid bone.

• Internal Fixation: A method to hold the broken pieces of bone in proper position with metal plates, pins or screws while the bone is healing.

• Joint Replacement: A procedure in which an arthritic or damaged joint is removed and replaced with an artificial joint called a prosthesis. Procedures include partial, total and revisions.

• Soft Tissue Repair: The mending of soft tissue, such as torn tendons or ligaments.

If you have any questions about these or other orthopedic procedures, please contact us at 320.679.1313. As your partner in health, we are here for you.

Resource

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons