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