Your level of physical fitness varies from time to time at various stages in your life, depending on the kind of activities you do, your lifestyle choices, or your frequency of physical activity. Maintaining physical fitness is paramount for athletes despite frequent accidents or injuries during training. Athletes and people who do frequent physical activities require the services of specialists called orthopaedists. Dr. Patrick S. McNulty is a renowned orthopedic specialist with vast expertise and experience in the field. More about his practice and all it involves is discussed further below.

Who is an Orthopedist?

This medical professional utilizes non-surgical and surgical methods to deal with musculoskeletal problems like joint pain, sports injuries, and back issues. Orthopedics is a medical branch that involves handling the skeletal system and its associated parts, including:

•         Muscles
•         Bones
•         Tendons
•         Joints
•         Ligaments

They typically work together with other health professionals like:

•         Nurse practitioners
•         Physician assistants
•         Athletic trainers
•         Physical and occupational therapists

There are many musculoskeletal issues orthopaedists can deal with. These may be problems you were born with or those that come about due to age-related wear and tear or injury. Some typical issues orthopaedists deal with include:

•         Bone fractures
•         Arthritis causing joint pain
•         Back pain
•         Soft tissue injuries
•         Shoulder pain and issues like bursitis
•         Neck pain
•         Sports injuries due to overuse like meniscus tears, tendinitis, anterior cruciate ligament tears
•         Carpal tunnel syndrome
•         Congenital problems like scoliosis and clubfoot

Treatment options that do not need operations include:

•         Physical therapy and rehabilitation
•         Anti-inflammatory drugs
•         Injections
•         Home exercise programs
•         Mobility aids
•         Acupuncture

Some of the procedures that orthopaedists can do include:

Arthroscopic surgery

This minimally invasive operation involves an arthroscope appliance to identify joint issues. This appliance involves a slender camera that the surgeon introduces to your joint, like the shoulder or knee. The camera has a screen to view the inside of the joint.

Tiny instruments can be used to solve various issues by introducing additional small cuts for access. The most typical surgery is the one on the knee, but it can also treat injuries like ACL and meniscus tears.

Total joint replacement

This surgical operation involves replacing an affected joint with an artificial one made of plastic and metal.

Bone grafting surgery

The orthopaedist strengthens or repairs damaged or diseased bones using bone from somewhere else. This bone can also come from another person.

Fracture repair surgery

A severely broken bone can need repair through an operation by an orthopaedist. They stabilize the bone through several implants involving plates, rods, wires, and screws.

Spinal Fusion

This surgical operation combines adjoining vertebrae in your spine, enabling the vertebrae to heal into one solid bone mass. Spinal fusion can be done for multiple neck or back issues like injuries to the intervertebral or vertebrae disks or scoliosis.

Orthopaedists are vital, especially in physically active people, as their likelihood of injury is higher. These specialists also help to provide ways of preventing the condition from recurring. For questions about orthopaedists, visit us online, or call our offices in Henderson, NV.