Editorial
Melissa Mack
Abstract
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics, also spelled orthopaedics, is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors, and congenital disorders. The musculoskeletal system comprises the framework of the body and the mechanics that make it function. While orthopedics focuses on this system specifically, the reality is that just about every medical specialty has some overlap with this specialty. While some orthopedic surgeons undergo additional training to perform specialized types of surgeries, orthopedic surgeons in general spend the majority of their time treating patients outside of the operating room. Most orthopedic specialists have a busy office-based practice. Orthopedic surgeons can also be found working in the emergency room, taking care of patients in hospital wards, or even on the sidelines of sporting events. It takes around 10 years of schooling and training post-college to become an orthopedic surgeon, but it's a highly in-demand specialty. And even after more than a decade of training, many surgeons further sub-specialize within orthopedics. Orthopedic conditions are the most common reason people seek medical care, although not every patient with an orthopedic condition is seen by an orthopedic specialist.