Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that focuses on the care of the musculoskeletal system. This system is made up of muscles and bones, as well as joints, ligaments, and tendons.A person who specializes in orthopedics is known as an orthopedist. Orthopedists use both surgical and nonsurgical approaches to treat a variety of musculoskeletal issues, such as sports injuries, joint pain, and back problems.

A total joint replacement (TJR), or arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure that replaces the damaged joint with a prosthesis, which usually consists of some combination of metal and plastic.TJR surgery is one of the most commonly performed elective surgeries in the United States.

Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a device called an arthroscope to diagnose joint problems.An arthroscope is a long, thin camera that an orthopedic surgeon will insert into a person’s joint, most commonly the knee or shoulder. The camera is connected to a video monitor that allows them to see the inside of the joint.

Sometimes, an orthopedic surgeon needs to perform an operation to repair a more severely broken bone. To stabilize the bone, they can use a number of different types of implants. These include rods, plates, screws, and wires.

In bone grafting surgery, an orthopedic surgeon uses bone from elsewhere in the body to repair and strengthen diseased or damaged bones.They may also source this bone from another person.

Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that fuses together adjoining vertebrae of the spine. This procedure allows the vertebrae to heal into a single, solid mass of bone.An orthopedic spine surgeon may perform a spinal fusion for a number of back and neck problems, including injuries to the vertebrae or intervertebral disks and scoliosis.

Hyperuricemia occurs when there is too much uric acid in the bloodstream. It does not cause symptoms but can lead to conditions that include gout or kidney stones.The body produces uric acid as a byproduct of the breaking down of purine, a chemical that is in many foods.