Interesting Facts And Information About Orthopedic Appliances

By Chelsea Evans


Orthopedics is a word used to refer to the surgical specialty that involves bones and joints, as well as conditions or abnormalities that may affect these parts of the body. Although physicians have attempted to treat bone fractures, joint deformities, and similar conditions for thousands of years, it was not until the twentieth century that orthopedics evolved as a primary specialty. Orthopedic appliances are sometimes used to help patients with the aforementioned conditions to enjoy a better quality of life.

The term orthopedics is a combination of two Greek words: orthos and paideia. The latter refers to children and the former means to straighten. It is believed that this may be evidence that the first orthopedic doctors primarily practiced on children, possibly because of the tendency of children to experience injuries such as broken bones.

Doctor Jean-Andre Venel established the first orthopedic institute in seventeen eighty. The establishment primarily dealt with abnormalities of the skeletal system in children. He is regarded by certain individuals as the first surgeon in the orthopedic field.

Orthopedics as a specialty was first introduced in 1803 by Nicholas Andry, a French doctor. He primarily treated bone deformities in children, and also devoted time to those with broken or injured bones in an attempt to restore them to their previous state before the injury occurred. Andry also dedicated a substantial amount of time to research, during which he specifically searched for ways to prevent childhood deformities. His research is widely believed to have initiated what is now called the orthopedic specialty.

In 1851, the first plaster of Paris cast was utilized. It was invented by Antonius Mathysen, a Dutch military surgeon. Germany's Gerhard Kuntscher invented the use of something called intramedullary rods, which were used to help heal femur and tibia fractures. Procedures of this type made a considerable difference in how quickly injured soldiers recovered throughout the second world war. In 1960, Sir John Charnley, an English scientist, first introduced joint replacement surgery to the world, and approximately 25 years later, such surgeries were the most common orthopedic procedures performed.

Orthopedists in today's modern world treat bone fractures and bone related disorders. They also frequently treat patients with injuries obtained while participating in sports, as well as various types of arthritis. Although they are technically surgeons, they also use nonsurgical procedures and preventative measures, the latter which they teach their patients on a regular basis.

The American Orthopedics Review Board evaluates casework of all orthopedic surgeons for the purpose of obtaining statistical information. The most commonly performed bone surgery in 2008 was knee replacement surgery. This was followed by carpal tunnel procedures, cartilage surgery, also called shoulder and knee arthroscopy, and corrective surgery focusing on repairing thigh or hip fractures. The Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States reported that in 2011, bone surgery was the most common procedure performed among all surgical specialties. Unfortunately, this may indicate that such disorders are occurring more often than in previous years.

Anyone in need of orthopedic appliances should seek the advice of a licensed, qualified professional. Although certain devices of this type can be purchased without a prescription, it is always best to speak to a specialist before making such a selection. Those suffering from bone or joint abnormalities or similar disorders should schedule an appointment with a qualified practitioner as soon as possible.




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