Both orthopedics and orthopedics refer to the branch of medicine that deals with the musculoskeletal system. The only difference between the two words is, in fact, their spelling. So which one is the right one? Well, that depends on where you live and who you ask. Here's a brief story to help you get to the bottom of things.
Orthopedic and orthopedic are alternate spellings of the same word. Both words are the adjective form of orthopedics (or orthopedics), which means the branch of medicine that deals with the skeleton and joints.
orthopedics
is the preferred American spelling and orthopedic is the preferred British spelling, but both are correct. Some professional associations, such as the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, choose to use British spelling.An orthopedist meets with patients and diagnoses any problems related to the musculoskeletal system of the body. Whether a patient is struggling with chronic arthritis pain or a sports injury, an orthopedist can help diagnose and treat the problem. An orthopedist can provide braces, splints, casts, and can restore bones when needed. They can provide pre-surgery consultations and help with follow-up and recovery after surgery, recommending patients to seek occupational or physical therapy, but an orthopedist does not perform surgery.
Before talking about individual roles, we must understand what orthopedics means in the first place. Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that is dedicated to the musculoskeletal system, which includes muscles, bones, joints, ligaments and tendons. Because of these different parts of the body and their importance, anyone working in orthopedics often works with other specialists, such as pain management experts and physical therapists, to ensure that the right treatment is provided. There is no difference in these two terms with respect to what they mean.
However, some organizations prefer one spelling over the other. In general, “orthopedics” is considered the most pedantic or academic use of the term, while orthopedics is the most Americanized use of the word. Although orthopedic surgeons will explore non-surgical options first, they can treat and resolve any musculoskeletal problem that requires surgery on the hips, knees, feet, ankles, shoulders, elbows, hands, or spine. Either way, when you see a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, you can be sure that your joint or bone problems will be treated by an experienced, well-qualified doctor who will help you explore your best options from a wide variety of treatments.
An orthopedist can help determine the causes of chronic pain and preventive measures to minimize pain, such as prescribing injections for pain control or referring you to physical therapy after an imaging diagnosis. Orthopedics is often involved in more surgical solutions, while chiropractic looks at the body as a whole and treats the individual for overall health and well-being, using more specific approaches to treatment as needed. To give you a technical answer, then, orthopedics is used in the United States, while orthopedics is used in the United Kingdom. For people struggling with knee, back or joint pain, or an injury that can't heal on its own, an orthopedist can help repair and rehabilitate the problem so you get back on the path to health.
In modern times, orthopedics is a rapidly growing field with new and interesting research and increasingly advanced surgical techniques. Orthopedic surgeons can perform arthroscopy, bone fusion, internal fixation, joint replacement, osteotomy, and soft tissue repair. In general, “orthopedic” is the preferred spelling in the United States, while “orthopedic” is the preferred spelling for British English. Orthopedics deals with conditions that are present from birth, that develop over time, or that appear as a result of trauma or injury.
Orthopedic surgeons are physicians who have completed about 14 years of studies, including medical school, an orthopedic residency, and usually a fellowship in a specific area of orthopedics. Many orthopedic clinics include both, so this may depend on your original evaluation and how your recovery develops. . .