Orthopaedic surgeries are surgeries that involve the musculoskeletal system including our hands, shoulders, foot and knees. It is one of the most established arm of surgery and one of the most important. At one point or another in our lives, we will definitely require orthopaedic surgery to deal with issues such as sports injuries, musculoskeletal injuries or degenerative diseases. What are some common procedures performed by orthopaedic surgeons?
Total joint replacement
Due to ageing or diseases, a healthy joint can be damaged and rendered almost useless. In order to regain the full range of motion of a good quality lifestyle, total joint replacement will need to be performed on patients using man-made materials called biomaterials. These biomaterials are biocompatible and will mimic the actions of the actual joint. However, they cannot fully replicate the functions of the original one to a full extent. Wear and tear over a period of time can cause the cartilage to wear off, causing stiffness and pain due to the lack of synovium which helps to reduce friction.
Rotator cuff repair
Rotator cuff repair is performed to repair injured or torn tendons in the shoulder. There is a group of muscles in the shoulder joint forming a cuff, resulting in the name rotator cuff. Our shoulder offers superb flexibility and range of motion but this causes the shoulder joint to be extremely unstable. A slight impact can cause the shoulder “ball” to pop out of the “socket”, resulting in a dislocation. The presence of the tendons will hold the shoulder muscles to the shoulder, preventing any accidental popping out action. Due to injuries or overuse, the tendons can become weak and will not hold as well. Surgery may be performed either as a traditional open surgery or a more modern arthroscopy depending on the extent of the tear. The surgery will fix back the tendon to the shoulder and it will be held together by self-vanishing sutures.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction
There are 4 major ligaments in our knee and one of the most important one is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL is responsible for the overall stability and even surface stress distribution across the knee. It limits the rotational capability of the knee as well as prevents excessive forward motion of the tibia to the femur. The ACL is frequently torn during sporting activities involving high impact and sudden jerks. For example during rugby, the long metal studs from the boots can be still stuck in the soft grass field and an attempt to make a directional change results in the twisting of the knee, instantly tearing the ACL. ACL reconstruction is performed either by open surgery or arthroscopic. The surgeon will remove a tendon from the hamstring and use it as a replacement for the ACL.
Above are 3 of the most common orthopaedic surgeries performed by orthopaedic surgeons worldwide. No matter what surgery you are about to undergo, we wish you a speedy recovery.
