In addition, Orthopedic clinicians and surgeons use a wide range of orthopedic medical devices to diagnose and treat their patients. These can be invasive in nature — such as an arthroplasty (surgical instrument reconstruction) or may consist of simple rehabilitation exercises.
Orthopedic clinicians play a valuable role in the medical sector. As humans, we rely on our musculoskeletal system for close to every task or activity we undertake. From playing sports to sitting at a desk chair, it is our bones, muscles, and ligaments that do the (literal and figurative) heavy lifting to keep our body functioning.
Common disorders that orthopedists treat include the Maximum Joint Health Benefits
- Joint pain resulting from arthritis
- Fractures
- Soft tissue injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Sports-related injuries
- Congenital disorders
What Types of Devices Does an Orthopedic Surgeon Use?
As is the case with any type of medical professional, orthopedic clinicians and surgeons rely on a wide range of tools to diagnose and treat their patients.
For any type of surgery, an orthopedist will utilize standard operating room products. These include surgical helmet systems, skin adhesives, sterile tourniquets, patient support systems, and cold compression therapy. Such products are known as consumables and must be on hand for surgeons to carry out their work effectively and efficiently. These consumables often come pre-packed in operational procedural kits, making it simple for healthcare facilities to keep track of stock levels.
In addition to consumable products, orthopedists frequently make use of capital equipment to diagnose their patients. An x-ray machine, for example, is commonly used to provide an in-depth look at the skeletal system, enabling doctors to make informed decisions about treatment options.
Orthopedic injuries can be painful, whether the patient is suffering from a chronic disorder, such as arthritis, or an acute injury, like a broken bone as such, pain management tools and therapies play a valuable role in the treatment of orthopedic patients. Such tools include anesthesia itself, alongside equipment that enables the medication to be delivered safely and hygienically.
Finally, as is the case for all healthcare specialties, infection control is a predominant concern for clinicians and nurses working in the orthopedic sector. This is particularly true when it comes to patients that are recovering from surgery. Hospital disinfection products are required to ensure that the operating room and recovery areas are kept pathogen-free, reducing the risk of infection for both patients and healthcare workers alike.
The Future of Orthopedics
The field of orthopedics has progressed tremendously over the past few decades. Whilst previously, arthritis may have meant that you suffered pain in your joints for years on end, there is now a range of technologies that can be used to alleviate suffering and help patients look towards a brighter future.
Biologic is an excellent example of such technology
A biologic is a type of drug product from a living organism that is used to treat a variety of diseases and a vaccine is an example of a biologic. About the orthopedic sector, biologics are often used to treat arthritis and other degenerative diseases that attack the musculoskeletal system.
Moreover, biologics are often prescribed in situations where previous treatments and therapies have not to work. They target the immune system and reduce the likelihood of inflammation occurring, which provokes the pain associated with arthritis. There are four different types of biologics to treat arthritis; B-cell inhibitors, interleukin inhibitors, selective co-stimulation modulators, and TNF inhibitors.
Biologic do not work for everyone, which is why it is very important that patients have open and honest discussions with their treating physician before considering this as a treatment option.
There are many other innovations in the orthopedic sector that have led to improved quality of patient care. For example, the development of robotic technology has enabled surgeons to perform operations with increase precision, at a level that was never thought possible a few decades ago.
Medical Equipment manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to improve the quality of their orthopedic medical devices, which in turn has a direct impact on the level of patient care that clinicians can provide. Such innovations expect to continue, leading to decrease recovery times and improve diagnostic ability.