Information about Orthopaedic Surgery

What does an orthopaedic surgeon do?

An orthopaedic surgeon is a medical specialist who diagnoses and treats conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, including the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and related nerves. Treatment may include non-surgical options, such as medication, injections or physiotherapy, as well as surgery when appropriate.

Why might you be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon?

You may be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon if you have a musculoskeletal condition that requires specialist assessment, particularly if symptoms are severe, persistent, caused by an injury, or may require surgical treatment.

When should you see an orthopaedic surgeon?

You may benefit from seeing an orthopaedic surgeon if you have ongoing bone, joint or muscle pain, reduced mobility, a fracture, a sports injury, arthritis, tendon or ligament injury, or symptoms that are affecting daily activities such as walking, sleeping or working.

Seek urgent medical advice or go to A&E if you have severe pain after an injury, visible deformity, inability to bear weight, numbness or weakness, signs of infection such as fever, redness or swelling, or sudden loss of bladder or bowel control with back pain.

Musculoskeletal conditions are common worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, around 1.71 billion people live with musculoskeletal conditions, including low back pain, neck pain, fractures, osteoarthritis and other injuries. A Global Burden of Disease study estimated that there were around 178 million new fracture cases worldwide in 2019.

Why choose an orthopaedic surgeon?

An orthopaedic surgeon can provide specialist assessment and advise on suitable treatment options for musculoskeletal conditions. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may be conservative, such as physiotherapy, medication or injections, or surgical.

Types of patients who see an orthopaedic surgeon

Patients may see an orthopaedic surgeon for fractures, joint pain, sports injuries, arthritis, tendon or ligament injuries, back or neck pain, mobility problems, or symptoms following trauma.

Conditions treated by an Orthopaedic Surgery specialist

Preparing for your appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon

Before your appointment, it can help to bring a list of your symptoms, how long they have been present, any previous injuries or treatments, current medication, allergies, and any relevant scans, X-rays or test results.

Tests or treatments an orthopaedic surgeon may request

Depending on your symptoms, an orthopaedic surgeon may recommend tests such as:

How do I book an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon?

At Top Doctors, you can find experienced orthopaedic surgeons in the UK and book an appointment online with a specialist suited to your condition.

What is the best orthopaedic surgeon centre in the UK?

At Top Doctors we feature leading centres specialising in orthopaedic surgery, with advanced technology and expert medical teams.

Sources

GBD 2019 Fracture Collaborators. (2021). Global, regional, and national burden of bone fractures in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: A systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet Healthy Longevity, 2(9), e580–e592. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8547262/
World Health Organization. (2022). Musculoskeletal health [Fact sheet]. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/musculoskeletal-conditions

Mr Arvind Mohan on BBC