Orthopaedia
Orthopaedic (sometimes spelled Orthopedic) surgery addresses and
attempts to correct problems that arise in the skeleton - the
ligaments, joints, muscles and tendons. It may also include some
problems of the nervous system, such as those that arise from the
spine or the peripheral nervous system. These problems can occur at
birth, through injury, or as the result of aging. They may be
acute, as in an accident or injury, or chronic, as in many problems
related to aging.
The word ‘orthopaedia’ was devised by a Parisian paediatrician,
Nicholas Andry, who was Professor of Medicine at the University of
Paris and also Senior Dean of the Faculty of Physick. In 1741 he
published a book entitled ‘Orthopaedia: or, The Art of Correcting
and Preventing Deformities in Children. By such means that may be
easily put into Correcting and Preventing Deformities in Children.
By such means that may easily be put into practice by parents
themselves and all such as are employed in Educating Children’. In
the preface he stated: “As to the title, I have formed it of two
Greek words orthos, straight and pais, a child. Out of the two
words I have compounded that of Orthopaedia to express in one term
the design I propose which is to teach the different methods of
preventing and correcting the deformities of children”. His method
for correcting excessive curvature of a child’s leg was “to apply
as soon as possible a small plate of iron on the hollow side of the
leg and fasten it about the leg with a linen roller. In a word, the
same method must be used in this case, for recovering the shape of
the leg, as is used for making straight the crooked trunk of a
young tree.”
Hence, the symbol of Orthopaedic Surgery is the Andry
Tree - a bent sapling lashed to a straight post.
Andry believed that crooked legs in young children were frequently
the result of allowing them to walk too soon, and he advised,
"Above all, the Girls should not be allowed to make a Courtesy,
before they are five years old."
With the development of anesthesia and an understanding of the
importance of aseptic technique in surgery, Orthopedic surgeons
extended their role to include surgery involving the bones and
related nerves and connective tissue. As the fields of materials
science grew, more and more "man made" implants have been used in
Orthopaedics. Today and in the future, the science of tissue
engineering will allow further advances in restoration of
function.
The terms Orthopaedic surgeon and Orthopaedist are used
interchangeably today to indicate a medical doctor with special
training and certification in orthopaedics.
There are many areas of subspecialty of Orthopaedic surgery
including Spine, Hand, Elbow, Shoulder, Total Joint Replacement,
Foot and Ankle, Pediatrics, Sports Medicine, Musculoskeletal
Oncology, and Trauma. The range of treatments provided by
Orthopaedists is extensive, and too numerous to be inclusive here.
They include procedures such as traction, amputation, fracture
care, hand reconstruction, spinal fusion, arthroscopy, and joint
replacements. They also treat strains and sprains, broken bones,
and dislocations.
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