Surgical Procedures for Musculoskeletal Issues: Classifications and Potential Recipients
The musculoskeletal system, comprising bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons, plays a crucial role in providing support, stability, and movement. When this system is compromised due to various reasons, musculoskeletal surgery may be necessary to manage symptoms, reduce pain, improve mobility, and restore function.
Common causes of musculoskeletal conditions requiring surgery include acute injuries, degenerative conditions, autoimmune/inflammatory disorders, and congenital or skeletal dysplasias. Acute injuries, such as fractures, dislocations, and severe sprains, can occur due to sports-related injuries or car accidents. Degenerative conditions, like osteoarthritis and tendon degeneration, may cause severe pain and damage over time. Autoimmune/inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can also lead to joint damage and require surgical intervention. Congenital or skeletal dysplasias, hereditary bone growth abnormalities, can affect bone structure and function.
Fractures, a common type of musculoskeletal condition requiring surgical intervention, often require fixation or realignment surgery. Joint injuries, including ligament tears and dislocations, may destabilize joints and impair function. Degenerative joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis, may lead to cartilage loss and joint deformity, often addressed with joint replacement surgery. Soft tissue injuries, like severe tendon or ligament tears, may need surgical repair. Skeletal dysplasias and bone disorders, such as achondroplasia and osteogenesis imperfecta, may require surgery to correct deformities or fragility issues. Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) and recurrent or severe sports injuries, like severe ankle sprains or complex knee injuries, may also necessitate surgery.
Orthopedic surgeons may administer either general or local anesthesia to a person. Surgery is the usual treatment for musculoskeletal cancers such as sarcoma and bone cancer. If left untreated, individuals with these types of cancer may require limb amputation, and the cancer may spread to other areas of the body.
Joint fusion surgery, or arthrodesis, involves fusing two or more bones to reduce pain, limit deformity, improve joint stability, and increase strength. External fixators may be used in severe injuries to keep bones in place. During open surgery, large incisions are made, while during arthroscopic surgery, incisions are small.
Prehabilitation exercises, maintaining a balanced diet, getting restful sleep, reaching a moderate body weight, quitting smoking, and stopping certain medications are steps that may be recommended to ensure faster recovery and better surgery outcomes.
Carpal tunnel release surgery is the surgery people undergo on the wrist and hand in the United States. Osteotomy is a procedure that cuts and reshapes bones to realign joints or correct deformities.
Bacteria can reach the bone through the blood or spread from a nearby infected area to cause osteomyelitis, which can lead to severe pain and permanent bone damage if left untreated. Surgery is the usual treatment for musculoskeletal cancers such as sarcoma and bone cancer. If left untreated, individuals with these types of cancer may require limb amputation, and the cancer may spread to other areas of the body.
In summary, surgery is often indicated for musculoskeletal conditions when there is significant structural damage, instability, deformity, or chronic pain unmanageable by conservative treatments. Musculoskeletal surgery aims to manage symptoms, reduce pain, improve mobility, correct alignment, restore function, and improve overall health and well-being.
Other musculoskeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, may require joint procedures like joint replacement surgery for managing symptoms, reducing pain, and improving mobility. Science has played a significant role in advancing medical-conditions treatment, including the development of new healthcare and wellness practices to ensure faster recovery and better surgery outcomes.
