The human musculoskeletal system is made up of the skeleton, consisting of bones, joints and the spine, as well as muscles, tendons and ligaments. The bony skeleton primarily serves to support, secure and shape the body's form and posture. The muscles and tendons are responsible for the mobility and locomotion of the body.
The medical specialty of orthopaedics and trauma surgery deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries and functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Various screening and examination procedures are available for the prevention and diagnosis of various diseases of the joints, bones and spine, including imaging methods such as sonography and magnetic resonance imaging as well as procedures such as bone scintigraphy, bone densitometry and arthroscopy.
Orthopaedic conditions can be treated conservatively, for example with physiotherapy, pain therapy or medication. If conservative treatment is not possible, surgical methods are used.
Within the wide-ranging specialty of orthopaedics and trauma surgery, there are endoprosthetics, foot surgery, hand surgery, knee surgery, hip surgery, shoulder surgery, sports traumatology, orthopaedics, trauma surgery and orthopaedic surgery.orthopaedics, trauma surgery, spinal surgery and orthopaedic rehabilitation, there are several sub-disciplines that specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of diseases of the various parts of the musculoskeletal system.
Experts in orthopaedics, for example, deal with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the bones, joints, muscles and tendons such as osteoarthritis (e.g. knee osteoarthritis), rheumatism or osteoporosis, while trauma surgery experts are often confronted with accident-related damage to the human organ system and musculoskeletal system, such as bone and joint fractures and injuries to muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Arthroplasty experts specialize in replacing diseased, injured or destroyed joints with an endoprosthesis, i.e. an artificial joint. Their task is therefore the implantation of artificial joints such as knee prostheses, hip prostheses, shoulder prostheses, elbow prostheses or ankle prostheses. The aim of arthroplasty is to eliminate pain and restore the mobility and functionality of the joint in question.
Intervertebral disc operations or operations to treat a spinal fracture or spinal canal stenosis are usually performed by spinal surgery experts. They focus on the surgical treatment of degenerative, accident-related, inflammatory or tumorous diseases and injuries of the spine and intervertebral discs.
Foot surgery experts specialize in the detection and treatment of congenital and acquired diseases and deformities of the foot. Their main areas of treatment therefore include foot and toe deformities such as hallux valgus, hallux rigidus and hammertoes. The primary aim of foot surgery is to restore the functionality of the foot and make it pain-free. If conservative treatment of foot disorders, for example with insoles or physiotherapy, is no longer possible, a foot surgeon will perform an operation.
Experts in shoulder surgery focus on the surgical treatment of accident-related and degenerative shoulder conditions. These include osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, which can be treated by implanting a shoulder prosthesis, for example.
Sports traumatology experts specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of all diseases and injuries to the musculoskeletal system caused by sports accidents. Their main areas of treatment include ligament and tendon injuries such as cruciate ligament ruptures, bone fractures and tennis elbow.
Experts in orthopaedic rehabilitation focus on the rehabilitation of illnesses and injuries to the musculoskeletal system.
