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Orthopedic Appliances And Their Interesting History

By Chelsea Evans


Orthopedics is a term that refers to the surgical specialty involving the treatment of various bone conditions and diseases. Although doctors have attempted to treat deformed or broken bones and associated diseases for several centuries, orthopedics as a modern specialty has primarily evolved throughout the 20th century. Orthopedic appliances are devices that are used to assist individuals with the aforementioned disorders to have a better quality of life.

The term orthopedics is a combination of two Greek words: orthos and paideia. The latter refers to children and the former means to straighten. It is believed that this may be evidence that the first orthopedic doctors primarily practiced on children, possibly because of the tendency of children to experience injuries such as broken bones.

Doctor Jean-Andre Venel established the first orthopedic institute in seventeen eighty. The establishment primarily dealt with abnormalities of the skeletal system in children. He is regarded by certain individuals as the first surgeon in the orthopedic field.

Orthopedics as a specialty in its own right was initially introduced by a French physician named Nicholas Andry at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Doctor Andry mainly treated children with bone deformities, but also devoted studies to restoring individuals with injured or broken bones to a healthy state. He also completed substantial research on the prevention of childhood bone abnormalities. Many individuals believe his studies brought about what is now referred to as the orthopedic specialty.

In 1851, the first plaster of Paris cast was utilized. It was invented by Antonius Mathysen, a Dutch military surgeon. Germany's Gerhard Kuntscher invented the use of something called intramedullary rods, which were used to help heal femur and tibia fractures. Procedures of this type made a considerable difference in how quickly injured soldiers recovered throughout the second world war. In 1960, Sir John Charnley, an English scientist, first introduced joint replacement surgery to the world, and approximately 25 years later, such surgeries were the most common orthopedic procedures performed.

Orthopedists in today's modern world treat bone fractures and bone related disorders. They also frequently treat patients with injuries obtained while participating in sports, as well as various types of arthritis. Although they are technically surgeons, they also use nonsurgical procedures and preventative measures, the latter which they teach their patients on a regular basis.

The American Orthopedics Review Board evaluates casework of all orthopedic surgeons for the purpose of obtaining statistical information. The most commonly performed bone surgery in 2008 was knee replacement surgery. This was followed by carpal tunnel procedures, cartilage surgery, also called shoulder and knee arthroscopy, and corrective surgery focusing on repairing thigh or hip fractures. The Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States reported that in 2011, bone surgery was the most common procedure performed among all surgical specialties. Unfortunately, this may indicate that such disorders are occurring more often than in previous years.

Those who require orthopedic appliances should talk to a licensed specialist. Even though a prescription is not always necessary to purchase devices of this kind, it is in one's best interest to discuss such matters with a doctor prior to making such an investment. Anyone suffering from bone deformities or joint problems should seek the advice of a bone specialist immediately.




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