A Day in the Life of an Orthopedic Surgeon
An orthopedic surgeon is a medical professional who operates on the musculoskeletal parts of the body. This can include the bones, knees, hips, joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles. Whether someone was born with a condition that affects these areas or they damaged something during a sporting event or accident, orthopedic surgeons are here to help.
Daily Appointments as an Orthopedic Surgeon
The biggest part of an orthopedic surgeon’s job is consulting with people who have been injured. Depending on where the surgeon works, this could mean consulting with emergency room patients, holding office hours to perform diagnostic physicals, or traveling to different clinics that need their help.
Wherever an orthopedic surgeon works, their job entails helping medical teams decide what’s wrong, how best to fix it and, most importantly, when to fix it. If physical therapy or rehabilitation are required before surgery, an orthopedic surgeon will refer a patient out. If immediate surgery is required, the surgeon will either schedule the patient or refer him or her to a professional who specializes in their condition or injury.
Of course, there’s tons of paperwork and long hours involved in this kind of work, but it’s necessary to help those who are struggling with injuries to their musculoskeletal system. And then, after the daily routine of appointments, imaging and scheduling are done, it’s time to go to surgery.
Surgery Days for Orthopedic Professionals
While many orthopedic surgeons can operate on the musculoskeletal system, many of them have “specialties” when it comes to surgery. That’s why many orthopedic professionals will refer patients to other surgeons if they feel someone else has more expertise with a particular issue or injury.
Once a surgeon has a patient scheduled for surgery, he or she will prepare for surgery like any other surgical professional: by meeting with the patient for a pre-surgical consult. This allows the orthopedic surgeon to get to know the patient, his/her particular situation, and to answer any questions. Then, the day of the surgery, an orthopedic surgeon will get the operating room ready with the team or show up when the room is ready.
During surgery, orthopedic surgeons have a specialized team who know the intricacies of musculoskeletal structures so that the process goes as quickly and smoothly as possible. Some surgeries, such as an arthroscopy, may only take a surgeon 30-45 minutes, allowing them to treat more patients in a day. However, many orthopedic surgeries can take multiple hours, which means a surgeon may only book one or two a day.
Continuing Education for Orthopedic Surgeons
Because the field of medicine is always expanding and improving, orthopedic surgeons must also stay on top of new trends and education. Many orthopedic surgeons work with others in their field to combine their skill sets and specialties to provide the best care for their patients, while others engage in research that advances orthopedic surgery techniques.
Wherever an orthopedic surgeon works or what they specialize in, their days are never boring – and they’re always helping people.
Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201 Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119