If you suffer pain from sports injuries or in your neck, hips, knees or back you might benefit from the services of the best orthopaedic surgeon in Sydney. These doctors help with ailments of the musculoskeletal system. They help provide a proper diagnosis and offer patients the most appropriate treatment for ailments affecting the joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves.

While their education makes them familiar with all the functions of the musculoskeletal system, many of these surgeons specialize in specific areas of the body. Some focus on the hands or feet and ankles while others work with the spine, elbows, knees or hips. Some specialize in injuries due to trauma while others might work in areas including pediatrics, bone cancer or reconstructive surgery.

Orthopedists treat patients from newborn babies to the elderly. They work with fractures, muscle tears, joint disorders and connective tissues. When working with the doctor, patients and their families should develop a partnership. This helps to ensure the patient’s preferences, needs and values are honored.

While surgery is one tool in treating these conditions, the doctor sometimes treats conditions with other alternatives. He might prescribe medication, suggest therapeutic exercises or offer other therapies. Often surgery is reserved as a last resort when other treatments do not help to alleviate the issues.

The orthopedic surgeon might help with back pain by repairing a ruptured disk or removing pressure from the sciatic nerve to help with sciatica. If an athlete injures a knee in a football game, surgeons repair the injuries to speed healing. If an elderly patient falls and breaks a hip, surgeons make repairs that reduce the pain and help the fracture to heal correctly. If wear and tear cause pain in the knee or hip, the doctor might replace the joint with an artificial implant.

While some conditions require traditional open surgery, advances in technology allow the repair of many injuries through arthroscopy. This type of surgery uses special cameras and tools to minimize incisions, scarring and healing time. Surgeons sometimes use fusion to weld broken bones together using grafts and metal rods so the fracture forms a single bone again. They might use screws, pins and metal plates to ensure proper positioning of bones as they heal. They also make repairs of the soft tissues including torn ligaments and tendons.

Because there are often options for treating orthopedic conditions, the best way to determine the appropriate option is to speak with your surgeon. He can provide the physical examination of the injured area while reviewing your previous tests and records. The surgeon then discusses these options with the patient and helps determine the best one for his or her lifestyle.