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Orthopedic & Spine Surgery

Orthopedic surgeons perform operations to correct deformities of the skeletal and muscular systems. Neurosurgeons perform surgery on the nervous system, which sometimes involves operations on the spine. Both orthopedic and spine surgery have several purposes, but they also have risks.

  1. Types

    • Types of orthopedic surgery include knee replacement, hip replacement, limb amputations and operations to repair broken bones. Types of spine surgery include discectomy, lumbar fusion, laminectomy and kyphoplasty, as reported by the Anne Arundel Medical Center.

    Function

    • Surgeons perform orthopedic and spine surgery to treat disorders and injuries of the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments or spine. Sometimes, surgeons cannot repair underlying disorders or injuries. In these cases, surgeons use surgical procedures to alleviate the symptoms of an orthopedic or spine problem.

    Risks

    • All surgical procedures have risks, especially when the patient undergoes general anesthesia. General surgical risks include blood clots, excessive bleeding, infection, breathing problems, allergic reactions, heart attack, stroke, nausea and vomiting, according to the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Specific risks of orthopedic and spine surgery include nerve damage, surgical site inflammation and damage to the spinal cord. Site inflammation may occur when a surgeon uses pins or wires to immobilize a bone.

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