Orthopaedics
At Women & Children’s Hospital, our physicians and staff provide comprehensive orthopaedic services on an inpatient and outpatient basis. We offer a very wide range of services and have a very active orthopaedic surgery staff.
Orthopaedists treat a wide variety of medical problems. Among the many procedures that Women & Children’s Hospital orthopaedists perform are:
- setting broken bones and putting on casts or splints
- treating joint conditions (dislocations, slipped disks, arthritis, and back, shoulder, and neck problems)
- treating bone tumors and birth defects of the skeleton
- treating conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis
- surgically repairing or replacing, hip, knee, elbow, shoulder or finger joints
- Some orthopaedists specialize in the treatment of one or several areas such as the foot, hand, shoulder, spine, hip or knee; others specialize in orthopedic pediatrics, trauma or sports medicine.
Making Appointments with an Orthopaedist
You can see an orthopaedist either through a self-referral or by referral from another physician. Also, you may receive treatment by an orthopaedist if you arrive at our Emergency Room as a result of an accident or illness.
Diagnosing the Problem
Before any treatment or rehabilitation protocol can be established, it is important that your doctor determine the reason for, and source of, your condition. Generally this means you will have a complete physical examination and you and the physician will discuss your general medical history. In addition, your orthopaedist will want to discuss the complete history and description of the symptoms related to your orthopaedic difficulties. Be sure to include information about any other illnesses, injuries, or complaints that have been associated with the pain or condition, as well as previous treatments and medicines prescribed. Diagnostic tests may then follow, including blood tests and/or X-rays.
Treatment
After making a diagnosis, your physician may prescribe medication, an exercise program, surgery or a combination of those. For most orthopedic conditions there is more than one form of treatment, which may include physical therapy.
Orthopaedic patients have benefited from technological advances such as joint replacement and the arthroscope that allows the orthopaedist to look inside a joint. Surgery is frequently done in a same-day operating room that makes it possible for you to go home within hours of having your surgery.
After Orthopaedic Surgery
If your orthopedist recommends that you have surgery, he or she might prescribe rehabilitative exercises or physical therapy to help you restore movement, strength and function to the surgery site. At your post-surgery appointments, you will discuss ways to prevent further damage to the diseased or injured area.
The Joint Center
Choosing to have joint replacement surgery is a big decision. That’s why the staff and physicians at WCH have designed our joint replacement program to meet the needs of our patients - helping them to regain and maintain their independence as soon as possible after surgery.
Inpatient Joint Center Recovery Room |
In addition to our affiliated surgeons, the joint center team consists of a diverse group of skilled professionals including anesthesiologists, physical and occupational therapists, discharge planners, specially trained nurses and a joint center coordinator who will work with you and your loved ones throughout the process before and after surgery. All patients are encouraged to attend a pre-surgery class that not only educates the patient, but their caretaker as well. In this class, the Joint Center coordinator reviews everything from how a patient should prepare their home for their return, to post-operative exercises that can enhance the recovery process.
While recovering in the hospital, all Joint Center patients receive personalized care. You will receive specialized attention from the physical therapy department who will provide your therapy sessions both in your room and in the rehabilitation unit conveniently located on the same floor as your inpatient recovery room. All rooms are private and are equipped with a flat-screen TV for you to enjoy while you recover.
Call 337-475-4723 for more information about our orthopaedic services and the Joint Center. Visit the Find A Physician tab to find an orthopaedic specialist near you.