How to Choose an Orthopedic doctor

Knowing how to choose an orthopedic doctor can put you in a challenging position if you don’t know what you’re looking for. But when you go into the search with referrals, information regarding credentials and specialties and know the right questions to ask about experience, you can choose with confidence. A physician trained in orthopedic medicine is educated in the evaluation and treatment of the musculoskeletal system, that is, all the moving parts of the body. An orthopedic surgeon has been through at least five years of training beyond the four years of college and four years of medical school, with one year in general surgery followed by four years of orthopedic surgery. Orthopedic doctors may be described as doctors or surgeons; with both able to prescribe medication, treatments and orthotics, with the surgeon qualified to operate.

Specialties and Sub-specialties

We are fortunate that orthopedic doctors can choose from a wide range of specialties so that they can best treat our condition. Injuries, congenital conditions, aging and disease can all have an impact on the musculoskeletal system, and soft tissue, bone and joint problems compound the complexity of an orthopedic doctor’s demands. While many sub-specialties exist, the main categories are: foot and ankle, hand, musculoskeletal oncology, orthopedic trauma, pediatric, shoulder and elbow, spine surgery, sports medicine, and total joint reconstruction surgery.

Experience

While the time that orthopedic doctors are in practice is important, it’s important to check into what type of work has been done during that time. If you are searching for an orthopedic surgeon for work on your spine, the North American Spine Association recommends that an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon has at least 50% of his time in the operating room attributed to spine surgery. In addition, to be able to know how to choose orthopedic doctors means knowing about the sub-specialties addressed previously as well as their board certification.

Certification

A rigorous program is required for orthopedic doctors to be board certified. After the nearly 15 years of schooling required for a surgeon and at least eight years for a non-surgeon, he or she must take a standardized exam and then an oral exam which focuses on the doctor’s clinical and surgical performance over the past six months. With board certification, you have the confidence that the doctor has been validated by an authoritative organization – the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in the US and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada.

Referrals Help

Having a referral to an orthopedic doctor will assist you greatly when deciding how to choose from orthopedic doctors. Your primary care physician who first reviewed your condition may have several recommendations for orthopedic doctors. In addition, because 80% of Americans will suffer from some sort of back pain, you may have a friend or family member that can suggest a doctor. Lastly, your local hospital or health insurance agency may have someone to refer you to a qualified physician.

Of course, your first impression when you meet the physician can have an impact on finding the best doctor for your particular condition. With 700 orthopedic doctors completing orthopedic residency every year in the US, you most likely have your choice, and one that is conservative and caring and shows an interest in your success is probably right for you.