Othopedic, or otherwise known as othopaedic surgery focuses on skeletal problems and ligament/tendon attachments. It also deals with areas of the nervous system, particularly damage to the spinal area. These problems can occur at birth, through injury, or because of aging.

Medics who are trained in this field are called othopaedic surgeons or othopedists – both terms are correct to use. ‘Othopedic’ comes from two Greek words ortho, meaning straight and pais, meaning child. Originally orthopedics surgery dealt with bone deformities in children, using braces to straighten the child’s bones. With the improvement in modern surgical techniques, the roles of the othopedist also became more diverse. Surgery of the bone is now included with the associated tissue and nerve details.

Some orthopedic surgeons specialize in one particular aspect of orthopedics, such as hand surgery, joint replacements, or disorders of the spine. Others specialize in trauma medicine and can be found in emergency rooms and trauma centres treating injuries. Often there can be an amount of overlap work with the likes of podiatrists, pediatricians and plastic surgeons. Sports medicine is a rapidly growing area of orthopedics, and many doctors treating sports injuries are also qualified othopedists.

Finding the best othopedist is the most important step in the process of having treatment. Patients looking for a qualified orthopedist should ask if the physician is “board certified” by his or her accrediting organization.

It is advisable to seek the opinion of your GP before consulting with and organization offering the treatment. An appointment should be possible from your doctor with someone in the NHS. If you prefer to use private health care, this is also acceptable.