Orthopedic Appliances And Their Interesting History

By Chelsea Evans


Orthopedics is a term that refers to the surgical specialty involving the treatment of various bone conditions and diseases. Although doctors have attempted to treat deformed or broken bones and associated diseases for several centuries, orthopedics as a modern specialty has primarily evolved throughout the 20th century. Orthopedic appliances are devices that are used to assist individuals with the aforementioned disorders to have a better quality of life.

The phrase orthopedics is actually two Greek words combined: orthos and paideia. Paideia refers to youngsters and ortho is a word that means to straighten. According to many experts, this is evidence that the first physicians who practiced orthopedics primarily worked on children, probably because of the latter's tendency to experience broken bones.

In 1780, the first orthopedic institute was established by Doctor Jean-Andre Venel. The facility dealt mainly with skeletal deformities in children. Venel is considered by some to be the first orthopedic surgeon.

Orthopedics as a specialty was first introduced in 1803 by Nicholas Andry, a French doctor. He primarily treated bone deformities in children, and also devoted time to those with broken or injured bones in an attempt to restore them to their previous state before the injury occurred. Andry also dedicated a substantial amount of time to research, during which he specifically searched for ways to prevent childhood deformities. His research is widely believed to have initiated what is now called the orthopedic specialty.

In the mid-eighteen hundreds in France, the first plaster of Paris splint was put into use. It was created by a Dutch military surgeon named Antonius Mathysen. However, the use of intramedullary rods to set fractures of the tibia and femur were pioneered by a German doctor named Gerhard Kuntscher. The utilization of such procedures made a considerable difference in the length of time it took injured soldiers to recover during World War Two. The first joint replacement was introduced in nineteen sixty by Sir John Charnley, a scientist from England. By the mid-80s, procedures of this type were the most frequently performed bone surgeries.

Orthopedists in today's modern world treat bone fractures and bone related disorders. They also frequently treat patients with injuries obtained while participating in sports, as well as various types of arthritis. Although they are technically surgeons, they also use nonsurgical procedures and preventative measures, the latter which they teach their patients on a regular basis.

The casework of all bone surgeons is reviewed by the American Board of Orthopedics for the purpose of gathering statistical facts. As of 2008, knee replacement surgery was the most frequently performed orthopedic procedure, followed by cartilage surgery, otherwise known as knee and shoulder arthroscopy, carpal tunnel procedures, and corrective surgery focused on the repair of hip or thigh bone fractures. According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2011 bone surgery took the lead in front of all other surgical specialties. This may indicate that the presence of joint diseases and disorders is on the rise.

Anyone in need of orthopedic appliances should seek the advice of a licensed, qualified professional. Although certain devices of this type can be purchased without a prescription, it is always best to speak to a specialist before making such a selection. Those suffering from bone or joint abnormalities or similar disorders should schedule an appointment with a qualified practitioner as soon as possible.




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