Orthopedic Surgery
When you can’t move properly, interventions are needed to fix the problem and restore your function. Non-surgical treatments are often all that’s needed for many movement-related issues, but certain situations may require surgery to improve. At the Westfield Orthopedic Group, Dr. Shaw, Dr. Krell and Dr. Choi have the breadth of experience in orthopedic surgery necessary to guide you through this sensitive process and help you determine if it’s the right path.
Orthopedics is a field of medicine dedicated to addressing musculoskeletal disorders. The musculoskeletal system includes bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons. Any condition that affects one of these structures—like a broken wrist, torn rotator cuff, or sprained ankle—is considered a musculoskeletal disorder. An orthopedic surgeon (or orthopedist) is a physician whose goal is to preserve or restore each patient’s musculoskeletal system by doing the following:
- Accurately diagnose the injury or disorder
- Treat the condition with the most appropriate interventions
- Prevent future complications from occurring
How we decide—together—if you need surgery
Many injuries and painful conditions can be effectively managed without surgery, and this depends on several important factors. The first is reaching an accurate diagnosis, which is why we carefully evaluate each patient during their initial visit to develop a clear picture of the problem and how it’s affecting their life. This will include a thorough physical examination and some questions about the history with the issue, which may be followed by some additional tests like an X-ray or MRI.
Once the diagnosis has been reached, we then discuss all the possible treatment options, and the risks/benefits associated with each. In most cases, there may be several treatments available, and we will carefully go over each of these to help you make an informed decision. Non-surgical treatments, like exercise, medications, and physical therapy, may be recommended at first. If these interventions don’t lead to significant improvements, or if the injury is too severe, surgery may be recommended to treat the condition.
A brief overview of our orthopedic procedures
The goal of surgery is to quickly correct the damage to the musculoskeletal system and help restore the function that has been lost. If our orthopedic surgeon suggest surgery, this will include a discussion of what you can realistically expect from the procedure, the recovery and rehabilitation required, and any associated risks. We perform a variety of surgical procedures, but some of the most common are the following:
- Internal fixation: a method to hold broken pieces of bone together in the correct position with metal plates, pins, or screws so it can heal properly
- Soft tissue repair: this technique mends soft tissues (like ligaments and tendons) that have been harmed through injury
- Common examples include ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair, and rotator cuff repair
Some of our surgical procedures can be performed with arthroscopy, which is considered “minimally invasive” because it uses small holes to guide a camera and surgical instruments to correct the problem. Others will require larger incisions depending on the location and severity of the injury, but we will always aim for the least invasive option and explain the reasoning behind each with you.
Let us help you restore your function
If a musculoskeletal issue is holding you back and you’d like to make it right, the Westfield Orthopedic Group can provide the solution to restore your function. To get started on your path to recovery or learn more about our services, please call us at 908-232-3879 or fill out an appointment request form.