Orthopaedics

Orthopedics focuses on diagnosing, treating and preventing disorders, injuries and deformities of bones, joints, muscles and associated nerves. Orthopedic physicians use surgical and non-surgical methods. Conditions and treatments include fractures, including complex and compression fractures, treated with surgery or conservative measures such as casting; joint problems such as arthritis, synovitis, meniscal tears and dislocations, treated with medicines, physical therapy or surgery; spinal disorders and spinal cord injuries, including spinal deformity, disc herniation and spinal tuberculosis, treated surgically or non-surgically; and muscle strains, ligament injuries and tendinitis, usually treated with physical therapy or surgery. Congenital deformities such as scoliosis and neck deformity may require surgical correction. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) orthopedics focuses on bone and joint conditions and uses acupuncture, herbal medicines, therapeutic massage, cupping and moxibustion. The hospital describes acupuncture as adjusting qi and blood to promote self-healing, and massage, cupping and moxibustion as methods to ease pain, improve circulation and relax muscles. TCM orthopedics is used for fractures, arthritis, lumbar disc herniation, sprains and muscle strains, as well as pain management and rehabilitation; in some countries it is combined with Western orthopedics.