Are you suffering from a chronic condition like osteoporosis or arthritis? Do you have a joint, muscle, or bone injury? If so, you should see an orthopedic surgeon. Orthopedists treat musculoskeletal problems, such as joint and spine injuries. Here are six interesting facts about these specialists. Don’t select one to help you until you read the following information!Orthopedists treat arthritis, dislocated or broken bones, sports injuries, and osteoporosis. They treat infections, fractures, tumors, pulled tendons or muscles, sprains, strains, knee and hip problems, and bursitis. In addition, orthopedists treat back pain, nerve diseases, and shoulder injuries. They also see many patients with rotator cuff or carpal tunnel injuries. The work an orthopedic surgeon does depends on the specialty they select.Orthopedists see patients in a variety of practice settings. Many orthopedists work for themselves. Some orthopedists work in schools, hospitals, and outpatient ambulatory surgical centers. Other orthopedists practice in groups. In some cases, three to ten orthopedists work together, seeing each other’s patients. Some work together with other professionals, such as doctors of internal medicine, family physicians, and cardiologists.Orthopedic surgeons are highly educated. They must complete a four-year bachelor degree, four-year medical degree, an internship, and residency training. Many orthopedists spend an additional a year in training in a subspecialty. Examples of orthopedic subspecialty training in the U.S. are spine surgery, foot and ankle surgery, hand surgery, pediatric orthopedics, shoulder and elbow surgery, musculoskeletal oncology, and total joint reconstruction.An orthopedic surgeon uses a variety of diagnostic tests to help identify the specific nature of a patient’s musculoskeletal condition or injury. Some of the most commonly used diagnostic tests for musculoskeletal conditions and injuries include arthrography, blood tests, bone scans, CT scans, MRIs, Electromyography, muscle tests, joint aspiration and analysis, flexibility tests, and others. Orthopedic specialists are experts in surgical and non-surgical treatments for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Although orthopedic specialists spend a lot of time performing surgery, they also prescribe other types of rehabilitative treatments for individuals with musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. Some examples of orthopedic procedures are hip replacement surgery, knee replacement surgery, hand surgery, elbow surgery, shoulder surgery, and others.Orthopedists must be licensed to practice medicine. They also need to complete continuing education on a regular basis to upgrade their skills and maintain their license. Board certification demonstrates a doctor’s exceptional expertise in a particular specialty or subspecialty of medical practice. Keep in mind that board certification is voluntary. Don’t suffer from unnecessary pain. Locate an orthopedic surgeon in your area.