Orthopedics and Traumatology is the surgical discipline dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of both degenerative (such as osteoarthritis) and traumatic (fractures, dislocations, ligament and tendon injuries) pathologies affecting the musculoskeletal system. This complex system includes bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and peripheral nerves. The orthopedist treats patients of all ages, from children with congenital problems to elderly individuals with debilitating arthritis, as well as athletes with acute trauma injuries, adults with work-related overuse conditions, and older adults with fragility fractures (osteoporosis). The therapeutic options are extensive and personalized: ranging from conservative approaches, such as immobilization with casts or braces, physical therapies, cycles of intra-articular injection therapy (with hyaluronic acid, corticosteroids, or growth factors), to cutting-edge surgical solutions. Prosthetic surgery (arthroplasty), which involves the implantation of artificial prostheses, is the treatment of choice for advanced osteoarthritis of major joints such as the hip, knee, and shoulder, allowing for pain elimination and mobility recovery. Minimally invasive surgical techniques like arthroscopy (performed through small incisions with the aid of a camera) enable precise diagnosis and treatment of ligament (e.g., cruciate ligament), cartilage (e.g., meniscus), and tendon (e.g., rotator cuff) injuries, ensuring faster functional recovery. Areas of excellence include hand surgery (carpal tunnel, trigger finger) and foot surgery (bunions).
