Overview
Duties and Responsibilities
Orthopedic surgeons do much more than perform surgeries. Diagnosing patients and recommending non-surgical treatments also falls under their umbrella of responsibilities. We analyzed a plethora of orthopedic surgeon job descriptions to compile the following list of expected duties:
Interview Patients for Symptom Information
Orthopedic surgeons must be good listeners and have the ability to build rapport with patients. This encourages patients to be honest about their symptoms and helps facilitate an accurate diagnosis.
Analyze Patient Injuries
Once basic symptom information is gathered, orthopedic surgeons perform an examination of the injury to determine if further diagnostic testing is necessary. If an X-ray or MRI is deemed necessary, patients are sent to the corresponding technician.
Recommend Non-Surgical Treatment When Appropriate
Orthopedic surgeons don’t always recommend surgery. When it is applicable, they refer patients to physical therapy or perform minor procedures like casting and splinting.
Ease Patient Concerns Regarding Surgical Procedures
The idea of surgery can be stressful for patients, even if it is minimally invasive. Orthopedic surgeons need a strong working knowledge of the field to answer patient questions as well as a good bedside manner to alleviate patient concerns.
Perform Various Musculoskeletal Surgeries
Performing surgeries on various parts of the musculoskeletal system is one of the main duties of an orthopedic surgeon. The type of surgeries they perform depends on their specialties. Reattaching tendons and ligaments, plating broken bones, and performing hip and knees replacements are some of the most common procedure.
