Orthopedics and Confusion of Specialties

From a branch that use to mend bones and straighten the children [ortho+paeds], orthopedics as a specialty is evolving at a very fast pace. The amount of progress made in last two decades is so vast that orthopedics is further giving birth to subspecialities like spine, replacement surgeries, pediatric orthopedics ( Deals with musculoskeletal disorders of children), hand surgeries, traumatology( deals with trauma across all ages), foot and ankle surgery etc.

The day is not far when these specialties of orthopedics would become different subjects all together.

This is natural evolution of medicine. As the work and scientific advancement occurs in a field, more and more people join hands to work. With different people focusing on different set of problems further subspecialties are carved where a person reads more and more about less and less.

There is no other solution. Science is committed to better care. Its been proven that specialists provide a better feildwise care as compared to non specialist doctor. They are better trained, better equipped and more knowledgeable. All the advancement of the medical care has occurred through hands of specialists.

But this brings in confusion for the patient too. Specialties also overlap in their field of expertise. A spine is realm of neurosurgeons as well orthopaedic surgeons with both making exclusive claims over the domain. For a patient there is plethora of doctors and specialists and their technical jargon which adds to confusion.

I see no immediate end in the present form of structure. In fact coming times would bring new fields and new specialties. Only way is to educate ourselves. We cannot afford to sit back and get confused when the time demands.  Health should be topmost priority of every person and one must educate oneself on matters of healthcare. We need to understand the concepts of primary care and specialized care and when to choose what.

Educate yourself.

Then educate others.

Start Today.