Treatment Plans

After a comprehensive evaluation of the disorder, the orthopaedist will make recommendations for a treatment plan, based on the following criteria:

• your age, overall health, and medical history
• extent of the disease, injury, or condition
• your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the disease, injury, or condition
• your opinion or preference

For most orthopaedic disorders and injuries, there is more than one form of treatment that may be appropriate. Thus, many treatment plans involve a combination or progression of the following:

• rest
• medical counseling
• medication
• immobilization
• physical therapy
• occupational therapy
• rehabilitative therapy
• exercise
• activity modifications
• casts
• splints
• braces
• procedures, such as arthroscopy
• surgery, such as joint replacement

Listed in the directory below you will find additional information regarding treatment plans for many orthopaedic conditions, for which we have provided a brief overview.

If you cannot find the information in which you are interested, please visit the Orthopaedic Surgery Online Resources page in this Web site for an Internet/World Wide Web address that may contain additional information on that topic.