Move Easier, Live Happier

Joint pain does more than make you feel uncomfortable. It can take away your independence and significantly impact your daily routine. If knee pain stops you from going to the grocery store or arthritis prevents you from doing certain physical activities, you’re not living life to the fullest. Hip pain, back pain, arthritis and other conditions may worsen if neglected.

Life is too short to live in pain. When you have joint pain or injury, you need a doctor who can solve the problem quickly and effectively, with the least amount of pain and shortest recovery time possible. Our orthopedic doctors and surgeons offer expert care and a variety of treatments, including surgical and nonsurgical treatments for many bone and joint health issues. Whether you need a total hip replacement or a cast for a broken bone, we have the expertise and equipment to make it right.

What is Orthopedics?

Orthopedics is a medical specialty focusing on diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, including ligaments, joints, tendons, bones and muscles. Any of the following may hurt your musculoskeletal system:

• Bone or joint infection
• Bursitis
• Cancer
• Cartilage breakdown in the kneecap
• Fibromyalgia
• Gout
• Infectious diseases, influenza, mumps and hepatitis
• Injury
• Lupus
• Osteoporosis
• Overuse of the joint
• Rickets
• Sarcoidosis
• Tendonitis

What does an Orthopedic Doctor do?

If you get injured from sports or other physical activities, an orthopedic doctor is a suitable person to approach for proper diagnosis and treatment. Orthopedic doctors have gone through years of clinical training and education to diagnose, treat, manage and prevent musculoskeletal conditions. They may specialize in one or more of these areas:

• Arthroscopy and sports medicine
• Hand and upper extremity
• Joint replacement surgery
• Pediatric orthopedics
• Podiatry (foot and ankle)
• Trauma and spine surgery
• Tumor (musculoskeletal oncology)

An orthopedic will ask you about your symptoms and personal or family medical history as part of your initial medical assessment. Make sure to disclose relevant information so your orthopedic doctor can provide you with the appropriate treatment. Your physician may recommend further screenings, such as:

• Arthrogram (joint X-ray)
• Blood tests
• Bone scans
• CT scans
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
• Nerve conduction studies
• Ultrasounds
• X-rays

An orthopedic doctor can work on musculoskeletal conditions such as:

• Arthritis
• Back pain
• Bone cancer
• Bone fractures
• Bone tumors
• Bursitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Knee pain
• Hip pain
• Ligament, tendon or muscle injuries
• Limb abnormalities
• Osteoporosis
• Shoulder pain
• Scoliosis
• Sports injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Tendonitis
• Wrist pain

What’s an Orthopedic Surgeon?

An orthopedic specialist is often referred to as an orthopedic surgeon who can perform surgical procedures for musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. As much as possible, an orthopedist will recommend non-surgical approaches to treat your condition, such as:

• Braces, casts, boots or sleeves
• Complementary therapies
• Home exercise programs
• Ice or heat therapy
• Massage therapy
• Muscle relaxants
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Prescription medications
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Ointments
• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers
• Steroid injections

When nonsurgical treatments do not improve your condition, your orthopedic doctor may recommend surgical options for your case. Total knee and hip replacement are among the most common surgical procedures in the country. As people live longer and stay healthier later in life, it has become more important than ever that we can help you hold onto your mobility and independence.

Here are some of the procedures our orthopedic doctors in Hilton Head Island may perform:

Artificial Disc Replacement

Spinal discs serve as cushioning between the small bones that make up your backbone, providing shock absorption, maintaining stability and allowing pivot movement. A damaged spinal disc may cause chronic low back pain. Artificial disc replacement aims to replace the damaged disc with an artificial disc made from any of these materials:

• Ceramic
• Cobalt-chrome alloy
• Polyethylene
• Polyurethane
• Stainless steel
• Titanium alloy

Arthroscopy

Arthroscopic surgery is an invasive procedure that allows an ortho surgeon to inspect the interior of a damaged joint. The surgeon makes a small cut in the patient’s skin and inserts small, specialized instruments with a camera and lighting. The image of the joint’s interior is projected on a monitor. The surgeon uses this to plan treatments.

Bone Grafting Surgery

Bone grafting is a bone surgery procedure wherein a surgeon takes a bone from your other body parts to transplant to the damaged bones.

Fracture Repair Surgery

A fracture or broken bone may heal incorrectly if not treated as soon as possible. A surgeon returns a damaged bone into its proper anatomical position in fracture repair surgery.

Joint Replacement Surgery

Arthroplasty is another term for joint replacement surgery. It is commonly done on the shoulder, knee and hip, where the surgeon reconstructs and replaces damaged joints using prostheses. For instance, in hip replacement surgery, the orthopedic surgeon removes the damaged hip joint part and replaces them with new artificial joints that will simulate the function of a typical joint.

Replacement surgery may be total or partial, depending on joint damage. It should be the final step in orthopedics treatment if less invasive procedures are ineffective. X-ray evidence of a damaged joint is one of the criteria orthopedics use to qualify a patient for joint replacement surgery. A candidate should have one of the following:

• Severe pain during simple physical activity, such as walking or getting up from a chair
• Pain that prevents a patient from performing routine activities
• Pain at night that prevents a patient from sleeping

Hilton Head Hospital also offers the CORI^TM Surgical System. CORI^TM is a robotics-assisted navigation technology designed to help orthopedic surgeons perform partial and total knee replacement surgery. The surgical system works in tandem with your surgeon’s skilled hands to achieve precise positioning of the knee implant components during surgery.

Why Choose Hilton Head Hospital

Our orthopedic specialists develop personalized, end-to-end surgical and nonsurgical treatment plans designed with one thing in mind: you, living without pain. Our staff is dedicated to providing you with quality care in a supportive, compassionate environment. Your health and comfort are our primary concerns while you are with us.