The risk of orthopedic problems increases with age. If you have a physically demanding job or play sports or exercise, there is a greater risk of having orthopedic issues no matter your age. A doctor that specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing musculoskeletal conditions through non-surgical and surgical means is an orthopedic surgeon.
To get the best possible care for your orthopedic issue that has been interfering with your daily life, take time to choose the best orthopedic surgeon for the job. If you don’t know where to start, here’s a guide on how to choose the best orthopedic surgeon.
Check the Doctor’s Credentials
Board certification and fellowship training are important considerations when choosing an orthopedic surgeon. To become board-certified, a doctor needs to pass a grueling exam. Securing board certification is optional and speaks of the doctor’s commitment to ongoing learning and delivery of quality care.
A fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon takes years of study and training to focus on a specific part of the body, surgical technique, or type of injury. If you have a chronic hand problem, choose an orthopedic surgeon fellowship-trained in surgery of the hand, wrist, and elbow. If you continue to have symptoms related to an old sports injury, choose an orthopedic surgeon with fellowship training in sports medicine. If your arthritis of the knee is worsening despite non-surgical treatment and you wonder whether it may be time for surgery, choose an orthopedic surgeon fellowship-trained in joint replacement.
Check Patient Reviews
Who doesn’t want an orthopedic surgeon with positive reviews from other patients? There is a lot to learn about a physician by going over reviews left by patients. It gives you an idea of the doctor’s manner, approach, and skill, and what the environment and staff in the clinic are like, according to the patients’ feedback and descriptions. If the orthopedic surgeon cares about patient satisfaction, that tends to come through in reviews.
Schedule a Consultation
If you have come to a shortlist of potential orthopedic surgeons, now is the time to schedule a consultation with each one of them. There is nothing like seeing for yourself what the staff is like and meeting with the doctor to assess their manner and communication style. Face-to-face, you can ask more questions of the orthopedic surgeon, such as their experience with a specific treatment, complication rate, and more.
Orthopedic Surgeon in Connecticut
At Advanced Orthopedics New England, we have specialists in sports medicine, upper extremity procedures, spine surgery, and minimally invasive joint replacement. For every orthopedic issue, you can find the right specialist in our facility. Our orthopedic surgeons are medical directors of various institutes and are heavily involved in research in their field. The physicians at Advanced Orthopedics New England value expertise and altogether enjoy a 94 percent satisfaction rate.
We are committed to providing excellent care with great compassion to members of our community. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with one of our orthopedic surgeons, call our clinic nearest you. We look forward to serving all your orthopedic needs.