Knee Surgeon in Nashville TN

You may hesitate to have surgery because of fear of a challenging road to recovery, it is important to consider that some surgeries may be more difficult to recover from, and some are more difficult to perform. When looking at difficult surgeries, you cannot consider the ones that need redoing, as they are usually more difficult the first time. Five surgeries are considered more difficult than others.

Scoliosis surgery: correcting an abnormal curvature of the spine, would need to be done on multiple levels, and the risk of spinal cord injury is potential and there is a risk of paralysis.

Acetabular fixation: repairing fractures at the front of the pelvis, the acetabulum is the socket part of the hip, there is a very small window in which to work and many large blood vessels. when fixing the fracture, it needs to be done precisely to avoid possible arthritis in the hip joint.

Complex fractures: there needs to be precise alignment when it comes to joint surfaces otherwise, it could lead to arthritis, which is usually in the lower end of the humerus extending into the elbow joint. The elbow is notorious for becoming stiff after surgery.

Complex fractures: the upper tibia, may develop stiffness and arthritis if surgery is not done well, even with good surgery the outcome may not be perfect.

Nerve surgery of the brachial plexus: This is very specialized and injuries to multiple nerves of the arm and shoulder. This requires work with major blood vessels and vast knowledge of the complex anatomy of the nerves.

These are not based on any order, and you will never find one surgeon who will be able to perform all the above operations.

The recovery process can be different for everyone, and it is based on your overall health, what type of surgery was performed and the condition in which you were treated. Some surgeries may be done the same day and you may go home the same day; others may lead to a longer hospital stays. Knee ligament surgery for instance recovery time will depend on the complexity of the surgery and how severe the condition is. This type of surgery is very common among athletes, especially running ones. Most tear the ACL- anterior cruciate ligament which attaches the femur or thigh bone to the shin bone, depending on if it is a partial or complete tear you may need reconstruction with a graft. Recovery time can take up to eight months, you will begin training using a bike within 3 to 6 weeks, then graduate to treadmill running at 10- 12 weeks and then jogging 3 to 4 months post-surgery, at 6 to 8 months you can return to athletic activities.

Just like ligament surgery fracture recovery time also depends on the complexity and severity but also, the location of the bone fracture, a broken finger will take less time than a broken femur. On average a broken bone will take 6 to 8 weeks to heal and will need a cast or splint to immobilize the fracture, some may require surgery to insert screws or metal plates. Upper limbs take up to six weeks to heal whereas lower limbs take up to 12 weeks, which could be several months before you can resume athletic activities. Surgeries of the spine require either a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic surgeon, a neurosurgeon will perform surgeries for nerve pain like sciatica whereas an orthopedic will correct or align the spinal column. Scoliosis of the spine occurs when the spine curves and rotates, there is no cause and can present itself at birth or during adolescence from 10 to 18 years of age.

Scoliosis can occur in adults due to the degeneration of the spine, rigid bracing and anti-inflammatory medication may not alleviate the pain and surgery may be the only option. The orthopedic surgeon would place rods to support the spine, taking months of physical therapy and a full recovery may not be possible but will depend on age and physical condition.

Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis are degeneration of the spongy discs between the vertebrae, this usually takes place around the age of twenty, and usually involves a traumatic event. These both have different recovery periods and ages, and physical shape would affect the length of recovery. A person may be required to wear a brace and limit activity even not using back muscles or any twisting motion. Physical therapy would help both types of surgery regardless of age.

Having a spinal fusion would involve having the vertebrae permanently connected, using rods and screws from your neck to your lower back and attaching them to your vertebrae. Your hospital stay would be 2 to 3 days and you would need to wear a brace for 12 to 18 months to have the affected bones solidify. Depending on the individual you may be able to return to vigorous exercise like weightlifting six months post-surgery.

The most common orthopedic surgery is ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstructive surgery. It is located diagonally in the front of your knees and helps with stability when you rotate your leg. Your surgeon will take a portion of a tendon from another part of your body and graft it into the torn ACL, this is usually a day surgery, and you will be instructed to use the RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) method at home. This surgery can take up to a year to heal, so patience will be needed if you are an athlete.

Finding an orthopedic surgeon in Nashville can be done using WebMD care, the physicians are listed, and you can search their profiles, they are rated by actual patients with specific patient perspectives, like what they liked about a certain doctor. There is also an icon showing awards showing a preferred provider award.

You are also able to find doctors who will take your insurance plan using Web MD. A quick google search also shows many options by simply asking “How do I choose a good orthopedic surgeon in Nashville, TN?” in the search bar. We serve patients from Gallatin TN, Nashville TN, Bethpage TN, Portland TN, and Lavergne TN