orthopedic-subspecialties-banner
We extensively test and research all services we review. Here's why you can trust us.

A Patient’s Guide to Understanding Orthopedic Subspecialties in Singapore

Orthopedics is arguably an area of medicine that most people overlook, but it’s actually really important. This area of medicine specializes in diagnosing and treating injuries and conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system.

Orthopedics has several subspecialties. Some of the most common include hip, knee, spine, and musculoskeletal oncology. 

Curious to know about the different orthopedic subspecialties available in Singapore? This article is here to break down each so you know who to consult.

Overview of General Orthopedics

person-holding-their-knee

Before we get into the different orthopedic subspecialties, let’s first take into account general orthopedics. Simply put, general orthopedics focuses on helping people deal with a range of musculoskeletal issues. 

Usually, when you experience sudden pain in your joints, they go to a general orthopedic doctor first to see what’s wrong. If the doctor discovers that the cause of the pain is serious, that’s when they refer you to an orthopedic specialist. 

For example, if you keep feeling pain in your knees and the general orthopedic doctor thinks that it’s not just arthritis, they’ll refer you to a knee specialist. 

Subspecialties of Orthopedics

Hip and Knee

fake-skeleton

Hip and knee are arguably the most widely known subspecialty of orthopedics because most orthopedic conditions involve the hips or the knees. This is because hips and knees are weight-bearing joints, so they’re much more prone to injuries and arthritis.

Two of the most common issues when it comes to hips and knees are dislocation and arthritis. For these two conditions, surgery isn’t necessary. Instead, the specialist will just recommend physical therapy or certain injections to help relieve the pain. 

If the pain from arthritis is too much or several ligaments and joints are torn off, you might have to undergo a hip or knee replacement. This is an intensive surgery that requires a lot of time to recover afterward.

Shoulder and Elbow

person-wearing-a-cast

The shoulder and elbow are also a well-known subspecialty because we use these joints to bend, flex, reach, and rotate, and the repetitive movements can wear them down. When this happens, injuries like dislocation can occur. 

Tendonitis is another common affliction for shoulders and elbows. It’s when the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone (called tendons) become swollen. As a result, you can feel pain and tenderness just outside a joint. 

Physical therapy is the go-to solution for non-serious conditions, but if your situation is dire, you might have to undergo shoulder or elbow replacement surgery. 

It’s also possible that you’ll undergo arthroscopy, a procedure that removes loose or damaged cartilage in your shoulders and elbows. 

Foot and Ankle

sprained-ankle

The foot and ankle subspecialty of orthopedics is officially called podiatry. This subspecialty deals with disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower limb. 

Achilles tendonitis is one of the most prevalent issues in this field, and it’s what happens when the tendon that connects the calf muscles to your heel bone is overused. Most of the people with this issue are runners or middle-aged people who like to play sports. 

Aside from Achilles tendonitis, other common foot and ankle issues are plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the issue in the foot) and bunions (bony bumps that form on the joint at the base of your big toe). 

If your injury is severe, the podiatrist might recommend you undergo reconstructive foot and ankle surgery.  

Hand and Wrist

wrist-wrapped

If you write or type a lot or you like to play tennis as a hobby, then chances are you might have to consult an orthopedic specialist specializing in hands and wrists at some point in your life. 

This is because you might develop carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition where the median nerve in your carpal tunnel (a narrow passageway surrounded by bones and ligaments on the palm side) is compressed, thus causing pain and numbness. 

Aside from carpal tunnel syndrome, hand and wrist specialists deal with hand fractures, trigger fingers, and sprains. Surgeries are often done to regain hand or wrist function, and sometimes, splints and medications are enough to ease the pain.  

Spine

back-pain

The spine is an incredibly important bone in the body because it connects the musculoskeletal system to the brain. If something happens to your spine, you need to check the spine specialist. 

Usually, spine specialists deal with injuries to the back and spine or different spinal deformities like scoliosis and osteoporosis. However, sometimes, they also treat chronic pain in your lower back and neck. 

Surgery is typically done on people with spine conditions. There are different types of spine surgery, such as: 

  • Discectomy: an operation to remove herniated (or slipped) discs from the spine
  • Laminectomy: removal of the lamina (the back side of the spinal canal)
  • Foraminotomy: relieves the pressure on the nerves caused by the compression in the vertebrae’s foramina (openings where veins, muscles, and other structures pass through to other regions of the body)
  • Spinal Fusion: two small bones in the spine are fused together. It’s usually done when the patient has a super narrow spinal canal.
  • Spinal Cord Stimulation: adding a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) that sends mild electric currents to the brain to block pain signals
  • Corpectomy: removal of the vertebral body and adding bone grafts 

Sports Medicine

knee-injury

Since sports are intense physical activities, it’s pretty common for orthopedic injuries to happen. That’s why sports medicine is now a subspecialty in orthopedics. 

Orthopedic sports specialists usually deal with ligament tears, stress fractures, and muscle strains. They’re also trained in the non-surgical treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, so they can help mitigate acute and chronic pain due to intense activities. 

These specialists work with athletes of all levels, including those who are only playing sports for recreation. 

Musculoskeletal Oncology

patient-doing-chemotherapy

Simply put, musculoskeletal oncology is the subspecialty of orthopedics that’s focused on diagnosing and treating benign and malignant tumors of the bone and connective soft tissues. Bone cancer is the most common disease to be treated. 

Musculoskeletal oncology specialists tend to work closely with other oncology experts so that they can come up with the best treatment plan for every patient. Treatment includes surgery and/or radiation therapy. 

Trauma Surgery

doctor-performing-surgery

When your orthopedic condition is severe, you might have to undergo trauma surgery. This subspecialty focuses on treating traumatic, developmental, and degenerative conditions of the musculoskeletal system, including tumors. 

Orthopedic specialists who specialize in trauma surgery are trained in providing emergency procedures to stabilize and repair damaged tissues and bones. 

Pediatric Orthopedics

child-talking-to-a-doctor

If the patient is a child, then they’ll have to consult a pediatric orthopedic specialist. This is because a child’s musculoskeletal system is slightly different from an adult’s because they’re still growing. 

A pediatric orthopedic specialist treats a wide range of patients—from infants to teenagers. Usually, they deal with orthopedic injuries caused by an accident, but they also treat degenerative conditions like cerebral palsy and cancer.    

How to Choose the Right Orthopedic Specialist for You

person-talking-to-a-doctor

To ensure that your orthopedic condition will be treated as soon as possible, it’s important that you find the right orthopedic specialist for you. There are several ways you can do this.

  • Ask for referrals. If you have a friend who had an orthopedic injury in the past, ask them who their specialist was and if they would recommend them. Or you can simply ask your primary care doctor for recommendations. 
  • Check what their clinic is like. Does their clinic have some of the latest technologies? If so, then you can expect to have a seamless experience here.
  • Review their credentials. You can actually verify a doctor’s credentials by visiting the Singapore Medical Council’s website.
  • Check their experience. How long have they been an orthopedic doctor specializing in a certain subspecialty? Ideally, you’ll want someone who’s had years of experience because you can trust them to know what they’re doing.
  • Review your insurance coverage. Orthopedic treatment isn’t cheap, so you need to check if the specialist is included in your insurance provider’s network of doctors.