Orthopedic Surgeon in Charleston, SC
What is Orthopedic Surgery?
Orthopedic surgery is a type of surgery that deals with the body’s musculoskeletal system. This system includes your bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves, basically anything that allows you to move, work, and be active.
Orthopedic surgeons can perform a wide range of procedures, from simple ones like setting a broken bone, to more complex operations like a knee or ankle replacement. They can also treat conditions like arthritis, sports injuries, various bone diseases, and even some spinal problems.
So, if you’re having trouble with things like moving a limb, feeling pain in your bones or muscles, or if you’ve had a related injury, an orthopedic surgeon is often the specialist who can help diagnose and treat your problem.
About Dr. Ohlson
Dr. Ohlson is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with over 15 years of experience treating adults and children with bone and joint problems. He is also fellowship trained in foot and ankle reconstruction. Dr. Ohlson treats a wide variety of general orthopedic problems in addition to complex issues involving the foot and ankle. Examples include tendon and ligament injuries, arthritis, congenital problems, overuse injuries, and deformities.
Many orthopedic conditions can be treated non-surgically. Surgery is only recommended in select instances where nonsurgical management is not appropriate or unsuccessful. Dr. Ohlson spends time with each patient to ensure they have a full understanding of their condition and the options available.
How Can Dr. Ohlson Help You?
Dr. Ohlson has been practicing orthopedic surgery for over 15 years in the Charleston area. He is fellowship trained in foot and ankle orthopedics but also treats patients with general orthopedic problems. Examples include:
Workplace injuries: Injuries that occur in the workplace are unfortunately not uncommon. Dr. Ohlson treats a wide variety of work-related injuries including crush injuries, sprains and strains, fractures, cuts, and bruises. Dr. Ohlson is well accustomed to working with both case managers and attorneys to ensure patient-centered comprehensive care.
Sports injuries: Athletes are a different breed. They possess unique expectations that foster intensity and competitiveness. They hinge their efforts on the ability to remain healthy active and injury free. Injuries, however, are seen in all athletes, both professional and recreational. Dr. Ohlson has vast experience treating both pediatric and adult athletes. This includes professional, semiprofessional, and recreational athletes who are looking for ways to maximize their performance and remain injury free.
Trauma: Orthopedic trauma refers to minor or severe injuries to the musculoskeletal system – this includes your bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. These injuries are often the result of accidents or sudden events, like falls, car crashes, or sports injuries. Such traumas could involve fractures (broken bones), dislocations (when a bone is forced out of its normal position), severe sprains (when a ligament is stretched or torn), or even injuries that require amputation.
Dr. Ohlson is trained to quickly assess these types of injuries and provide treatment, which could range from setting a bone and casting it to performing complex surgery to repair the damage. The primary goal is to restore function and mobility as much as possible while minimizing pain and long-term disability.
FAQ’s About Orthopedic Surgery
Dr. Ohlson treats lower extremity conditions & injuries for patients of all ages. Listed below are some very important answers to common questions regarding orthopedic surgery. Please take a moment to review these topics.
No two injuries and no two patients are exactly the same. We pride ourselves on spending time with patients and ensuring they have the best experience possible. Our goal is to ensure patients have a fundamental understanding of their problems and the options available to alleviate pain and regain function.
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What kind of training does an orthopedic surgeon complete?
Orthopedic surgeons go through several years of extensive training to practice their specialty:
- Undergraduate Degree: Like all physicians, orthopedic surgeons start with a bachelor’s degree. This typically takes four years and often involves a focus on pre-medical or biological sciences.
- Medical School: After completing their undergraduate degree, they attend medical school for another four years to earn either a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. Medical school involves two years of classroom-based learning in the sciences followed by two years of clinical rotations across various medical specialties.
- Residency: After graduating from medical school, they enter a residency program in orthopedic surgery. Residencies typically last five years and involve hands-on training in managing musculoskeletal diseases and injuries under the supervision of experienced surgeons.
- Fellowship (Optional): Some orthopedic surgeons choose to further specialize in areas like sports medicine, spine surgery, hand and upper extremity surgery, foot and ankle surgery, joint replacement, or orthopedic trauma. This additional training called a fellowship, can last one to two years.
- Board Certification: After completing their training, orthopedic surgeons can become board certified by passing exams from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery or the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery. This certification is a mark of the surgeon’s skill and expertise. They must also maintain this certification through ongoing education and periodic re-testing.
In total, becoming an orthopedic surgeon usually requires at least 13 years of training after high school: 4 years of undergraduate study, 4 years of medical school, and a minimum of 5 years of residency. Additional specialization via a fellowship adds 1-2 more years to this timeline.
What kind of conditions does an orthopedic surgeon treat?
An orthopedic surgeon treats a wide range of conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system, which includes your bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Here are some of the most common conditions they treat:
- Arthritis: There are many types of arthritis, but most involve wear-and-tear damage to the joints, leading to pain and stiffness.
- Fractures and Dislocations: Broken bones and dislocated joints often require the care of an orthopedic surgeon to ensure proper healing.
- Sports Injuries: This can include anything from sprains and strains to more serious injuries like torn ligaments and tendons.
- Osteoporosis: This condition weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break. Orthopedic surgeons often treat fractures that result from osteoporosis.
- Spinal Disorders: Conditions like herniated discs, sciatica, scoliosis, and spinal stenosis can often be treated by orthopedic surgeons.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: This is a condition that causes pain and numbness in the hand due to pressure on a nerve in the wrist.
- Joint Replacement: When a joint is damaged beyond repair, orthopedic surgeons can replace it with an artificial one. The most common joint replacements are hips and knees.
- Rotator Cuff Tears: These are injuries to the group of muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder.
- Bunions and Foot and Ankle Injuries: Orthopedic surgeons often treat these conditions, especially if they require surgery.
- Tendinitis: Inflammation or irritation of a tendon, often due to overuse.
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