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Orthopaedic Surgery is a branch of Medicine that deals with conditions afflicting our skeleton, the bones that make it up and the muscles that cover the bones. Disease conditions affecting the skull and the brain are treated by the neurosurgeon. The spine, more commonly known as the backbone is covered by both orthopaedic and neurosurgeons. Similarly the facial bones are treated by the maxillofacial surgeon who is basically a dental surgeon.

The skeleton is comprised of 206 bones to be precise!! The bones comprise of calcium salts embedded in a meshwork of an elastic material, collagen. This makes them strong providing the framework on which the rest of the body is built. The skeleton also protects all the vital organs in our body and is an important source of calcium and phosphorus when needed. Another important function of the skeleton is activity or locomotion. The bones are attached to one another through a specialised region called the joint. At the joint, each bone moves over another permitting movement. The ends of the bones that come in contact are covered by cartilage, a soft rubbery like material. So bone never comes in contact with another bone. But when it does as in bone on bone arthritis it causes severe pain, a feature very characteristic of arthritis. The smooth glistening cartilage provides for a frictionless surface. This is enhanced by a lubricating fluid called the synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is in turn produced by synovium. Synovium is a flimsy tissue that covers the inner aspect of the entire joint except the articulating or joint surfaces. On the outside the joint is strengthened by a thick fibrous tissue called the capsule. The strength of the capsule is further enhanced by ligaments. Muscles wrap around the joint giving it further protection and stability. The muscles run from one bone to another. Muscle tissue is contractile and on contraction produce movement at the joint by bringing two or more bones together.