A Comprehensive Guide to Orthopedic Subspecialties for Healthcare Practitioners

 

Orthopedics is a specialized field focused on diagnosing, treating, and preventing musculoskeletal conditions. While orthopedics is already a highly specialized branch of medicine, some subspecialties allow healthcare practitioners to offer patients more tailored, expert care.

At present, 60% of orthopedic surgeons are specialists, 25% have specialty interests, and 15% are generalists. 

 

This is not just a statistic!

 

 

It signifies the increasing importance of orthopedics specialists in enhancing patient care across the United States.

For healthcare practitioners in the USA and the UK, understanding these subspecialties can help you better serve your patient’s needs and improve outcomes in a rapidly evolving field. As the healthcare sector becomes more complex, so does the medical billing. Each subspeciality comes with different medical codes and which cause trouble in orthopedic medical billing procedures leads to inaccurate revenue cycle management.

We at EZ Settle Solution look after all the revenue cycle management tasks, which lets you free from worry!

This guide will walk you through the major orthopedic subspecialties and how each contributes to comprehensive patient care.

 

Let’s have a look at the orthopedics subspecialty.

1. Sports Medicine

 

Sports medicine specialists treat injuries that athletes commonly face, such as ligament tears, joint pain, and overuse injuries. 

Orthopedic sports medicine specialists work closely with physical therapists, athletic trainers, and other healthcare professionals to create comprehensive treatment plans. In addition to treating acute injuries, they focus on injury prevention and training to optimize performance and reduce risks.

From 2016 to 2021, the total number of sports medicine doctors grew by 42.5%, from 2,252 to 3,208 practicing physicians.

This highlights the need for strong collaboration between surgeons and non-operative specialists. 

For practitioners, incorporating sports medicine expertise into their practice means staying on top of the latest surgical techniques but this leads to work of claiming, insurance revenue management, etc. However, outsourcing medical billing agencies that specialize in orthopedic medical billing can reduce your work and allow you to focus on your healthcare practices.

2. Orthopedic oncology

 

Orthopedic oncology is a specialized field focused on diagnosing and treating bone and soft tissue tumors, both benign and malignant. 

This subspecialty plays a crucial role in addressing complex musculoskeletal cancers, such as sarcomas, primary bone cancer (e.g., osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma), Soft tissue sarcomas, Benign tumors (e.g., osteochondromas, giant cell tumors) as well as metastatic cancers that affect the bones.

 

Despite their importance to patient care, these surgeons make up only 1.5% of orthopedic surgeons, according to a survey by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery.

 

These specialists work closely with a multidisciplinary team, including medical oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists, to develop individualized treatment plans.

Advances in minimally invasive surgery and personalized therapies have significantly improved outcomes for orthopedic oncology patients.

3. Spine Surgery

 

 

Back pain is one of the most prevalent health concerns globally, and spine surgeons address complex spinal conditions like herniated discs, scoliosis, and spinal deformities. Whether it’s through minimally invasive procedures or complex surgeries, spine specialists help patients regain mobility and alleviate pain.

 

As per the AAOS 2018 census Spine surgery remains a niche subspecialty within orthopedics, with only 8.3% of orthopedic surgeons specializing in this area.

Insurance companies often fail to recognize spinal surgery as a specialized field, leading to compensation challenges. Due to the high cost of surgery, many managed care organizations discourage it as a treatment option. However, at EZ Settle Solution, we specialize in orthopedic medical billing. With accurate orthopedic medical coding service, we ensure that you will get full compensation for your service.

4. Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery

 

The hand is a complex structure with multiple bones, tendons, and nerves, making it susceptible to injury. Specialists in this field focus on both traumatic injuries and degenerative conditions like arthritis. Precision and attention to detail are critical for this subspecialty, as it involves restoring fine motor skills and dexterity.

 

As per the AAOS 2018 census hand surgery is the third most common specialization within orthopedics, accounting for 11.6% of respondents. 

 

For healthcare professionals, hand surgery expertise can enhance your ability to treat both acute injuries and long-term degenerative diseases, providing comprehensive care to your patients.

5. Foot and Ankle Surgery

 

Foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons treat conditions ranging from fractures and sprains to more complex issues like flat feet and deformities. The intricate anatomy of the foot and ankle requires specialized knowledge, especially for patients dealing with chronic pain or deformities that affect mobility.

For practitioners looking to expand their expertise, this subspecialty allows you to cater to patients needing both acute and reconstructive surgeries to improve their quality of life.

6. Pediatric Orthopedics

 

Children’s orthopedic needs are vastly different from those of adults, as they are still in growth phases. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons are experts in treating congenital conditions, fractures, and growth plate injuries. They also focus on minimally invasive techniques that accommodate the unique physiology of children.

For healthcare practitioners, adding a pediatric orthopedics component can allow them to extend specialized care to the youngest patients, ensuring they grow into healthy adults.

7. Trauma Surgery

 

Trauma surgeons are often at the front line of emergency care, dealing with high-impact injuries such as fractures, dislocations, and soft tissue injuries. They play a crucial role in stabilizing patients and providing long-term follow-up care to ensure proper healing.

 

Orthopedic trauma surgery made up 5.8% of the AAOS 2018 census, with 31.5% of practitioners being under the age of 40, indicating a younger demographic in this field.

 

For healthcare practitioners, trauma surgery expertise means being ready to handle severe injuries efficiently and effectively, especially in emergency and accident situations.

 

How EZ Settle Solution’s Supports Orthopedic Practices

As a healthcare practitioner, focusing on patient care is your priority, but managing the complexities of medical coding and billing can be overwhelming. At EZ Settle Solution, we specialize in streamlining orthopedic medical billing, allowing you to focus on what you do best: treating patients.

Our team of experts understands the complexities of orthopedic medical billing, including subspecialties, and ensures timely, accurate claim submissions to improve your revenue cycle and reduce denials.

 

Conclusion

By diving into these orthopedic subspecialties, healthcare practitioners can ensure they are offering comprehensive and expert care to their patients. Whether you specialize in sports medicine, pediatric orthopedics, or trauma surgery, each subspecialty brings unique value to patient treatment. 

Paired with efficient medical coding support from EZ Settle Solution, your practice will be well-positioned for success.

Get in touch with EZ Settle Solution today and let us help you optimize your orthopedic medical billing practice. 

Contact us at  346-335-4093 / info@ezsettlesolutions.com or schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we can assist you.