Frequently Asked Orthopaedic Questions

Orthopaedics (alternatively, orthopedics) is a medical specialty focused on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions, disorders, and injuries of the muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. A doctor who specializes in this medical specialty is called an orthopaedic (alternatively, orthopedic) surgeon or orthopedist.

You are welcome to call and request an appointment with any one of our specialists. Read about their specialties here. However, if you are unfamiliar with our doctors, our team can help match you with the orthopaedic specialist best equipped to treat your concern.

At GBO, our practice is devoted to the specialty of orthopaedics which is defined as the diagnosis and treatment of disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. All of our physicians are board eligible or board certified bone and joint specialists who have undergone specialty training in orthopaedics and are equipped to treat all disorders and injuries of the skeletal system and its related joints, ligaments, and muscles. Orthopaedists and orthopaedic surgeons also are experts in the prevention, treatment, and repair of orthopaedic issues, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of bone and joint disease.

A foot and ankle orthopaedist is specialty trained to address the bones, soft tissues and joints of the foot and ankle. While our entire team of orthopaedic doctors are experts in the medical and surgical management of all bones and joints, we have doctors who have chosen to specialize in foot and ankle due to personal passion and interest.

A sports medicine physician is specialty trained to understand the specific mechanics of bones and joints and how to treat sport injury and help the athlete avoid injury. Both orthopaedic specialists and sports medicine orthopaedists understand the entire musculoskeletal system, but a physician with an expertise in sports medicine focuses on the non-operative treatments of sports injuries. Our team of physicians is on the sidelines at local sporting events helping identify and treat athlete injury.

No, sports medicine is a specialty area of study.

A hand specialist is an orthopedic doctor who specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders in the hand, wrist, and forearm. Great Basin Orthopaedics has orthopedic surgeons who specialize in the hand and upper extremities (as well as hand-specific occupational therapists to assist in recovery). They have chosen to focus their training and work on this complicated area of the body and have a unique understanding of the complex networks of blood vessels, nerves, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones that make up the hand and fingers.

Orthopedic surgeons are board-certified or board eligible medical doctors with a minimum of 14 years of conventional education. While all Great Basin Orthopaedics surgeons have knowledge of the entire musculoskeletal system, some have chosen an area of specialty. Our team will help you identify the surgeon best equipped and most experienced in your injury area.

Your doctor will be able to fully answer this question after your diagnosis and treatment. Should physical therapy be prescribed, Great Basin Orthopaedics has a physical therapy clinic upstairs from their medical clinic for your convenience and to help ensure continuity of care from diagnosis through full injury rehabilitation.

The orthopaedic surgery board certification exams offered by American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) enables successful candidates to present themselves to the public as qualified medical specialists in orthopedic surgery. Completing the orthopedic surgery board certification exams indicates mastery of orthopedic surgery skills and knowledge, as well as a professional commitment to adhere to the ABPS Medical Code of Ethics.

Once a doctor has completed an orthopedic residency at a major medical institution, the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery offers a written test to become board eligible. If the written test is passed, the doctor becomes “eligible” to take the oral test, after two years in practice. When the doctor passes the oral exam, the doctor becomes “board certified” and is considered a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. All Great Basin Orthopaedics surgeons are board certified (or board eligible if they are within the first two years of their practice).

A fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon is a doctor who has completed a minimum of 13 years of education and has completed an additional year of specialty training in a specific field of orthopedic surgery in an accredited fellowship program. There are fellowships in several areas of orthopaedics including: hand & upper extremity, adult hip and knee, trauma, sports medicine, spine, pediatric and foot and ankle.