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Trabeculectomy is performed for glaucoma patients whose eye pressure remains too high despite maximum medical therapy and laser treatment, creating a new, controlled drainage channel that allows excess fluid to drain out of the eye and collect in a small reservoir beneath the surface of the eye called a bleb, effectively lowering eye pressure. The surgeon creates a small flap in the sclera (the white of the eye) to form this new drainage pathway, carefully calibrating the amount of drainage to achieve the target eye pressure while avoiding excessive drainage. The procedure is performed under local or general anesthesia and typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. Close follow-up in the weeks after surgery is essential, as adjustments to the drainage flow are sometimes needed using specific techniques to optimize the final eye pressure achieved. Most patients experience significant, sustained lowering of eye pressure following successful trabeculectomy, helping to preserve remaining vision and prevent further glaucoma-related damage. Some patients may eventually need additional glaucoma treatment if the drainage channel becomes less effective over many years.

Knee replacement surgery, or total knee arthroplasty, resurfaces the damaged ends of the thigh bone, shin bone, and often the kneecap with metal and plastic implant components, replacing the worn cartilage and bone typically caused by advanced osteoarthritis that has not responded to conservative treatments. The surgeon carefully removes the damaged joint surfaces and precisely fits the implant components, which are secured using bone cement or a press-fit technique that allows bone to grow into the implant over time. The procedure is performed under spinal or general anesthesia and typically takes one to two hours. Physical therapy begins the day after surgery to start restoring knee movement and strength, continuing for several weeks to months as part of a structured rehabilitation program. Most patients experience substantial pain relief and significantly improved ability to walk and perform daily activities, with full recovery typically taking three to six months. Modern knee implants can last twenty years or more with proper care.

Limb lengthening surgically corrects a difference in leg or arm length, or addresses proportionate short stature, by cutting the bone (osteotomy) and then gradually distracting the two segments apart using an external fixator frame or a specialized internal lengthening device, allowing new bone to form in the gap as it is slowly stretched. Following the initial surgery, performed under general anesthesia, the lengthening process itself occurs gradually over subsequent weeks to months, typically at a rate of about one millimeter per day, requiring frequent adjustments and close monitoring by the orthopedic team. Physical therapy is a critical, ongoing part of treatment throughout the lengthening process to maintain joint flexibility and muscle strength as the bone gradually lengthens. Once the desired length is achieved, a consolidation period follows where the new bone is allowed to fully harden and strengthen before any external device is removed. This is a demanding process requiring significant patient commitment and regular follow-up visits over many months, but it can achieve substantial correction of limb length discrepancies with good functional results.

Total hip replacement removes the damaged ball-and-socket components of the hip joint, typically worn down by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or damaged by fracture, and replaces them with an artificial implant consisting of a metal stem inserted into the thigh bone, a metal or ceramic ball, and a plastic or ceramic-lined socket. The surgeon carefully removes the damaged joint surfaces and precisely positions the new implant components to restore natural hip mechanics and leg length. The procedure is performed under spinal or general anesthesia and typically takes one to two hours. Patients are encouraged to begin walking with assistance within a day of surgery, with structured physical therapy continuing for several weeks to restore strength and mobility. Most patients experience dramatic pain relief and significantly improved ability to walk and perform daily activities, with modern implants designed to last fifteen to twenty-five years or longer.

Acetabular fixation surgically repairs fractures of the hip socket, most commonly caused by high-energy trauma such as a car accident or significant fall, which requires precise realignment of the fractured bone fragments to restore the joint's normal, smooth surface and prevent long-term joint damage. The surgeon uses metal plates and screws to carefully reposition and stabilize the fractured segments of the acetabulum, sometimes requiring complex surgical approaches given the socket's deep location within the pelvis. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and can take several hours depending on the fracture's complexity. Patients typically require a period of limited weight-bearing on the affected hip while the fracture heals, along with structured physical therapy to gradually restore strength and mobility. Recovery is often prolonged given the severity of the initial injury, with full healing and rehabilitation taking several months. Long-term follow-up monitors for the development of post-traumatic arthritis, which can occur even with successful surgical repair given the joint surface disruption from the original injury.

Shoulder arthroscopy allows the surgeon to directly visualize and treat a wide range of shoulder conditions, including rotator cuff tears, labral tears, shoulder instability, and impingement syndrome, using a small camera and specialized instruments inserted through a few small incisions around the shoulder joint. This minimally invasive approach offers significant advantages over traditional open shoulder surgery, including smaller incisions, less post-operative pain, and generally a faster recovery. The procedure is performed under regional nerve block anesthesia, sometimes combined with light general anesthesia or sedation, and typically takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on the specific repair or procedure being performed. Patients often wear a sling for a period after surgery to protect the repair, with a structured physical therapy program beginning shortly after surgery to gradually restore shoulder motion and strength. Full recovery, particularly after significant repairs like a rotator cuff repair, can take several months given the time needed for tissue healing. Most patients experience significant improvement in pain and shoulder function following successful arthroscopic treatment.

Partial hip replacement, or hemiarthroplasty, replaces only the femoral head, the ball portion of the hip joint, while leaving the natural hip socket intact, most commonly performed to treat certain types of hip fractures, particularly in older patients where a less extensive procedure is preferred given other health considerations. The surgeon removes the fractured or damaged femoral head and replaces it with a metal prosthetic ball attached to a stem inserted into the thigh bone, which then articulates with the patient's own natural hip socket. The procedure is performed under spinal or general anesthesia and generally takes about one hour, somewhat shorter than a total hip replacement. Patients are encouraged to begin walking with assistance soon after surgery, with physical therapy supporting recovery of strength and mobility over the following weeks. This procedure is particularly well suited for certain hip fracture patterns and patient populations, offering effective pain relief and restored mobility with a slightly less extensive surgical procedure than total hip replacement.

Wrist joint replacement, or total wrist arthroplasty, treats severe wrist arthritis or joint damage by replacing the worn joint surfaces with an artificial implant, offering an alternative to wrist fusion for patients who wish to preserve some degree of wrist motion, which is particularly valued by patients whose occupation or lifestyle requires wrist flexibility. The surgeon removes the damaged ends of the forearm and hand bones that form the wrist joint and replaces them with metal and plastic implant components designed to allow continued wrist movement while relieving pain from the previously damaged joint surfaces. The procedure is performed under regional nerve block or general anesthesia and typically takes one to two hours. A period of splinting and protected motion follows surgery, with structured hand therapy playing a crucial role in optimizing the functional outcome over the following weeks to months. Most patients experience significant pain relief along with a useful range of wrist motion, improving their ability to perform daily activities, though heavy lifting and high-impact activities are generally restricted long-term to protect the implant.

Bilateral knee replacement addresses severe arthritis affecting both knees, which can be performed as a single simultaneous procedure, replacing both knees during one surgical session, or as a staged approach with each knee replaced during separate surgeries typically a few weeks to months apart, with the choice depending on the patient's overall health and surgeon recommendation. Simultaneous surgery offers the advantage of a single hospital stay and combined rehabilitation period, though it involves a longer initial surgery and more intensive early recovery period requiring careful patient selection. Each knee replacement follows the same surgical technique as a single knee replacement, performed under spinal or general anesthesia, with combined surgery typically taking two to three hours total for both knees. Physical therapy begins soon after surgery and is particularly important with bilateral replacement, since both legs are recovering simultaneously, requiring careful, structured rehabilitation to safely regain mobility and strength. Most patients achieve substantial pain relief and significantly improved function in both knees, with recovery generally taking a bit longer than single knee replacement given the more extensive nature of the combined procedure.

Orthopedic surgery encompasses a wide range of procedures addressing conditions of the musculoskeletal system, including joint replacement, fracture repair, ligament reconstruction, spine surgery, and correction of deformities, with the specific approach tailored to the individual diagnosis identified through clinical examination and imaging studies such as X-rays or MRI. The surgical technique, whether minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery or more extensive open surgery, is selected based on the specific condition, its severity, and the patient's overall health and functional goals. Procedures are performed under regional nerve block, spinal, or general anesthesia, with duration and hospital stay varying widely from same-day outpatient procedures to more extensive surgeries requiring several days of hospitalization. Physical therapy and structured rehabilitation are a critical component of recovery for most orthopedic procedures, helping patients safely regain strength, mobility, and function. Recovery timelines vary considerably based on the specific procedure performed, ranging from a few weeks for minor procedures to several months for major joint replacement or reconstructive surgery. Most patients achieve significant improvement in pain and function with appropriately selected and performed orthopedic surgical treatment.

Knock knee surgery corrects genu valgum, a condition where the knees angle inward, causing an increased gap between the ankles when standing with knees together, which if left uncorrected can lead to abnormal joint wear and premature arthritis over time. In growing children, a minimally invasive technique called guided growth is often used, placing a small plate across the growth plate on one side of the knee to gradually and naturally correct the alignment as the child continues to grow, avoiding the need for a more extensive bone-cutting procedure. In adults or more severe cases, an osteotomy, where the bone is surgically cut and realigned then held in place with plates and screws, is performed to achieve immediate correction. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, with guided growth being a quicker, simpler surgery compared to osteotomy. Recovery time varies significantly based on the technique used, from a relatively quick recovery with guided growth to a more extended rehabilitation period following osteotomy. Most patients achieve significant improvement in leg alignment, reducing the long-term risk of joint problems associated with the abnormal alignment.

Minimally invasive knee replacement achieves the same goal as traditional total knee replacement, resurfacing the damaged knee joint with an artificial implant, but uses a smaller incision and specialized surgical techniques designed to minimize disruption to the surrounding muscles and soft tissue. This approach may offer some patients benefits such as less post-operative pain and a potentially quicker initial recovery, though long-term outcomes and implant longevity are generally comparable to traditional knee replacement techniques. The procedure is performed under spinal or general anesthesia and typically takes slightly longer than traditional knee replacement due to the more technically demanding surgical approach, generally one to two hours. Physical therapy begins early after surgery, similar to traditional knee replacement, to restore knee motion and strength. Not all patients are ideal candidates for the minimally invasive approach, with the surgeon determining suitability based on individual anatomy and the specific knee condition being treated. Most patients experience substantial pain relief and improved function, with the specific surgical approach chosen based on individual patient factors and surgeon expertise and preference.