164 Anatomy & Physiology at Work CAREER CORNER Orthopedics is a field of medical science that specializes in treating injuries, disorders, and diseases of the bones and joints. Many different health professionals, however, are involved in helping patients overcome skeletal injuries and improve the health of their bones and joints. Physician When bone and joint injuries or age-related conditions arise, which healthcare professionals team up to take care of these problems? The person injured should usually seek help first from a family physician, general practitioner, or other primary care provider who offers comprehensive healthcare for people of all ages. Family physicians have either the MD (Doctor of Medicine) degree or the DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degree. The family physician can examine the patient and, as appropriate, administer a series of tests to determine whether referral to an orthopedic surgeon is warranted for more specialized care. Orthopedic surgeons have specialized training beyond the MD or DO degree in the care of bone and joint injuries and pathologies. The orthopedic surgeon most likely will want to see an X-ray and sometimes an MRI (magnetic resonance image) to determine whether surgery is warranted, and what other follow-up care may be appropriate. Radiographer Radiographers use imaging techniques, such as radiographs (X-rays) and MRI scans, to capture pictures of injured or pathological tissues. These professionals, also called medical radiation technologists, provide the images to doctors, who evaluate the images to determine the most effective treatment for the patient. These technologists are trained in positioning patients to get the best kinds of images for evaluation (Figure 4.40). Radiographers may specialize in mammography, fluoroscopy, computed tomography, ultrasound, or MRI. The education required to become a radiologic technologist typically is a bachelor’s degree that includes training in radiography. Orthotist/Prosthetist Sometimes the best way to treat an orthopedic injury is with a customized device. Such devices, called orthotics, include custom shoe inserts and leg braces. For more serious injuries, a patient’s limb may need to be replaced with a prosthetic one. A prosthetic is a fabricated substitute developed to assist a damaged body part or replace one that is missing. A person who treats patients with orthotics or prosthetics is called an orthotist/prosthetist (OR-tha-tist/ PRAHS-theh-tist), or O&P professional. Poznyakov/Shutterstock.com Figure 4.40 A radiographer needs to know how to operate the many types of imaging equipment used to help diagnose patient injuries. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.