Patients who have serious injuries or damage in the bones, joints, muscles, or any part of the human musculoskeletal system, that require more specialized attention, may be referred by their general practitioner to see a specialist who is a type of orthopedic surgeon. Although it is a very time consuming process, it is to the patient's considerable advantage to undergo an effort to search out the most qualified professional to do the specific job with the best results.

A qualified orthopedist is supposed to spend several years attending medical school attending an accredited residency program. Patients considering seeing a specialist should not hesitate to inquire or research about this before making a decision or scheduling any initial consultation. Doing this will help ensure that a specialist will be selected who has undergone the requisite training in the necessary area of expertise. There are doctors who have been trained to specialize in different areas, for example, specialists in spinal problems, arthritis, complaints affecting specifically the shoulders, hands, knees, hips, and most other musculoskeletal components. Obviously it is easier to get a more detailed diagnosis after having seen the specialist, but patients should still research everything they can completely and thoroughly based on what they know of their condition, in order to make an informed selection of a specialist with the right credentials.

Another thing to look at is, beyond school training, how much and what kind of actual field experience the physician has had in working with the patient's specific ailment. It cannot be denied that the more well versed an orthopedist is in his or her field of expertise, the better the chances will be considered for a successful outcome, so many patients will naturally seek out one who has a good "track record" under his or her belt. An important tip to remember is that some of the most experienced practitioners of orthopedics are those who have a record of working closely with athletes, or better still, team doctors, in sports that entail a high level of physical contact, such as football. This is because such athletes injure themselves all the time in the course of the conduct of the game, and require attention from the best trained experts in orthopedics; such physicians will also quickly amass so much experience in such a short time that working within their area of specialty and dealing successfully with a range of circumstances becomes more routine for them.

It is also recommended to try to learn something of a prospective doctor's treatment philosophy. Is the doctor known for being quick to suggest surgery, or slow to suggest surgery? This is an important factor to consider; a doctor with a reputation for proposing surgery for nearly every malady might not be as desirable for patients more comfortable with a more conservative approach to surgery employed by other physicians who tend to exhaust other available methods first. On the other hand, one who is regarded too conservative in this regard may be inappropriate for patients who feel they require a more aggressive stance on surgery.

Another tip is to try to evaluate the bedside manner of the physician who is a candidate for treating orthopedic problems. Does he or she encourage the patient to ask questions about the treatment, or discourage the patient from playing too much a role in making decisions? Are his or her responses to your questions clear and thorough? If so, this tends to be an indication that there will be more of a personal level of mutual trust and respect throughout every stage of the procedure.