Orthopedic doctors are physicians that treat conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis. Such doctors are very skilled in areas pertaining to joint issues, broken bones, and other musculoskeletal conditions. Highly respected in the medical community, orthopedists can be found working in private practices and hospitals all over the country.

Orthopedists that work in small clinics or private practices often times limit the types of conditions they will treat. This is the doctor's right to opt to do this. It is common for clinic orthopedists to refer their patient's to outside offices for treatment they can offer but choose not to. Hospital orthopedists tend to treat a larger range of issues under the scope of their speciality.

The education involved to be an active member of this profession is not an easy ride. Patient's rely on their physician's to give them treatments that will work. Considering this, prospective medical students may want to look at other career options if he or she cannot say with all their heart that this is the field that he or she wishes to be involved in. Being a physician is demanding. There is a possibility of work hours cutting into personal time. The potential doctor needs to embrace this and understand that will be a part of his or her life.

Doctor's who are very dedicated to their work and their patient's are very successful in their careers. A great deal of satisfaction is attained when the doctor sees his or her patients come in with an injury and leave with a full recovery. All cases, unfortunately, do not have such a happy ending. The treating physician needs to be able to handle this type of scenario professionally, yet at the same time be personable enough that the patient does not detest the idea of receiving care.

As far as procedures are concerned, arthroscopies are common in this field. Arthroscopies are minimally invasive medical procedures that allows the doctor to gain better insight to the precise condition of damage sustained by a particular area of the body. Orthopedists who have opted to obtain additional training may also perform hand and spine surgeries. Pediatric orthopedics may be practiced with extra schooling as well. Arthroplasty, also known as total joint reconstruction is yet another offshoot orthopedists may elect to handle with additional education.

Medical students that wish to practice orthopedic medicine are required to attend four years of undergraduate college education, and an additional four years of medical school. Five more years of education is required in the form of a residency at a teaching hospital. These years are spent learning general surgery and orthopedic surgery, emphasis is on the latter.

Orthopedics is a very detailed area of medicine. All medical fields are very much involved. However, for someone to become an orthopedic doctor, he or she needs to maintain a high level of focus at all times. After the required education is finished, all orthopedic doctors will continue learning new skills. The fact of the matter is doctor's never quit learning throughout their entire careers. Seminars and reading materials are frequently referred to. An excellent work ethic is mandatory in order to become a physician.