ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses health issues related to orthopaedics. It also explains preoperative considerations, intraoperative management, postoperative management and specific problems for the same. These issues include anaesthesia for orthopaedic surgery, hip and knee arthroplasty, repair of fractured neck of femur, shoulder surgery and trauma. Patients tend to be young or elderly. Prevalent problems in this latter group include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and the associated immunosuppressive medications, comorbidity and polypharmacy. Total hip arthroplasty involves replacement both of the acetabulum and head/neck of the femur. Hemiarthroplasty involves only replacing the femoral head. Knee arthroscopy is a commonly performed procedure involving the insertion of a rigid, fine-bore arthroscope and surgical instruments through small, periarticular incisions into a joint cavity. Shoulder surgery can be performed either by open or arthroscopic techniques. Any patient can present with trauma. The procedure may be urgent and therefore the patient may not be starved or optimally prepared for surgery.
