Mrs. Polesiak
English 9 Accelerated
11 April 2012
Orthopedic Surgeon: The Career of Bones With our technology-advancing society, the numbers of existing careers are greatly increasing. In today’s culture there is a diverse spectrum of careers ranging from musician to proctologist. When choosing a career, one usually identifies their skills, in order for their expertise to be utilized in a job. Every career is vital and necessary, because it benefits the society as a whole; not just one person. One career that benefits people physically, mentally, and emotionally is the job of an orthopedic surgeon. Orthopedic surgery is now becoming progressively prevalent due to the importance of athletics in our culture. Becoming an orthopedic surgeon is difficult due to the numerous aspects of the career that one must excel in. In order to be an orthopedic surgeon, one should explore the many facets of the career. The history of orthopedic surgery reveals the advancement of technology used in the career. The term “orthopedics” is derived from the Greek words for “correct” (orthos) and “child” (paidion), which later formed into a broader term. Jean-Andre Venel is considered by some to the father of orthopedics, or the first true orthopedist. Venel established the first orthopedic institute in 1780, which was the first hospital dedicated to the treatment of children’s skeletal deformities. Many of the developments in orthopedic surgery resulted from experiences during wartime. On the battlefields of the middle Ages, the injured were treated with bandages soaked in horses’ blood, which then dried to form stiff but unsanitary, splints. Splinting and traction further developed during World War II, with the help of Dr. Kunchner of Germany. Dr. Kunchner used intramedullary rods to treat fractures of the femur and tibia, which made a noticeable difference to the speed of recovery of injured German soldiers. This then led to a more widespread
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