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Dr. Michael Acurio: An Orthopedic Surgeon’s Day

· Orthopedic

An experienced orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Michael Acurio has established a successful practice in Bossier City, Louisiana, alongside practicing at the Specialists Hospital in Louisiana. Like many orthopedic surgeons, his day consists of some activities. Central to all his work is dealing with injuries and diseases that affect the human musculoskeletal system – the joints, bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Working hours

In many cities across the country, orthopedic surgeons work more hours than the average worker. Sometimes, orthopedic surgeons also work irregular hours. For example, an individual involved in a car accident in the middle of the night and suffers severe bone damage may require the attention of an orthopedic surgeon. As a result, the specialists’ schedule may become unpredictable.

Consultancy work

Often, patients needing orthopedic treatment are attended to by many physicians. As such, the orthopedic surgeon will enlist the help of other doctors to determine the best course of action. Depending on the case, the course of action can be surgery or less invasive procedures like injections. Consulting with other doctors is quite important since it provides an avenue for the physicians to discuss symptoms and shares ideas.

Surgery

Many orthopedic surgeons are specialists in a particular part of the body. For example, there are those who specialize in the knees, spine, ankles or feet. Depending on their area of specialization, the physician may have to perform a surgical procedure on a typical day.

An orthopedic surgeon who specializes in knee treatment, for example, may be called upon to perform an arthroscopic procedure. It takes about an hour to complete and is a minimally invasive procedure meant to repair a torn structure and areas with damaged cartilage. Other forms of orthopedic surgeries are more complicated and can take hours to perform.

With this in mind, a typical day can be mentally and physically taxing, but it can also be rewarding. Seeing a young patient recover from a damaged knee or a senior woman regain walking ability due to a hip replacement procedure, for example, can bring joy to an orthopedic surgeon. Such results are the culmination of hard work and dedication to the craft.

Practice

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons website, there are more than 20,000 practicing orthopedic surgeons in the United States. Many of these physicians are either working in private practices like Dr. Michael Acurio, a part of orthopedic groups or multi-specialty groups