orthopaedics
/ˌɔːθəˈpiːdɪks
/(US orthopedics)
plural noun [treated as singular]
The branch of medicine dealing with the correction of deformities of bones or muscles.His professional interests were in metastatic paraplegia and paediatric orthopaedics....
- After a firm grounding in orthopaedics he entered general practice.
- Most of the work will be in orthopaedics and ophthalmology - specialties with the longest waiting lists.
Derivatives
orthopaedist
/ noun ...- After referral to a pediatric orthopedist, she was diagnosed with idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis.
- If the examination is positive, referral to an orthopedist may be a better strategy than MRI because of the latter's relatively low specificity.
- I believe this problem, however, is greatly overdiagnosed by sports orthopedists, who are used to treating inflexible football players rather than flexible swimmers.
Origin
Mid 19th century (originally relating specifically to children): from French orthopédie, from Greek orthos 'right or straight' + paideia 'rearing of children'.