Colon and rectal surgery deals with the intestinal tract, the colon, rectum and anal canal. A colon and rectal surgeon diagnoses and treats various diseases of these areas of the body by medical and surgical means. This specialist may deal with other organs and tissues that are affected by intestinal disease, such as the liver, urinary, and female reproductive system.

A colon and rectal surgeon can also diagnose and manage conditions such as hemorrhoids, abscesses and fistulae (infections located around the anus and rectum), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other inflammatory conditions. They also use technical procedures to evaluate and treat cancer, polyps, and other anorectal diseases.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Indiana has 40 practicing colon & rectal surgeons. Broken out by city, colon & rectal surgery doctor density in Anderson is 1, in Avon is 3, in Brownsburg is 1, in Carmel is 4, in Crown Point is 1, in Dyer is 1, in Elkhart is 1, in Evansville is 5, in Fort Wayne is 10, in Franklin is 1, in Greenfield is 1, in Greensburg is 1, in Greenwood is 1, in Griffith is 1, in Indianapolis is 15, in Kokomo is 2, in La Porte is 1, in Lebanon is 1, in Martinsville is 2, in Mooresville is 5, in Noblesville is 3, in North Vernon is 1, in Plymouth is 1, in South Bend is 2, and in Warsaw is 2.

Indiana’s population is 6,271,973, and most of the state’s population is located in the north, near the Lake Michigan shoreline, and is part of the greater metro Chicago area. Indiana became a state in 1816, and boasts many historical sites and covered bridges, numerous state parks and forests, hunting and fishing, and a variety of golf courses. Centrally located Indianapolis is home to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, hosting the world-famous 500-mile auto race every year. This capital and largest city of Indiana also hosts a Civil War museum, a planetarium, and the Indiana Historical Society, among many other attractions.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Indiana has a population of 6,271,973. Of this population, 1,566,280 are under the age of 18 and 774,303 are at or above the age of 65.