Orthopedic surgery deals with problems of the spine and the extremities. An orthopedic surgeon diagnoses and treats patients whose musculoskeletal problems include arthritis, trauma and congenital deformities. He or she also works with patients who have traumatic and overuse injuries. Using both surgical and non-surgical means, the orthopedic surgeon will treat injuries and degenerative problems of the spine and extremities, such as hands, feet, knees, shoulders and elbows.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are Spinal Infection, Spinal Discectomy, Spinal Injury, Spondylolisthesis, Spinal Stenosis, Herniated Disc, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Scoliosis, Spinal Deformity, Spinal Cord Tumors, arthritis, Trigger finger, Tennis elbow, Wrist fractures, Ganglion cysts, Orthopaedic trauma, Brachial plexus injuries, and congenital deformities.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including Disc Disease / Surgery, Hand surgery, Hip Replacement, Back / Spine Surgery , Invasive Disc Surgery, Joint Surgery, Kyphosis Surgery, Shoulder arthroscopy and débridement, Repair of ankle fracture (bimalleolar type), Repair fracture of radius (bone)/ulna, Knee replacement, Laminectomy, Total joint reconstruction (arthroplasty), Spine surgery, Foot and ankle surgery, Lumbar spinal fusion, Carpal tunnel release, Repair of femoral shaft fracture, Repair of rotator cuff tendon, and Repair of ankle fracture (fibula).

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including Cat Scan, MRI arthrogram, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Axial Tomography (CT or CAT Scan), x-ray, PET scan, Bone Scans, Hip Ultrasound, Gallium Scan, Medical Photography, and Spine Ultrasound.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Idaho has 114 practicing orthopedic surgeons. Broken out by city, orthopedic surgery doctor density in American Falls is 1, in Blackfoot is 4, in Boise is 30, in Burley is 2, in Caldwell is 6, in Coeur D Alene is 5, in Council is 1, in Eagle is 1, in Emmett is 2, in Fruitland is 5, in Gooding is 2, in Hailey is 4, in Idaho Falls is 12, in Jerome is 2, in Kellogg is 1, in Kenosha is 1, in Ketchum is 4, in Lewiston is 10, in Meridian is 23, in Montpelier is 1, in Moscow is 3, in Nampa is 6, in Pocatello is 2, in Ponderay is 1, in Preston is 1, in Rexburg is 3, in Saint Maries is 1, in Salmon is 1, in Sandpoint is 1, in Twin Falls is 12, in Weiser is 1, and in White Bird is 1.

Idaho achieved statehood 1890, and its capital city is Boise. The recent boom of science and technology has superseded agriculture and tourism as the state’s primary resource. Visit the Idaho State Historical Society or the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts in Boise, or tour the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa. Places to see in Idaho include a mountain resort, a mining-era town, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, or the Ernest Hemingway Memorial.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Idaho has a population of 1,429,096. Of this population, 365,765 are under the age of 18 and 163,142 are at or above the age of 65.