Mixed reactions of fear and anxiety always accompany the thought of having surgery. However, according to the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, about two-thirds of all hospitalizations involve some type of surgical procedure. While only plastic surgery patients look forward to surgical procedures, it’s important to note that aside from saving lives, surgical procedures function to help in diagnosis or health-related complications as well as improve our quality of life. Sometimes, surgical procedures are essential and unavoidable.

According to an Orthopedic Surgeon in Brick, your doctor might recommend a surgical procedure due to varied reasons. In some cases, the operations are to ease the patient’s pain. Other times, the surgeries are to help the patient’s body function better or to treat an illness. While there’s limited data on how many people undergo surgery every year in the U.S, there’s evidence that specific surgical procedures are more popular than others. 

Why Would a Doctor Recommend Surgery?

A physician may recommend a surgical procedure as an elective or emergency and due to several reasons. In the U.S, a patient may require surgery to:

  • To diagnose a suspicious lump in the body
  • To get rid of an obstruction
  • For diagnosis or exploration purposes
  • For bypass surgery or redirecting blood vessels
  • To repair or remove diseased organs or tissues
  • Improve physical appearance
  • Transplant whole organs or tissues

 Risk of Surgeries

Just like any medical procedure, surgeries have their challenges. The possible complications of surgeries and risks differ based on the type of surgery performed by a medical professional. Complex operations such as open-heart surgery typically have a high risk of complications, but fortunately, new advanced methods have found ways to lower the risks. 

Common Surgeries in the U.S

Standard Surgical Procedures in the U.S

Hysterectomy

According to U.S medical data, about 500,000 women have had a hysterectomy procedure. This surgery involves removing the ovaries and fallopian tubes for various reasons which range from benign to malignant conditions. The purpose determines the cost of this particular surgery and the method used.

Broken Bone Repair

More than 600,000 surgeries conducted in the U.S each year are to repair broken bones. Surgery might be needed based on the type of bone broken and whether you need to have it repaired. This type of surgery involves using metal plates, screws, and rods to help keep parts of the broken bones in place for healing.

C-Section

In the United States, more than a million women conceive their babies by C-section every year. Women who have health-related issues may choose to have a C-section earlier for their own safety issues. A doctor might also recommend a C-section procedure in case complications develop during delivery, such as high blood pressure, the position of the umbilical cord, placenta, or the baby.

Circumcisions

In the U.S, physicians perform more than a million circumcision procedures on newborn baby boys in medical facilities every year. Circumcision involves the removal of the foreskin covering the child’s penis.

Joint Replacement

Millions of U.S citizens undergo joint replacement surgeries each year. These surgical procedures are performed on the hips, knee, ankles, and shoulders. The surgical procedure involves the surgeon removing damaged joints and replacing them with artificial modified ones. The cost of the surgery depends on the medical facility. 

Bottom Line

Surgery has been an essential component of healthcare all over the globe for close to a century. As the rate of cardiovascular disease, traumatic injuries, and cancers continue to plummet, the impact of surgery on our health systems will continue to grow. Remember, while the role of surgical procedures is to save lives, unsafe surgical care will cause substantial harm that could be fatal.

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