What is the difference between a podiatrist and an orthopaedic?

Answer 1

This is a difficult question to answer as no-one really know what a "Foot health Practitioner" is. This is because, unlike "Chiropody" and "Podiatry" it is not a Protected Title and can be used by anyone regardless of training levels.

So anyone can set up and offer "footcare services" and use this title. The same applies to the title "Foot Health Professional" "Foot Care Professional" etc.etc.

A Foot Health Practitioner is a stand-alone practitioner on the lowest rung of the footcare ladder. They are not regulated by Statute - unlike Chiropodists and podiatrist who are regulated by the Health Professions Council www.hpc-uk.org

There is now a course that claims to train a type of foot care person in 2 weeks total.

The longest course available for training this type of unregulated practitioner consists of a year's correspondence course and the 2 weeks practical. It is obvious to anyone that this short practical training cannot possibly prepare the practitioner for all the conditions they may come across in the field.

Podiatrists train for 3 years at university f/t with a considerable amount of hands-on experience. They don't only learn how to treat conditions of the legs and feet but understand why the condition has arisen and what can be done to alleviate future problems.

I would always recommend a person with a foot problem to seek advice from a Regulated practitioner.

Answer 2

Nothing! There is no difference between a chiropodist and a podiatrist. The term chiropodist has been traditionally used in the UK, but the term podiatrist is recognised and used more internationally. Chiropodists in the UK are being referred to as podiatrists more and more and many people in the profession refer to themselves as both.

Answer 3

Podiatry is a really a subset of Orthopedics and deals with the diagnosis and treatment including surgery of the foot, ankle and lower leg. There are some differences and many similarities. Some may have misinformed conclusions of what a podiatrist can and cannot do without being educated properly. Orthopedic Surgeons complete either 4 years of allopathic or osteopathic medical school. This is followed by a general internship of 1 year and then 5 years of residency training in general orthopedics which includes treating hips, knees, shoulders, etc. This does also include treating feet and ankles but is not focused on this area. Many orthopedic surgeons complete 5 years of training without performing certain foot/ankle surgeries at all. Those orthopedic surgeons who want to further their training to focus on the foot/ankle complete a 1 year fellowship in foot and ankle surgery. A fellowship is typically needed because certain conditions and complex surgeries of the foot/ankle require further training. Podiatrists or now commonly referred to as Podiatric Surgeons, complete 4 years of Podiatric medical school in which they complete the same courses as their allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) collegues (often sitting in the same classrooms in some schools). The 3rd and 4th year instead of studying courses addressing psychiatry or OBY/GYN, podiatric medical students study courses such as lower extremity diseases and biomechanics of the foot/ankle and lower leg. The main difference is that podiatrists specialize from the beginning of their training. Graduates obtain a DPM degree (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine). This difference in degree depends really on the school the medical professional graduated from. There are orthopedic surgeons who have a DO degree instead of an MD degree. Allopathic graduates obtain a MD degree (Medical Doctor) and osteopathic graduates obtain a DO degree (Doctor of Osteopathic). Podiatric Surgeons complete a 3 year hospital based residency which includes training in all aspects of foot and ankle surgery. Rotations for Podiatry Residents include the typical rotations such as General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Orthopedics, Internal Medicine, Dermatology and of course Podiatry and Foot/Ankle surgery. There are some that choose to complete a 1 year fellowship to further subspecialize focusing more on diabetic limb salvage or sports medicine of the foot/ankle. Podiatrists prescribe medication, admit patients in the hospital typically with internal medicine management, and perform surgery in the hospital setting or outpatient surgical setting. Not all Podiatrists choose to perform all types of foot/ankle surgery just as not all Orthopedic Surgeons choose to perform back surgery vs knee surgery for example. There are some older podiatrists who do not perform surgery at all as there are orthopedic surgeons who choose to be nonsurgical. The bottom line is that Podiatric Surgeons and those Orthopedic Surgeons who completed a foot/ankle fellowship can equally treat diagnose and perform surgery of the foot and ankle. In many areas there is a collaboration between podiaric surgeons and orthopedic foot/ankle surgeons. This is evident in the medical journal "Foot & Ankle Specialist" where both specialists share and promote foot/ankle care. The key is as with any physician, choose who you go to based upon their reputation and referrals and not simply because one is different from the other.

Answer 4

The difference between a podiatrist and pediatrician are the functions and type of doctors they are. Podiatrists treat all problems connected to the feet, whereas, Pediatricians treat children from infancy to the age of eighteen. Podiatrists are not medical doctors, they are doctors of podiatry. Pediatricians, on the other hand, are medical doctors.

Answer 5

Orthopaedics is the branch of surgery concerned with disorders of the spine and joints and the repair of deformities of these parts.

Podiatry is the care of the human foot, especially the diagnosis and treatmentof foot disorders.

Answer 6

There are a few main differences that distinguish orthopedic surgeons focusing on foot and ankle and podiatrists.

Education: After completing their undergraduate degree, students have to decide if they attend medical school and earn their M.D./D.O. or attend podiatric school and earn their DPM.

Medical students must "match" into an orthopedic surgery residency. Competition is extremely high because there are many more applicants than training spots available. Orthopedic surgery residency is 5 years compared to 2-3 years for podiatrists.

Treatment: Both providers see patients with general foot conditions. Both perform surgical procedures. Fewer orthopedic providers perform basic foot care such as nail care. Fewer podiatrists perform large reconstructions or treat patients with complex trauma such distal tibia/leg fractures. However, there are certainly exceptions to this. Also, in the state of Arizona, podiatrists are not permitted to perform amputations or admit patients to a hospital on their service.

Answer 7

Chiropodist is the British English version of podiatrist, which is the American English version of "foot doctor."

Answer 8

there is no difference, they both are the same thing