By DukeHealth.org staff

Worried about an upcoming orthopaedic procedure? Now you can watch patient education videos to learn about treatments before and after your visit to Duke Orthopaedics.

Designed to help patients learn about common orthopaedic conditions and treatment options -- from Achilles tendon rupture to carpal tunnel syndrome -- the animations can be a helpful patient resource throughout your care.

Explore Treatment Options

Duke Orthopaedics' Selene Parekh, MD, MBA, says there are two main ways that patients can use the videos.

First, if you know your diagnosis before meeting with your doctor or surgeon, the videos can help you understand potential treatments, Parekh says.

When it comes time to have the initial meeting with your doctor, you will be more educated on the condition and solutions. This results in a richer doctor-patient interaction.

Ease Anxiety

Second, if the orthopaedic surgeon has confirmed that you will have a certain type of procedure, the videos can simulate an animated version of what will be performed in the surgery. Knowing what to expect can ease your anxiety.

Parekh also points out that through text, audio, and animation, the videos can stimulate a variety of senses. “Patients learn things differently depending on which sense is engaged,” he explains.

But remember that the videos alone aren't enough to diagnose your condition or prepare you for how to treat it.

“The one thing that patients should realize is that these are fairly generalized videos,” Parekh says. “If you read about bunion surgery, it’s the general concept of bunion surgery. Be sure to speak to your orthopaedic surgeon about the specific nature of your surgery.”