Sue Griffin, age 14, of Helena, Mont., for her question:

CAN YOU EXPLAIN ORTHOPEDICS?

Orthopedics is a branch of surgery that is devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, injuries, deformities and malformations of the musculo skeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons.

Doctors in the field of orthopedics, called orthopedists, treat traumatic injuries to bones, such as fractures and dislocations; disturbances in joints, such as sprains, torn cartilages or strained ligaments; and inflammation of muscle or connective tissues, such as bursitis and tendenitis. They also treat back problems, such as strains, ruptured discs, or curvatures; foot problems such as flat feet or high arches; and neck disorders, such as strains or arthritis.

Orthopedic surgeons are mechanical appliances such as braces, splints and casts, and in surgical procedures extensively use hardware such as screws, pins, nails and bolts and nuts, particularly in repairing broken bones.

Many deformities are cured by operative means. Improved X ray techniques have made the diagnosis of bone and joint lesions more exact and the results of treatment more satisfactory.