Whether to see a Rheumatologist or an Orthopedic Surgeon ? Orthopedic surgeons as the name indicates are surgeons and not physicians. They are trained in carrying out surgical procedures on bones like fixing a broken bone( Or fracture ) or carrying out joint replacement surgeries, repairing a ligament or a cartilage tear. Your rheumatologist may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon if you need a joint replacement surgery or repair of broken structures of joint. But remember a rheumatologist may also help prevent many unnecessary joint replacement surgeries and help explore non-surgical treatment options for certain conditions. Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoporosis are to be treated with medicines and not surgery, hence one should consult a rheumatologist for these conditions and not an orthopedic surgeon.