When asked to summarize the philosophy he has practiced throughout his 25 years as an orthopedic surgeon, Wayne J. Altman, MD, FAAOS, states, "My orthopedic surgical philosophy has remained unchanged - to do for my patients as I would for my own family." Expanding upon that, he says, "I will always ask myself the following questions, 'If this person were my parent, spouse, sibling, child or best friend, would I have the same opinion and prescribe the same treatment? Or would I recommend the same type of surgery? This type of approach often modifies and humanizes the scientific decision into a more personal one." According to Dr. Altman, "Medicine and surgery are now often driven by new technological hammers looking for human nails. Any surgeon who has a stock approach or pet procedure for problems designed to fit everybody, in reality, fit no one - at least optimally. Everyone is unique and should have solutions individually tailored to his or her needs and lifestyles. Non-surgical treatments have an important role to play in selected patients who may not be candidates for, nor fully benefit from surgery. These include diet and exercise, anti-inflammatory medications, and other modalities designed to relieve pain and swelling.