Osteoarthritis – a disease that progressively destroys the cartilage that serves as a “shock absorber” within our joints – is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. That’s because, as the cartilage in an affected joint is worn down, the joint becomes stiff and painful and may even result in loss of movement.
*When it’s cold out, be of the mindset that ANY wet/dark area of pavement could be slippery and icy. Even if there hasn’t been any actual precipitation, dew and water vapor can freeze on cold surfaces which, in turn, can form an extremely thin and nearly invisible layer of ice that can look like wet pavement but is anything but.
Physical therapists are your providers. These are health care professionals who help patients improve their mobility, decrease their pain, their need for pain relieving medications and the potential need for surgery.
Prairie Orthopaedic & Plastic Surgery is very excited to announce that two of our Physical Therapists have recently attained the advanced designation of Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission.
Some of the most common winter sports injuries are sprains, strains, dislocations, and fractures. In fact, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 290,000 individuals were treated for winter-related sports in 2014 – 114,000 injuries from snow skiing, 79,000 injuries from snowboarding, 47,000 injuries from ice skating, and 52,000 injuries from sledding. Many times these injuries occur at the end of the day when participants are tired and ready to call it quits but just can’t help themselves from getting in one more good run before the daylight fades.
Internal fixation is a surgical procedure that is done to help set a fracture and reposition bones/bone fragments into normal, proper alignment. This is accomplished with a variety of different implants including plates, screws, rods, and wires (that are made from either titanium or stainless steel). Now, while this may sound a bit scary, it’s really not…we promise! Here’s how the various implements that orthopaedic surgeons use for internal fixation work to ensure optimal healing:
The seriousness of growth plate fractures lies, in large part, to the fact that if a growth plate fracture is not treated properly – and promptly – the affected limb could grow crooked or to an unequal length as its opposing side. Fortunately, though, serious complications are relatively rare and, with proper treatment, the majority of growth plate fractures heal without complication.
This type of injury tends to occur when an individual falls directly onto his/her shoulder. However, a “separated shoulder” – regardless of the name – isn’t a true injury of the shoulder joint itself.
Wearing high heels puts the feet at a rather unnatural angle which, in turn, pulls muscles and joints out of alignment, meaning that the painful effects of said footwear aren’t limited to what’s below the ankle. In fact, it’s not at all unusual for those who spend LOTS of time in heels to suffer from low back pain, neck pain, and even shoulder pain…all ailments that are a direct result of the fact that the shoes disrupt the natural form of the body.
