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I became an orthopaedic surgeon because...
Source: A Nation in Motion

As a former college basketball player I saw first hand the devastation that a season ending injury can cause. I was also fortunate enough to see the skill of a surgeon that can "repair your broken parts," and the motivation it takes for an athlete to rehab successfully to return to the game they love. I feel I can relate to athletes of all ages and help them accomplish their goals and get them back to their active lifestyles.

Breakthrough In Arthritis Research
Source: Medical News Today

Researchers at Western University have made a breakthrough that could lead to a better understanding of a common form of arthritis that, until now, has eluded scientists.

According to The Arthritis Society, the second most common form of arthritis after osteoarthritis is "diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis" or DISH. It affects between six and 12 percent of North Americans, usually people older than 50. DISH is classified as a form of degenerative arthritis and is characterized by the formation of excessive mineral deposits along the sides of the vertebrae in the neck and back. Symptoms of DISH include spine pain and stiffness and in advanced cases, difficulty swallowing and damage to spinal nerves. The cause of DISH is unknown and there are no specific treatments.

Stop elbow pain before it’s chronic
Source: The Province

One body part where there are a number of common issues is the elbow joint. Terms like tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow get thrown around regularly when people have pain in their elbows.

Related conditions, like carpal tunnel syndrome, also involve the elbow joint and muscles of the forearm.

One of the problems with elbow injuries is that this area is constantly in use. People with elbow pain commonly list simple activities like typing, driving, writing, shaking hands or turning doorknobs as movements that aggravate their condition.

New hip replacement approach offers multiple benefits
Source: Daily Republic

It’s no fun walking around with an ailing hip; anyone with severe arthritis knows that kind of pain all too well. For years, orthopedic surgeons have been performing total hip replacements when less invasive options don’t provide the desired results.

The bottom line for those who have hip pain that significantly interferes with their quality of life is that there’s no need to suffer. If non-operative treatments don’t provide the long term relief, hip replacement or resurfacing may be the answer.

Vitamin D no help for arthritis in the knee
Source: Medical News Today

Adults with osteoarthritis in the knees who take vitamin D supplements did not show an improvement in pain relief or cartilage loss, according to a new study published in JAMA.

ACL therapy can get started a few days after surgery to jumpstart healing
Source: dailyRX

In healing the ACL, therapies that focus on range-of-motion, strength and getting back to normal function are beneficial in the process, a new study has found.

Fewer injuries occur and more concussions are diagnosed in high schools with athletic trainers
Source: dailyRX

Where there are athletic trainers, there are lower rates of injury overall in high schools, a new study presented at a conference has found. This study's findings mean athletic trainers can show the proper way to exercise and treat an injury.

Association between lack of sleep and teen sports injuries
Source: MedicalNewsToday

Hours of sleep per night were significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of injury, according to the study results. In addition, the higher the grade levels of the athlete, the greater the likelihood of injury - 2.3 times greater for each additional grade in school. Gender, weeks of participating in sports per year, hours of participation per week, number of sports, strength training, private coaching and subjective assessments of "having fun in sports" were not significantly associated with injury.

Barefoot Running: Yeah or Nay?
Source: dailyRX

Runners have worn footwear and gone barefoot while running to avoid injury.

The barefoot running trend has gained popularity over the last decade, but scientists are unsure whether this is a good or bad thing. A recent study showed that it is less about whether a runner is wearing shoes and more about how they are running.

Young Athletes: Injuries and Prevention
Source: MedicalNewsToday

High profile events like the Olympics bring the hope that witnessing and celebrating dedicated athletes at the top of their game, will inspire young people to take up sport and physical activities that help them develop confidence, lead more satisfying lives, and not least, secure long-term health by reducing their risk for developing chronic illness like diabetes, obesity, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

But unfortunately, if they don't take appropriate measures, young athletes can instead, end up in pain, on a different path to poor health, due to avoidable sport injury.

Experts offer tips to help keep fall sports injury free
Source: USnews.com

Fall sports such as soccer, football and volleyball are in high gear and players need to take steps to prevent injuries, experts say.

Deep abdominal muscle activation lessens lower back pain
Source: News Medical

Improving transversus abdominis slide appears to be associated with clinically important long-term pain reduction in people experiencing lower back pain, researchers report.

Sports medicine physician recommends two high-tech tools to enhance patient care
Source: News Medical

Research shows that the average person only retains 15 to 20 percent of what he or she is told during a medical appointment. According to Matt Roth, MD, associate medical director for ProMedica Sports Care, when patients have the opportunity to view actual images of their anatomy and diagnosis, their understanding and retention improves.

Beginning Runners Naturally Develop More Economical Gait
Source: ACSM

Runners naturally develop a more economical running style over time, according to research published in the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. This study, in the September edition of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise®, demonstrates that after completing a 10-week running program, participants had improved running economy by 8.4% through a self-optimization process.

Stay safe while skiing, snowboarding with your family
Source: AAPNews

Going down the slopes with your kids is a great way to spend family vacations. But make sure you also keep safety in mind while skiing and snowboarding.

Autograft hip reconstruction provides good outcomes for athletes
Source: MedicalNewsToday

A common, painful hip condition in elite athletes may be able to be repaired with an improved surgical technique, according to researchers presenting their work at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.

Common shoulder injury treated non-surgically may increase chances of return-to-play
Source: MedicalNewsToday

Surgically repairing a painful shoulder injury in baseball players known as a SLAP tear (superior labral) varies widely and often doesn't allow for return to play at the same level as before the injury. However, researchers presenting their findings at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland suggest that nonsurgical treatment may be more beneficial.

Study suggests new screening method for sudden death in athletes
Source: MedicalNewsToday

A new study suggests that echocardiography be included as part of screenings to help identify student athletes with heart problems that could lead to sudden death.

Trampoline Advice Issued By Orthopedic Surgeons
Source - MedicalNewsToday

"Although trampolines can be fun for both kids and adults, they pose a high risk for injuries, especially when two or more people jump at one time. Orthopedic surgeons recommended that trampolines not be used in home environments or in outdoor playgrounds because of the high risk of injuries from this activity."

The AAOS has created an audio public service message as well as a position statement regarding trampoline safety in order to prevent injuries sustained from trampolines, rather than treat them.

In children with ACL injuries, surgery delay can cause irreparable meniscus tears
Source - MedicalNewsToday

For children aged 14 and under, delaying reconstructive surgery for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries may raise their risk of further injury, according to a new study by pediatric orthopaedic surgeons. If surgery occurs later than 12 weeks after the injury, the injury may even be irreparable.

ACL injuries have increased among children and young adults in recent years, possibly because of increased participation in high-level sports such as football, skiing, lacrosse, hockey and soccer, all of which place a high demand on the knees, where the ACL is located.

Pediatricians sound alarm on overuse sports injuries
Source - ScienceDaily

Children are prone to sport-specific trauma to the growth plates. For example, dancers, skaters and cheerleaders are vulnerable to ankle damage, while baseball and football players tend to injure their shoulders and elbows. Runners suffer shin pain and knee problems, while gymnasts are prone to wrist damage from repetitive weight bearing.

"The combination of repetitive use and skeletal immaturity puts these youngsters at high risk for injuries, some of them long-lasting, so it is really important that young children have whole-body conditioning and engage in a variety of athletic activities rather than one sport," Valasek says.

Sprained ankles can be complicated—and misdiagnosed
Source - HealthNewsDigest

Ankle sprains may be one of the most common injuries, but they’re also commonly misdiagnosed. That’s because the two major types of sprained ankles—high ankle sprains and lateral ankle sprains—often look the same, even though they affect entirely different ligaments. Surgeons are taking a closer look at the treatment of ankle sprains at the Annual Scientific Conference of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons in San Antonio this week.

The less common type—a high ankle sprain—is often mistaken for a lateral sprain. Misdiagnosis can delay getting the right treatment—and that can impair recovery.

Thromboprophylaxis ‘not supported’ for ankle fracture surgery
Source - MedwireNews

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is rare in patients who undergo ankle fracture surgery, say researchers who believe that routine use of thromboprophylaxis is unnecessary in this population. Pelet et al therefore conclude that, in the absence of evidence, thromboprophylaxis use is not supported for patients undergoing ankle fracture surgery.

New company enters market to use vitamin E to extend life of hip, knee implants
Source - Marco News.com

Vitamin E isn't an antioxidant just for your skin and nails anymore — it's expanding to joint implants. Zimmer, a company also based in Warsaw, is seeking FDA approval to offer its own version.The concept is that the natural antioxidant in vitamin E can prevent wear of the polyethylene, or plastic, components of implants. Many cup liner components for hip implants are made of the plastic and the same goes for plastic knee bearings in knee replacements.

The vitamin is blended in during the manufacturing process and makes the material denser to better handle stress, said Tim Gardener, product director for hip products with Zimmer.

'30-year knee' lasts twice as long as most knee replacements
Source — 9News.com

In the U.S., the number of knee replacements has doubled in the last decade. More than 600,000 Americans had knee replacement surgeries in 2009, with the fastest growing segment under the age of 65. More than 4.7 percent of those over the age of 50 already have knee replacements.

Given Dietrich's age, 71, and his good health, Xenos recommended a Legion Total Knee, or as some surgeons call it, a "30-year knee." Research has suggested the Total Knee, built with an oxinium metal alloy, deteriorates at a rate about half as fast as most traditional cobalt chromium alloy knee replacements.

Ankle replacement rapidly on the rise
Source - MarketWatch

Arthritic hips and knees are replaced all the time--but did you know that arthritic ankles can also be replaced? In fact, ankle replacements in the U.S. more than doubled last year, thanks in part to technological advances in ankle implants (prostheses). Surgeons are discussing this burgeoning procedure at the Annual Scientific Conference of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) in San Antonio, Texas.

Total ankle replacement surgery--also called ankle arthroplasty--involves replacing the damaged joint with an artificial joint. The procedure greatly improves function for people who cannot perform everyday activities without experiencing severe pain. Rheumatoid arthritis, osetoarthritis and previous injuries are the most common causes of this pain.

Prevent back, neck and shoulder pain from prolonged sitting and bad posture
Source - Natural News. com

Back, neck and shoulder pain is the natural result of prolonged sitting at work behind a computer, as is bad posture. This can cause headaches and excessive tension in neck, shoulders, arms, forearms, wrists, back, hips, thighs and legs.

Preventing back and neck pain while sitting is not an exact science as there are many differing opinions on the subject. However, there are some common denominators on which most chiropractors and other medical professionals agree:

Untreated varicose veins put patients at greater DVT risk following THA
Source - Orthosupersite

As the search continues for methods to reduce deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism risk in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty, researchers have found increased rates of deep vein thrombosis within 90 days of undergoing total hip arthroplasty among patients with untreated varicose veins.

ACL reconstruction delay in children may lead to higher rates of associated knee injuries
Source: Medical News Today

Kids treated more than 150 days after an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury have higher rates of other knee injuries, including medial meniscal tears, say researchers presenting at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's (AOSSM) Specialty Day in San Francisco, CA.

The study also demonstrated a relationship of age with children more than 15 years old having a higher rate of medial femoral chondral injury. Neither gender nor sport played during injury was found to be associated with an increased rate of injury in the study.

Monitored heart bracelets may prevent sudden death in sport
Source: Science Daily

The use of heart bracelets connected via ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) to a system of tracking and monitoring could prevent cases of sudden death in sports activities. It could also enable an early detection of cardiac abnormalities, the prevention of certain muscle injuries and the improvement in health care times to the athlete.

The possibility of sudden death can begin to take shape with cardiac abnormalities detectable until 60 minutes before cardiac arrest occurs. The use of these bracelets enables to control these anomalies, and other aspects such as cardiac abnormalities generated by the consumption of doping substances, thus improving the completeness and reducing the costs of today's sport controls.

Women have more knee ligament injuries than men due to geometry, not gender
Source: Science Daily

Research recently published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS), compared magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of male and female athletes with non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries with those of athletes who participated in similar, at-risk sports but without a history of ligament injury.

The study found that most of the women (those who had ACL injuries and those who did not) and only the ACL-injured men shared a common geometry on the outside of their knee joint: The upper part of their shin bone at the joint (tibial plateau) was much shorter and more rounded. This may help to explain why women have an ACL injury rate that is two-to-five times greater than that of men.

Treating ankle sprains
Source - abc Health News

According to estimates from orthopedic surgeons, 25-thousand people a day experience an ankle sprain. "The most common ankle injury is the lateral ankle sprain, which is spraining the ligaments on the outside of the ankle," Dr. Brian Donley of the Cleveland Clinic said. Lateral sprains are frequent in sports and the most common type seen in emergency rooms. A more serious sprain can involve a tear or happen higher in the ankle

It's the amount of stretching or tearing of the ligament that determines the pain. But whether mild, moderate or severe, the first response should be R-I-C-E. "The initial treatment that's important for both sprains is what we like to call the RICE method: Rest it, Ice it, put Compression on it, and elevate it and that's essential for both types of sprains," Donley said.

Rehabilitation prior to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair yields range of motion benefits
Source — ORTHOSuperSite

Preoperative rehabilitation programs for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair patients were found effective for increasing postoperative range of motion, but only during the first 3 weeks of recovery, according to a study presented at the 8th Biennial ISAKOS 2011 Congress.

From their study of 168 patients, Seyahi and colleagues found that while results of the preoperative rehabilitation program in the first 3 weeks after surgery were associated with greater improvement in range of motion (ROM) vs. those patients who completed only regular postoperative rehabilitation, there were no significant differences between the two groups’ functional outcomes at the 12 week and 12.4 month follow-ups.

Some seniors at greater risk of falls and hip fractures due to undiagnosed neurological disorders
Source — Medical News Today

Hip fractures are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. Cervical myelopathy is a common neurological condition that can diminish balance and coordination. Undiagnosed neurological disorders may predispose patients to falls and fractures. Screening for cervical myelopathy should be standard care for all hip fracture patients, to reduce the risk for additional falls and fractures.

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© Katherine J. Coyner M.D. Orthopaedic Surgeon Specializing in Sports Medicine Dallas Texas