Parsteiner Blog

Archive for February, 2009

Orthopedic surgery refers to the branch of surgery dealing with injuries or condition involving the musculoskeletal system. Muscle injuries and congenital conditions resulting in orthopedic deformities are addressed by orthopedic surgeons at a Dwight hospital by using both surgical and non-surgical treatments. The word orthopedic may also be spelled “orthopaedic”.

In 1780, the first orthopedic institute was opened by Jean-Andre Venel, often referred to as the father of orthopedics. In 1851, Dutch military surgeon Antonius Mathysen invented the plaster of Paris cast. Throughout the centuries, often orthopedic advances were made as a result of wartime experiences. Splints made from bandages and horse blood was used on battlefields during the Middle Ages. During World War I, splinting and traction were developed.

A German doctor pioneered the use of intramedullary rods to treat femur and tibia fractures. These techniques made a major difference to injured German soldiers during World War II and the techniques spread worldwide. Despite that fact, traction was used through the 1970s to treat fractured thigh bones. In the late 1970s, the Harborview Medical Center in Seattle made intramedullary fixation without opening the fracture a popular procedure.

During the Vietnam War, external fixation of fractures was refined by the American surgeons. In the 1950s, Gavril Abramovich Ilizarov was called upon to care for injured Russian soldier in Siberia. With minimal orthopedic training and no equipment, Ilizarov created ring external fixators with the help of a local bicycle shop. He used these fixators to heal, realign and lengthen malaligned fractures. Ilizarov apparatus is still used today.

Another breakthrough that occurred during the 1950s was the development of arthroscopy by Dr. Masaki Watanabe of Japan. He pioneered surgery to perform minimally invasive surgery on cartilage and to reconstruct torn ligaments. Unlike open surgery, patients recover within days after arthroscopic surgery.

During the 1960′s, Sir John Charnley pioneered hip replacement surgery. Over the years, the design and technique of joint replacement implants has been continually improved. Since the 1970s, many strides have been in orthopedic treatment including knee replacements and joint replacement. Modern research makes surgery at a Dwight Illinois hospital less invasive. The implanted components are greatly improved. Improving treatment of children (pediatric orthopedics) continues to be an integral part developing modern orthopedic surgery techniques.

Orthopedic surgeons have the option to specialize in certain areas to learn how to render the most progressive treatments. Specialties include hand surgery, total joint reconstruction, spine surgery, pediatric orthopedics, surgical sports medicine and many others. When you choose a Chicago south suburbs hospital, you can inquire about specialized orthopedic surgeons.

Orthopedic surgery makes it possible for people to lead fuller, more active lives. A person who works with their hands may require carpal tunnel surgery. Orthopedic treatment is invaluable for a child born with a club foot. Joint replacement can mean the difference between being immobile and getting around. Modern orthopedic surgery techniques increase mobility for a more fulfilling lifestyle.

Sexual dysfunction, in one form or the other and in varying degrees, is common among both men and women. According to recent studies, a large percentage of all men and women encounter some sort of sexual dysfunction at some point in their lives. And as they grow older, such problems become increasingly common.

In males, sexual dysfunction may be of different types like lack of desire, failure to obtain and/or maintain an erection, and other problems like premature ejaculation and ejaculatory impotence, or the inability to ejaculate in coitus. Erectile dysfunction, however, is certainly the cause for maximum concern.

For the treatment of erectile dysfunction, three oral medications are available: sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), and tadalafil (Cialis). They boost the levels of nitric oxide, thereby relaxing the blood vessels and smooth muscle in the penis. As a result, the flow of blood is increased, and erection is achieved and maintained. Whatever may be the cause of erectile dysfunction, sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil have proved themselves extremely helpful. In Europe, another drug under the brand name of Uprima (apomorphine) has hit the market, although it still awaits the approval of the U.S. FDA. Instead of increasing blood flow in the penis, apomorphine acts on the brain to enhance erection.

These drugs should not, however, be used by those who have had a heart problem during the past six months, or those with serious liver or kidney ailments, certain eye disorders, and extreme levels of blood pressure.

In females, lack of libido, failure to become aroused, lack of orgasm or anorgasmy, and vaginismus are the common sexual dysfunctions.

Although no medications have yet been approved specifically for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction, research is continuing on the subject, which includes looking into the possibility of the use of sildenafil in females.

A pharmaceutical major is now about to get the go-ahead for a testosterone patch for the treatment of low libido in postmenopausal women. Falls in testosterone levels are believed to be responsible to a large extent for lack of libido in both men and women. The proposed transdermal testosterone patch, to be marketed under the name “Intrinsa,” is worn on the lower abdomen. Further research will determine who should or shouldn’t use the testosterone patch, and its possible side effects as well.

Allergies can interfere with even the most commonplace of daily events; for those who suffer from allergies, even leaving their house during certain times of year can prove nearly impossible. For sufferers, finding effective, long-lasting allergy relief can mean a significant difference in their life. And while many have found great success with oral medications and allergy shots, there is an alternative treatment option that comes with its own benefits – allergy drops.

Allergies are the result of the body’s immune system malfunctioning. When the body is introduced to something that it considers a threat, it reacts accordingly in an effort to rid the body of the toxin. With allergies, the immune system reacts to otherwise benign substances as if they are a threat – pollen, cat dander, nuts, or any other number of elements. To fight what it considers to be trespassers, the immune system releases the chemical histamine that results in the common symptoms of allergies – runny nose, congestion, coughing, wheezing, watery and itchy eyes, etc. In many cases, avoiding the allergy trigger or combating the symptoms with over-the-counter or prescription medication can make a world of difference for the allergy sufferer. But for those who suffer more intense symptoms or are exposed to their allergens on a daily basis, allergy shots have been the effective treatment of choice. But research has shown that allergy drops can be just as effective – and far more convenient – than allergy shots.

Allergy shots are often given once a week and must be injected in a doctor’s office. Further, there is time associated with this visit as the patient is often injected with extremely diluted allergens. The patient must then wait – often at least thirty minutes – before being able to leave the doctor’s office as the doctor must first ensure that the patient is not having any negative reactions. This inconvenience of visiting the doctor – and the discomfort of the injection itself – often causes patients to shy away from pursuing the treatment.

With allergy drops there are no painful injections – simply a drop put under the tongue. This procedure is something that the patient can do themselves at home; doctor visits are reduced to just a few times a year in order for the doctor to follow the progress of the patient. For children who suffer from allergies, the allergy drops can be enormously beneficial allowing them to receive the necessary treatment without having to get a shot once a week.

Allergy drops are but one alternative to the management of allergies on an ongoing basis. For allergy sufferers, they can make a world of difference in keeping symptoms at bay and maximizing comfort levels.

Well the leaves have turned and even though many parts of the country are still enjoying unseasonably warm weather, make no mistake fall is here and with it fall allergy season. Though many people consider spring to be the worst time of the year for those who have fall allergies, especially ragweed allergies fall can be a tiring time of year.

Ragweed allergies generally run from late summer until frost begins. The trouble with ragweed is that ragweed spores are very light, can travel great distances and are spread easily by the wind. Ragweed is found mostly in the mid-west and east coast and generally the wetter and windier the weather the worse the conditions will be for ragweed sufferers. Ragweed is not the only problem for people with allergies in the fall.

In many ways fall is the opposite of spring. Where spring brings about life as flowers bloom, in fall vegetation begins to die and rot. When combined with the damp and windy environment that fall brings, the conditions can be ideal for mold growth. Mold spores in the fall often can lead to a trip to the emergency room for those who suffer from asthma. Fall can also be the prime time for food allergies as kids have gone back to school and many for the first time may be exposed to food allergies that they are not aware that they had.

Though fall is short its important to know your triggers and avoid them as much as possible. Eliminating allergens all together may not be a realistic goal but making good decisions can help reduce your exposure. If your allergies are severe try and change clothes after you come in from that beautiful fall walk in the park. You should not have to stay indoors and miss all that fall has to offer.

Osteonecrosis is a condition due arising from a diminution of blood supply to bone. It affects most importantly the upper end of the femur. If left untreated it progresses to bony collapse and arthritis. The causes are many like alcohol abuse, steroid intake, Caisson’s disease, Gaucher’s disease.

The patient can experience sudden pain in the hips which radiates to the knee and can be confused for knee pain. Gait is painful. In early cases, x- rays are negative and MR scans are diagnostic. Treatment in the early stages is controversial and there are no clear guidelines.

Prolonged bed rest and crutch walking have not been shown to relieve pain or halt progression of the disease.

Treatment in late cases

Core decompression does ameliorate symptoms. It is minimally invasive and does not involve a replacement. If it fails then a replacement is possible at a later date.

Treatment in late cases with advanced destruction

Treatment is by a total hip replacement if bony destruction is extensive. A partial or total surface hip replacement is done if destruction is confined to the surface cartilage alone. Since it occurs in young individuals, a Surface Hip replacement is a better option as it conserves bony stock and a total hip replacement can still be done at a later date. Resurfacing of the hip is restricted to those cases of osteo necrosis where the amount of destruction is less than 30 percent of the head.

Where it exceeds thirty percent, a new type of hip prosthesis called the Proxima hip is available in Chennai.

This Proxima hip is an uncemented metal on metal large diameter bearing. It has been performed for avascular necrosis and other conditions like ankylosing spondylitis, post traumatic arthritis following acetabular fracture.

Vascularised fiblar graft is done with the help of a microvascular surgeon.

Hip pain can be caused by a number of different types of injuries and conditions. Your pain may be the result of: arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, strains and fractures.

Pain may also be caused by a condition called osteonecrosis. Osteonecrosis occurs when the blood flow to the hip bone is restricted.

This lack of blood flow can cause major problems in the hip joint. These different conditions can cause pain, aching and inflammation in the hip. This pain can make everyday activities such as walking or running very difficult.

How Can Hip Braces Help Relieve Your Hip Pain? Hip braces can help decrease your pain. Braces can also help with the healing process. The following are some examples of how braces do this.

A hip stabilizing brace is useful if you have had a dislocated hip, a hip replacement, or a hip fracture. A stabilizing brace will help you to keep your hip in the correct position while it heals. It also helps keep it still which helps the it to heal.

Hip braces can help you protect your hip from injury. They can also prevent swelling and pain by compressing the hip area.

Hip splints are ideal for those that have undergone some kind of surgery. Hip splints keep the hips from moving so they are stable. This stability can help the hip to heal more quickly.

Compression hip braces can help relieve pain in your upper leg. These types of braces can be used for the pain resulting from hamstring pulls, varicose veins, or Iliotibial band syndrome (also known as ITB).

Iliotibial band syndrome occurs when the tissue running from the hip to just below the knee becomes inflamed. This injury is typically associated with athletic activities such as running, cycling, hiking, or weightlifting.

When you need to keep your hip stable but you still need to be able to move it, compression braces may be the best choice.

The type of brace you use will depend on the type of your injury you have. Braces come in many different styles and are made of many types of materials. So finding one for your needs shouldn’t be difficult.

Hip braces can be used for various types of hip pain. These braces are comfortable to wear, and they are easy to use. Brace settings can be easily adjusted to meet your individual needs.