General Orthopedics

Arthritis is defined as inflammation of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and form of joint disease. It is caused by aging, overuse, or trauma to the joint. This type of arthritis causes cartilage to break down. Cartilage is the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that first targets the lining of joints (synovium), causing it to become inflamed and swollen. It also causes the cartilage and bones to deteriorate.

Treatments vary depending on the type of arthritis. The main goals of arthritis treatments are to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

Treatments for arthritis may include:

• PRP therapy
• Medication. Over-the-counter medications can be used to control pain and inflammation in the joints. These medications, called anti-inflammatory drugs, include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Acetaminophen is also effective in controlling pain but not inflammation.
• Exercise and physical therapy. Canes, crutches, walkers, or splints may help relieve the stress and strain on arthritic joints. Learning methods of performing daily activities that are less stressful to painful joints also may be helpful, such as exercise.
• Surgery may be performed to:
  • Remove the diseased or damaged joint lining
  • Realign the joints
  • Fuse the ends of the bones in the joint together to prevent joint motion and relieve joint pain
  • Replace the entire joint (total joint replacement)
  • Replace only the part of the joint that is damaged (partial joint replacement)

To learn more about arthritis please visit our Patient Education Library.

The majority of broken bones occur due to a fall, auto accident, workplace injury, or sports injury. If you have suffered a fracture, it’s important to get prompt care so you can begin to mend properly.

The initial management of a fracture consists of maintaining blood supply and soft-tissue health, realigning the broken bone, and then immobilizing the fractured extremity in a splint or cast.

Fractures may be treated with or without surgery depending on the severity. Our physicians have experience treating a wide range of fractures, from stable fractures (where the bone is not displaced) to complex, comminuted fractures (where the bone breaks into multiple pieces).

Other types of fractures include:

• Stress fracture: Normal bone subjected to abnormal stress
• Pathologic fractures: Normal bone is affected by osteoporosis, tumor, or infection
• Open fractures: Bone fractures that break through the skin, exposing the bone

The goal of fracture treatment is to allow the fracture to heal, to restore function in the injured limb, and to prevent infection. Nonsurgical treatment may include wearing a cast, splint, walking boot, or brace; taking anti-inflammatory drugs; and undergoing physical therapy.

To learn more about traumas and fractures please visit our Patient Education Library.

Sprains and strains are common injuries that share similar signs and symptoms, although they involve different parts of the body.

• Strain: The stretching or tearing of a muscle or tendon. Strains often occur in the lower back or hamstring muscle.
• Sprain: The stretching or tearing of ligaments. The most common location for a sprain is your ankle.

Symptoms of a sprain include pain, swelling, bruising, limited ability to move the injured joint, and sometimes a loud “pop” at the time the injury occurs. Symptoms of a strain include pain, swelling, muscle spasms, and a limited ability to move the affected muscle. Treatment for sprains and strains requires rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

Mild strains and sprains can be treated at home, while more severe injuries sometimes require surgery or physical therapy.

To learn more about sprains and strains please visit our Patient Education Library.

The complaint of back pain is among the most common reason people visit a doctor. On the positive side, most episodes of back pain can be resolved, and usually within a few weeks. For others, however, back pain can be among the most difficult and frustrating problems for patients and their doctors. Understanding the cause of your back pain is the key to proper treatment.

Causes of back pain include:

• Lumbar muscle strain: Muscle strains are the most common cause of low back pain.
• Ruptured disc: A herniated or ruptured disc is a condition that refers to a problem with a rubbery disk between the spinal bones.
• Spinal stenosis: As we age, the spinal canal can become constricted due in part to arthritis and other conditions. If the spinal canal becomes too tight, back pain can be the result.
• Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis, or weakening of the bones, can cause a number of orthopedic problems, including fractures. Back pain from osteoporosis is commonly related to compression fractures of the vertebra.

To learn more about back pain please visit our Patient Education Library.