admin

Arthritis: Defined

by

By: Dr. Arup Bhadra

What is the second most common health problem after the common cold? Arthritis. About 54 million adults are diagnosed with a type of arthritis*, the inflammation of one or more of your joints.

Arthritis can occur in any joint in the body, but most often, it develops in weight-bearing joints like knee and hip. Because pain, swelling, and stiffness are the primary symptoms, arthritis in these joints can make it hard to do many everyday activities, such as walking or climbing stairs. It is a major cause of lost work time and a serious disability for many people.

There are more than 100 different forms of arthritis, but the most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Let’s dive into what an arthritis diagnosis means.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the knee and or hip. It is a degenerative, “wear-and-tear” type of arthritis that occurs most often in people 50 years of age and older, but may occur in younger people, too. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage in the knee/hip joint gradually wears away. As the cartilage wears away, it becomes frayed and rough, and the protective space between the bones decreases. This can result in bone rubbing on bone and produce painful bone spurs. Osteoarthritis develops slowly and the pain it causes worsens over time.

Arthritis can occur in any joint in the body, but most often, it develops in weight-bearing joints like knee and hip. Because pain, swelling, and stiffness are the primary symptoms, arthritis in these joints can make it hard to do many everyday activities, such as walking or climbing stairs. It is a major cause of lost work time and a serious disability for many people. Don't wait any longer...Contact Northeast Orthopedics and Sports Medicine TODAY!

(Left) Healthy Knee joint and (Right) worn cartilage and arthritic knee joint

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that attacks multiple joints throughout the body, including the knee joint. It is symmetrical, meaning that it usually affects the same joint on both sides of the body.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that the immune system attacks its own tissues. The immune system damages normal tissue (such as cartilage and ligaments) and softens the bone.

Posttraumatic Arthritis

Posttraumatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that develops after an injury to the knee or hip. For example, a broken bone may damage the joint surface and lead to arthritis years after the injury.

Treatment for Arthritis

Although there is no cure for arthritis, there are many treatment options available to help manage pain and keep people staying active. Non-surgical treatments include adjustment of lifestyle and activities, pain management, cortisone and/or viscous supplement injection. Should a joint replacement be necessary, there are many advances to ensure successful outcomes. Surgical treatment options include traditional and robotic-assisted knee and hip replacement utilizing the latest minimally invasive techniques.

If you are suffering the symptoms of arthritis, contact us today for a consultation with one of our providers to ensure the right diagnosis and treatment to help you.

*Source: Arthritis Foundation

You’ve torn your ACL, now what?

by

By: Dr. Barry Kraushaar

The diagnosis of a torn ACL can be scary for any athlete. Fortunately, you can get back to your sport with proper evaluation and treatment. Here’s a better understanding of what you may be dealing with and your options.

Your knee is a hinge-type joint that is held together by ligaments. In the center of the knee are the Posterior (rear) and Anterior (front) Cruciate Ligaments (PCL and ACL). Together, these cables of collagen stabilize the knee when you pivot or perform sports. Unfortunately, the ACL is often vulnerable to tearing suddenly during a pivot/twist maneuver, making ACL tears a common sports injury. When an ACL tear occurs, a decision needs to be made about whether to live with a torn ligament, to repair it or to replace the ligament. It depends on patient function and future needs.

  • Living with a torn ACL: Some patients choose to live with a torn ACL. For younger people, it may not be advisable to live a lifetime with this ligament torn. Although in some cases the ACL ligament can scar onto the PCL and act stable, more often instability occurs and it should not be ignored. An unstable knee can develop secondary damage, such as meniscus cartilage tears, and over time this can result in early-onset arthritis.  For those who do not sense instability, an ACL-deficient knee may be treated with rehabilitation and a brace. A custom designed brace will fit more closely. When a knee already has arthritis, an ACL reconstruction may not only be unnecessary, but the surgery may actually “Capture” the knee and hasten the worsening of arthritis.
  • Repairing the ACL: Because the ACL ligament tends to spread into separate strands like a torn rope when it ruptures, a simple repair of this ligament is rarely possible. The torn remnant is usually rolled up or shortened and it is hard to make it attach to the place on the femur bone from where it usually detaches. On rare occasions, it may be possible to perform a micro-surgical repair of your own ligament and keep your own structure.
  • Reconstruction of the ACL:  The most common treatment for a torn ACL in an adult who has no arthritis is to replace the ligament. A replacement can be strong and long enough to bridge the area of ACL detachment. The ligament is routed through the center of the knee and fixed to the bones above and below so that it acts similar to the original. The success rate of this procedure is high, but not 100%.  
    • For older and less active patients, cadaver ligament graft can be used. It is less painful and has a quicker recovery, but there are reports that the failure rate is higher than using your own graft material.
    • For younger, active patients, the best success rates are achieved if you use your own Patellar tendon (in front of the knee), Hamstring or Quadricep tendons on the inner part of the knee. The outcomes of these graft types are similar, so your surgeon may have preferences based upon their experience.
  • Rehabilitation from ACL surgery is individual for every patient but most cases finish doctor-supervised acre after three months. Return to sports occurs as late as nine months, depending on the type of activity.

ACL reconstruction techniques and methods are still evolving. The fellowship-trained Sports Medicine specialists at Northeast Orthopedics and Sports Medicine keep up with current trends and bring the latest treatment to you. If you’ve experienced a ligament tear, contact us to meet with our physicians and discuss treatment options available for you. 

If you do encounter an ACL or other orthopedic injuries, contact us today to find out what’s wrong and how we can help.

Preventing Gardening Injuries

by
For most of us who enjoy gardening, it is a relaxing, safe hobby.  However, every year we see many people who are needlessly injured in their backyards. Nationally more than 400,000 gardening injuries are seen in the ER every year.

By: Dr. Doron Ilan

For most of us who enjoy gardening, it is a relaxing, safe hobby.  However, every year we see many people who are needlessly injured in their backyards. Nationally more than 400,000 gardening injuries are seen in the ER every year. Back injuries, hand lacerations/puncture wounds, infections, overuse tendinitis, bug bites, and heat exhaustion are some of the more common medical conditions seen in recreational gardeners. Here are a few tips to keep you safe this spring and summer.

  • Warm up: One of the most common mistakes is to head straight to the shed and start lifting heavy bags of mulch, soil, and equipment. This can lead to back sprains and muscle strains.  Instead, first, take a 5-10 brisk walk to warm up the muscles, loosen the joints and get the heart rate up a bit.
  • Wear gloves: This will prevent most thorn punctures, blisters, lacerations, and bug bites. It will also protect your skin from pesticides, bacteria, and fungus (often live in soil). A small cut can lead to a major infection. A light long sleeve shirt and long socks or pants can’t hurt either.  Don’t forget the sunscreen and a hat.
  • Hydrate: It is very easy to spend hours gardening without drinking. Bring a bottle of water outside with you and sip regularly
  • Rotate your tasks: Avoid overuse repetitive stress injuries by not spending more than 10-15 minutes in a row doing the same motion. Make sure your gardening activities are varied so that the same muscles are not used repetitively.
  • Use proper equipment
  • Check your skin for ticks after you finish gardening for the day. Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections are very common in our area.

Following these tips can help minimize your risk, but of course, if you do sustain an injury make sure to get medical attention as soon as possible.  Have a great spring and summer — and enjoy your gardening!

If you do encounter an orthopedic injury while gardening, contact us today to find out what’s wrong and how we can help.