About.com Orthopedics

Glucosamine & Chondroitin Not Recommended for Knee Arthritis

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:49:17 +0000

According to the recently published guidelines from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), glucosamine and chondroitin should not be prescribed for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are nutritional supplements that are sold over-the-counter in pharmacies, grocery stores, and health food stores. The supplements have been thought to help stimulate cartilage healing and repair in patients with osteoarthritis.

The recommendations from the AAOS cite six randomized clinical trials that have investigated the use of these nutritional supplements, either alone or combined, that found no significant clinical benefit when compared to placebo. While no harmful effects of these nutritional supplements were noted, the AAOS advises that these supplements not be used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Sources:

Richmond, JC "AAOS adopts clinical practice guidelines on OA Knee" American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2009.

Glucosamine & Chondroitin Not Recommended for Knee Arthritis originally appeared on About.com Orthopedics on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 20:49:17.

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Is surgery necessary for a trigger finger?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:01:22 +0000

Trigger finger is a common problem that causes pain and snapping of the tendons in the fingers.

The name trigger finger is from the symptom of triggering or snapping. This occurs when relaxing a fist, the affected trigger finger remains flexed. When enough force has been gathered, the trigger finger will suddenly extend, like pulling a trigger.

The most common treatment of trigger finger is with injection of cortisone. If the problem does not resolve, a surgery to release the tendon may be necessary.

Is surgery necessary for a trigger finger? originally appeared on About.com Orthopedics on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 10:01:22.

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Rotating Knee Replacement

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:47:16 +0000

A rotating knee replacement implant is designed to replicate normal knee motion. Some surgeons believe the rotating knee replacements may last longer than a traditional knee replacement. Whether or not the rotating knee replacements are actually better is still being investigated. Here you can learn more about rotating knee replacements...

Related: Knee Replacement | Knee Arthritis

Image © Medical Multimedia Group.

Rotating Knee Replacement originally appeared on About.com Orthopedics on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 10:47:16.

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If pain medication doesn't work, what are your options?

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 07:50:09 +0000

Pain is frequently associated with orthopedic problems, and proper treatment of the painful symptoms is one of your priorities. However, controlling pain is not always a simple process. Many patients are easily discouraged when their treatment efforts to control pain fail. So what options do you have.

The first thing to do is to understand pain is a complicated problem, and treating it effectively can take some time and effort. There are a number of options for medications that can be used to help treat pain. With your doctor, you can try to establish a regime to effectively treat your pain.

If pain medication doesn't work, what are your options? originally appeared on About.com Orthopedics on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 07:50:09.

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Studies Confirm Exercise Importance for Knee Problems

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:14:36 +0000

Several studies have recently confirmed the importance of exercise in association with knee arthritis, and after knee replacement surgery. The investigations found that patients who participated in regular exercise and rehabilitation programs tended to have better outcomes than patients who did not exercise.

Exercise can certainly be a difficult concept for people who have painful knee or are recovering from surgery. But it is important to understand that there are ways to safely exercise and in a way that will keep pain levels low.

Sources: "Exercise Key Player in Knee Replacement Recovery" HealthDay News - Feb 4, 2009.

Studies Confirm Exercise Importance for Knee Problems originally appeared on About.com Orthopedics on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 13:14:36.

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9 Ways to Speed Your Trip Through the Doctor's Office

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:43:06 +0000

Hate waiting around at the doctor's office? Here are a few simple steps that can help you avoid a long wait and expedite your trip to the orthopedic surgeon's office.

9 Ways to Speed Your Trip Through the Doctor's Office originally appeared on About.com Orthopedics on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 08:43:06.

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Minimally Invasive Procedure for Dupuytren's

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:01:08 +0000

Dupuytren's Contracture

Image © John D. Mahoney, M.D.

Needle aponeurotomy is a treatment option for patients with Dupuytren's contracture. Dupuytren's contracture is a condition that causes stiffness of the fingers and palm. Needle aponeurotomy or needle release has been used in Europe for many years and is gaining acceptance in the United States.

Needle aponeurotomy has gained interest because it uses minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of a problem that has previously been treated with a very invasive procedure with a long recovery.

Minimally Invasive Procedure for Dupuytren's originally appeared on About.com Orthopedics on Friday, October 16th, 2009 at 08:01:08.

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Do Back Belts Prevent Spine Injury?

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:48:58 +0000

Recent research has investigated the question of whether or not wearing a back brace, also called a lumbar support, will help to prevent workplace lifting injuries. Several recent studies have very clearly shown that back braces do not lower the incidence of working having back problems.

These studies have found no difference in either the number of back injuries, nor in the number of workers who complained of back pain as a result of their lifting in the workplace.

Should back braces be worn?

There is evidence to show that back braces can help maintian a proper lifting posture, and therefore some workers choose to use a back brace. It should just be understood that this has not been shown to reduce the number of injuries. Wearing a back brace has not been shown to be harmful, and therefore it should be seen as an option, but not a necessity.

Related: How to Lift | Lumbar Muscle Strain

Do Back Belts Prevent Spine Injury? originally appeared on About.com Orthopedics on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 06:48:58.

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Safety of Donated Tissue Used In Surgery

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:10:30 +0000

The safety of cadaver donated tissues for use in surgical procedures is of great concern for many patients. Tissues used for ACL surgery, cartilage transplants, and other orthopedic procedures may come from donors. The safety of these grafts concerns many patients who undergo these types of surgery.

Most people understand that the chance of disease transmission as a result of a graft being implanted is incredibly small. But what does that mean? Should you be worried? Learn about what the chances of disease transmission are, and what you and your doctor can do to minimize the chance of a problem. Would you be willing to have donated tissues surgically implanted in your body? Leave your comments below...

Related: ACL Grafts | Meniscus Transplants

Safety of Donated Tissue Used In Surgery originally appeared on About.com Orthopedics on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 21:10:30.

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Will Your Joint Replacement Last?

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:40:03 +0000

Everyone who has joint replacement surgery knows the implant can wear out over time. But sometimes implants wear out more quickly than expected. In fact, some implants have design flaws that cause them to wear out even quicker than anticipated.

Unfortunately, we often are not aware of these design flaws until many patients have had problems. One of the reasons could be the lack of a national reporting system when problems are encountered. Joint registry databases are common in some countries, but not in the United States. Critic point out that having a database could prevent the implanting of bad joint replacements by allowing doctors to know as soon as possible when a problem occurs.

Should the U.S. have a National Joint Replacement Registry? Leave your comments!

Will Your Joint Replacement Last? originally appeared on About.com Orthopedics on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 07:40:03.

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