Restoring Hand Function After Spinal Cord Injury
An injury to the upper part of the spinal cord can leave an individual with little or no sensation or movement in their arms and legs, a condition called tetraplegia. A surgical technique called a tendon transfer can help restore function to ... [... more]
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Juvenile Arthritis
Children sometimes complain about aches in their joints. These aches could result from a variety of causes. But, if a child's joints are swollen for six weeks in a row or longer, he or she may have juvenile arthritis (JA). Juvenile arthritis is a ... [... more]
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Deep Vein Thrombosis
Joint replacement surgery, especially in the lower extremities, is becoming more common. Orthopaedic surgeons performed about 364,000 hip replacements and about 451,000 knee replacements in 2003 (Source: National Center for Health Statistics; ... [... more]
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Your Joint Replacement: Urological Procedures & Antibiotics
If you have had an orthopaedic joint replacement in the past, and you are going to have a urological procedure in the future, you may need prophylactic (preventive) antibiotics before the urological procedure. Antibiotics may be needed if one or ... [... more]
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Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) literally means "imperfectly formed bone." People with osteogenesis imperfecta have an error (mutation) in the genetic instructions on how to make strong bones. This may cause the bones to break easily. Osteogenesis [... more]
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Congenital Muscular Torticollis (Wryneck)
Congenital muscular torticollis, also called wryneck, is usually discovered in the first 6 to 8 weeks of life. The infant keeps his or her head tilted to one side and has difficulty turning the head to the opposite side. If the infant is examined ... [... more]
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Backpack Safety
Backpacks are a popular and practical way for children and teenagers to carry schoolbooks and supplies. They are designed to distribute the weight of the load among some of the body's strongest muscles. When used correctly, backpacks can be a ... [... more]
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Your Orthopaedic Connection: Calcium
Calcium is a naturally occurring mineral that is needed by the body to build and maintain strong bones and teeth. Because calcium is not made in the body, it must be absorbed from a person's dietary intake. Calcium is shed from the body in skin, ... [... more]
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Your Orthopaedic Connection: Chordoma
Chordoma is a rare tumor that usually occurs in the spine and base of the skull. It is a malignant tumor that grows fairly slowly. It can spread to other organs, usually the lungs. It represents only about 1 percent of all malignant bone ... [... more]
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Cervical Radiculopathy
Usually, when something hurts, you do not have to look far to find the source of the pain. But an injury near the root of a nerve can result in pain at the end of the nerve where sensation is felt. For example, an injury to the vertebrae or disks ... [... more]
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Your Orthopaedic Connection: Sciatica
If you suddenly start feeling pain in your lower back or hip that radiates to the back of your thigh and into your leg, you may have a protruding (herniated) disk in your spinal column that is pressing on the roots of the sciatic nerve. This ... [... more]
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Muscle Cramp
Have you ever experienced a "charley horse"? If yes, you probably still remember the sudden, tight and intense pain caused by a muscle locked in spasm. A cramp is an involuntary and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax. Cramps can ... [... more]
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