Orthopedic Post-Operative Pain Management Techniques

Orthopedic surgeons make every effort to control and relieve pain after orthopedic surgeries like; knee replacements, hip replacements and repair of hip fractures etc. Pain management during rehabilitation is focused at maximizing recovery and mobilization, shortening the hospital stay and hospital costs and as well to heighten the patient-satisfaction.

Pain management regimens are not standardized rather they are tailor-made according to needs, medical, psychological and physical condition, age ,level of anxiety, extensive surgical procedure and personal preferences of the patients. These pain management regimens aim at reducing the dose of medicine in order to lessen their side-effects while providing the appropriate analgesic dose. Various minimally invasive and stat-of-art techniques, including the following, are used to effectively manage pain after orthopedic surgery:

• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is a device that transmits low-level electrical charges into the area having pain. This therapy is useful to relieve pain after surgery and pain related to fractures and sprains as well.
• Continuous Passive Motion (CPM): Through using Continuous Passive Motion technique, your joint is gradually moved in mechanical splint, in order to avoid stiffness and to increase range of motion after surgery. Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) technique helps to heighten the joint nutrition and as well prevent the scar-tissue formation and abnormal shortening of muscles around the joint.
• Ice, heat, electrical stimulation and ultrasound therapy is used to treat muscle aches and back pain after the surgery.
• Cryotherapy is used to reduce swelling and relieve pain in joints and soft tissues after the surgery.
• Occupational Therapy is used, where patients are educated to use various adaptive devices to ease their life after therapy. This also makes the patient self-reliant and reduces the chances of re-injury.

 Contact Center for Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, for the state-of -art treatment of any of your musculoskeletal injuries or problems. Our board certified and experienced surgeon uses leading-edge & least invasive surgical and non-surgical methods and techniques to provide quality care and treatment to the patients.

Legg- Calve Perthes Disease

Legg- Calve Perthes Disease is a childhood disorder affecting children between 4 to 10 years of age. This disease is more common among boys than girls. After 2 years of treatment, children normally return to their routine life without any major limitations.

What do we mean by Legg- Calve Perthes Disease?

Legg- Calve Perthes Disease (LCP or Perthes Disease) is a pathological condition affecting hip, where pelvis and thighbone meet in ball and socket joint. It is a temporary condition under which, blood flow supply to ball shaped head of thigh bone is temporarily lost, resulting into collapse of thigh bone. As the bone collapses or becomes flat, ball no longer moves smoothly in the hip socket and the area becomes inflamed and irritated.  The child may begin to limp with or without pain and there is reduced range of motion. Over a period of time, blood supply retraces back and new blood cells start replacing the dead ones gradually.

How is Legg- Calve Perthes Disease diagnosed?

 After your child’s through physical examination and taking notes of his medical history, your doctor of orthopedics may ask for diagnostic procedures including; x-rays, bone scans, MRI, arthrograms and blood tests.

How is Legg- Calve Perthes Disease treated?

Proper and adequate non-surgical or surgical treatment is prescribed to lessen the pain and help the femoral head to retain its shape. For the children under 6 years of age and usually for the children with less severe symptoms, non- surgical treatment options are adopted including:-

• Initially to help patient to regain his motion and reduce pain your doctor of orthopedics may suggest rest and limit the activities involving jumping and running.
• Anti- inflammatory medication is prescribed to lessen the swelling.
•  Bed rest in traction may be prescribed for some patients.
• Stretching exercises may be prescribed to retain the flexibility of hip and as well to keep the hip in socket.  
• If the doctor feels that your child need to avoid bearing weight on the involved hip, crutches are prescribed to protect hip joint.
• Casts may be prescribed to keep the femoral head with in the socket.
• Night- time brace may also be used to maintain hip flexibility .

Orthopedic Surgical Treatment

Children who are more than 6 years of age and who experience more severe symptoms and pain are advised surgical treatment. The surgical treatment aims at preventing dislocation or collapse of hip. Surgical treatment may include:-

• Contracture Release procedure is employed to lengthen the shortened tissues.
• Joint realignment is conducted where plates are used to hold the bones in place. Realignment of joint helps to restore the normal shape of hip joint.
• Surgery is performed to remove loose bits of bone and torn flaps of cartilages.

 Contact Center Of Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine for any of your musculoskeletal pathologies and disorders. Our board certified surgeon goes over an extra mile to provide you with the care and treatment you require and deserve.

Greenstick Fracture: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Greenstick Fractures are more common among children than adults, as their bones are softer and flexible than the adults. At times, these fractures are difficult to be diagnosed and are taken as sprains, as they do not cause much pain and swelling.

What is a Greenstick Fracture?

When a young and soft bone instead of breaking up into different pieces; bends and cracks or breaks away partially, it is called Greenstick Fracture. These fractures usually occur during the infancy and childhood because the bones are soft and flexible during this period. In a Greenstick Fracture, only one side of the bone gets broken while the other one only bends. The term Greenstick Fracture is derived from the analogy of breaking up of a young, fresh and green tree branch.

What are the potential signs and symbols of Greenstick Fracture?

Following can be considered as the potential signs of Greenstick Fracture:

• Abnormally twisted limb
• Pain
• Swelling
• Decreased range of motion
• Inability to put weight on the affected limb

Moreover, arm fractures are more common than leg fractures because children usually throw open their arms when they start falling.

What are the causes of Greenstick Fracture?

Following factors result in the Greenstick Fracture:

• Falls while playing or participating in sports
• Blow on the forearm or shin
• Activities with high risk of falling

What are the treatment options available for treating Greenstick Fracture?

Bone fractures, even Greenstick Fractures needed to be immobilized to get healed and grow back together. Most of the fractures require 4-8 weeks for complete healing. Following treatment techniques are employed by the doctors of orthopaedics to treat Greenstick Fractures:

• Casts are used to keep the bones in good alignment during healing
• If the bones have  misaligned, doctors may have to reposition them before using casts
• Removable splints may also be used
• To reduce swelling, doctors may advise to raise the limb higher than the heart level

But once the cast is removed, make your child to avoid high impact activities for one or two weeks in order to avoid re-injury.

Contact Center of Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine for the advanced and avant-garde treatment of any of your musculoskeletal problems. Our certified surgeon goes over an extra mile to provide you quality care and help you to regain your function and mobility.