The spine is a chain of vertebrae (plural form of vertebra) that supports the trunk to maintain upright posture. The discs are cushion-like structures between each two vertebrae holding them together and protecting them from hitting into each other in loading conditions such as sitting, standing, walking, running or lifting....
Physicians usually employ cadaveric grafts, large grafts taken from another part of your body, amniotic membrane tissues, extensive wound care services and the like for these types of wounds. But, what if you could take only a small piece of skin and have a lab grow as much tissue as...
Is Newer Better?Many times, the most effective treatments and devices have been around for decades, and more expensive or newer devices provide no improvement in care or outcome. Still, physicians are inundated with new products and devices promising superiority, and we evaluate them because we have an obligation to use...
Dr. Ashish Patel visits Ghana to treat children with the most severe spinal deformitiesMany of us remember bending over for backchecks during middle and high school physical examinations. The healthcare provider was performing the Forward Adam Bending Test, a test designed to evaluate for scoliosis. Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature...
You’ve probably noticed the “bent-over” posture of many elderly people. The most likely cause of this is a condition called adult spinal deformity, which mostly affects older people.The medical term for this condition is sagittal spine imbalance. it is most often caused by degenerative changes brought about by such things...
Methodist’s Total Joint Replacement Program Improves Quality of LifeMethodist Hospitals has established a center of excellence for joint replacement in Northwest Indiana. For patients, this translates to improved quality of life.Patient Mike Scamihorn suffers from severe osteoarthritis affecting all of his joints.Over a period of about five years, Mike’s knees had...
Arthritis can be life-changing. It can have a devastating effect on the quality of life. It can prevent you from doing the things you enjoy and make the most mundane activities of everyday life excruciating or impossible.Those suffering from constant arthritic pain of the hip or knee should seek a...
Osteoporosis is a disease that occurs when the body loses bone mass, causing bones to thin and break easily. Many who have this disease are not even aware that they do because, while the disease can cause aches and discomfort, the tendency is to dismiss it as old age.The first...
Scoliosis is well-known as the most common spinal condition among children and adolescents. However, many people do not know that scoliosis affects adults in greater numbers. In fact, a 2005 study conducted by Frank Schwab, MD, at Maimonides Medical Center in New York found scoliosis in two-thirds of people over...
Many foot problems, as well as pain elsewhere in the body, can be traced to talotarsal subluxation/dislocation syndrome, a common cause of flat foot.If conservative treatment fails to correct this condition, I often recommend the HyProCure® stent.In a minimally invasive, 10-minute outpatient procedure, the stent can be placed to stabilize...
There are approximately 26 million Americans with diabetes. Among them, about half are likely to develop some form of neuropathy, even if they have good blood sugar control.Diabetic neuropathy usually involves tingling, burning and/or numbness in the extremities, particularly the feet. When this painful condition results in a complete lack...
When arthritis develops in the big toe joint it can eventually damage the cartilage, causing pain, stiffness, swelling and, over time, can severely limit motion.Until recently, the most common options for these patients were joint fusion or joint replacement.Now, we have a solution, which was approved by the FDA this...
Dr. Judson Wood: Our Trauma Center’s Go-To Orthopedic SurgeonDr. Judson Wood, a Methodist Physician Group orthopedic surgeon, is also the Orthopedic Liaison to the trauma program, where he helps develop orthopedic care policies and protocols for traumatically injured patients. These protocols include the timeliness of surgery, antibiotic requirements, pre- and...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one in five adults in the U.S have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. It can affect people of any age. However, 49.7 percent of those age 65 and older have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.Although there are more than 100 types of joint inflammation...
When a person suffers from severe, constant joint pain, joint replacement can provide them with the relief they need.The most commonly performed procedures affect knees and hips, and we also replace shoulder, elbow and finger joints. While the concept of joint replacement is no longer new, advances in procedures and...
When shoulder pain lasts for more than six months it is considered to be chronic. Before treating this pain, we must first rule out neck problems, because neck issues can cause pain to the shoulder.The causes of chronic shoulder pain are varied and tend to differ in patients…often depending upon...
HyProCure Stent Saves the DayBorn with flat feet, Cole Rumback had been seeing doctors and wearing shoe inserts since he was 15 months old. When he reached seven years of age, his pain intensified. By then, any activity brought pain and burning.Cole’s mom said, “An orthopedic doctor and a podiatrist...
Communication, Pain Management and Technology are Key in Methodist’s Total Joint Replacement ProgramThe Total Joint Replacement Program at Methodist Hospitals is focused on optimizing patient outcomes with the goal to eliminate pain and improve function. Improving your quality of life is our primary objective.To accomplish that, we are emphasizing three...
