Updated Articles and Resources

By Jonathan Cluett, M.D., About.com Guide since 1999

What Is a Cast Made From - How Are Casts Used for Treatment of a Broken Bone Created: Saturday, November 29, 2008 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Casts are used for the treatment of a broken bone. Also called a fracture, a broken bone often requires immobilization to allow for healing and minimize discomfort. Casts are usually made from ei...
Surgery for Shoulder Dislocation Created: Monday, January 02, 2006 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Shoulder dislocation treatment may require surgery to stabilize the shoulder joint. Sometimes the surgery for a shoulder dislocation is performed after a single dislocation, while other times the ...
Partial ACL Tears Created: Thursday, July 07, 2005 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
The treatment of partial ACL tears is a controversial topic. Most surgeons agree that the critical factor is the functional limitations on the patients, not the actual amount of ACL torn. Therefo...
Is Rotator Cuff Surgery Necessary Created: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Rotator cuff tears are a common cause of shoulder pain. Some patients with a rotator cuff tear may require surgical treatment, but many patients will not need surgery. When does a rotator cuff te...
Finger Joint Replacement Surgery Created: Thursday, May 24, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
Just about any joint in the body can be replaced with an artificial implant. While most people are familiar with hip and knee replacements, finger joints can also be replaced. This is important b...
Hip Labral Tear Created: Saturday, March 21, 2009 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint that is surrounded by a ring of cartilage called the labrum. The labrum of the hip helps to hold the ball in the socket, providing stability to the joint. ...
Finger Arthritis - Treatment of Finger Arthritis Created: Sunday, July 20, 2008 Updated: Friday, May 18, 2012
Arthritis is commonly seen in the joints of the fingers. The knuckle joints of the fingers are frequently affected in patients with osteoarthritis, also called wear-and-tear arthritis. Finger art...
Squeaking Hip Replacements Created: Friday, July 30, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, May 16, 2012
A hip replacement is a surgical procedure that replaces a worn out ball-and-socket joint with an artificial joint. Certain types of artificial hip replacements have been found to make a squeaking n...
LCL Tears Created: Monday, April 04, 2011 Updated: Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The lateral collateral ligament, or LCL, is one of four major knee ligaments. LCL tears are an injury to the ligament that supports the outside of the knee. Most LCL sprains can be treated withou...
Signs and Symptoms of an ACL Tear Created: Saturday, August 01, 2009 Updated: Monday, May 14, 2012
An ACL tear is a common problem in athletes. When an ACL tear occurs, surgery may be needed. While an ACL repair is seldom possible, an ACL reconstruction may be an option.
Achilles Tendon Treatments Created: Monday, December 06, 2010 Updated: Monday, May 14, 2012
Achilles tendonitis treatment can help to alleviate symptoms of pain in the heel region. Achilles tendonitis treatment commonly consists of stretching, medications, and ice treatments.
Treatment of MCL Tears Created: Friday, March 04, 2011 Updated: Monday, May 14, 2012
Medial collateral ligament tears, or MCL tears, require treatment that almost always avoids surgery. Depending on the severity of the injury, most MCL tears can be treated with rest and progressiv...
Achilles Tendon Tear Surgery Created: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 Updated: Monday, May 14, 2012
Surgery is a treatment for a torn Achilles tendon. While the surgical procedure may be straightforward, there are potential complications from surgery, and the rehab can take months for full recov...
Meniscus Tear - Torn Cartilage Created: Monday, April 14, 2003 Updated: Monday, May 07, 2012
A meniscus tear is a common knee injury that can cause pain in the joint. When the meniscus tear becomes symptomatic, arthroscopic surgery may be necessary to repair or remove the torn cartilage. P..
Ever Play Netball? - Share Your Story: How I Tore My ACL Created: Monday, May 07, 2012 Updated: Monday, May 07, 2012
Women are at a higher risk of sustaining an ACL tear, and sports dominated by female athletes see more of these injuries.
Orthopedics Academic Hospitals - Orthopaedic Residency Programs Created: Thursday, February 19, 2004 Updated: Monday, May 07, 2012
Listing of orthopedic academic hospitals and orthopaedic residency programs. Listing by state of orthopedic residency programs for training in orthopaedic surgery.
Clubfoot - Information About Clubfoot Deformity Created: Sunday, August 10, 2003 Updated: Monday, May 07, 2012
Clubfoot is a congenital deformity seen in newborn children. Clubfoot causes the feet to point down and inwards. The treatment for clubfoot begins immediately after the child is born.
Deep Venous Thrombosis - DVT - Blood Clots Created: Monday, June 30, 2003 Updated: Monday, May 07, 2012
Deep venous thrombosis, or DVT, are blood clots most commonly found in the large veins of the lower extremity. Blood clots are extremely common following orthopedic surgery. In fact, blood clots ar..
Soccer Injury - Share Your Story: How I Tore My ACL Created: Monday, May 07, 2012 Updated: Monday, May 07, 2012
Soccer is one of the most common sports that leads to injury to the ACL.
Massage Therapy - Share Your Story: Tennis Didn't Cause My Tennis Elbow Created: Thursday, May 03, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 03, 2012
Massage therapy caused this elbow pain.
Being a Caregiver - Share Your Story: Tennis Didn't Cause My Tennis Elbow Created: Thursday, May 03, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 03, 2012
Lifting a wheelchair to assist another person can cause the caregiver to become the patient.
Soccer Star Goes Down - Share Your Story: How I Tore My ACL Created: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
A Division I soccer star sustained an injury that threatened her college career.
Will Weight Loss Improve Arthritis Symptoms | Joint Pain and Weight Loss Created: Thursday, December 25, 2008 Updated: Sunday, April 29, 2012
Many doctors recommend weight loss to alleviate symptoms of arthritis and joint pain, but does weight loss actually help improve symptoms of joint pain? Will losing weight have an impact on my sym...
Knee Replacement Rehab - Knee Replacement Recovery Created: Saturday, January 12, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 23, 2012
Knee replacement surgery is an effective treatment for severe knee arthritis. After knee replacement surgery, it is important to perform therapy to resume normal activities. Understanding the reh..
Activities After Knee Replacement | What Sports Can I Play after Knee Replacement? Created: Saturday, March 08, 2008 Updated: Monday, April 23, 2012
Some activities should not be performed after knee replacement surgery because of the effects on the joint replacement implant. Activities that place too much stress on the implant should be avoid..
Open Fracture Treatment Created: Monday, April 16, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
Treatment of an open fracture -- a broken bone that is exposed through the skin -- is different from standard fracture treatment. Also called a compound fracture, there are some special considerat..
Definition of Debridement Created: Monday, April 16, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
A debridement is a surgical procedure to removed dead, infected, or contaminated tissue from a wound to promote prompt healing.
Surgery for an ACL Tear - Surgical Reconstruction of Torn ACL Created: Monday, August 03, 2009 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
An ACL tear is a common sports injury to one of the major ligaments of the knee joint. Surgery for a torn ACL is the usual treatment for people wanting to return to sporting activities after an AC..
Knee Replacement Surgery Created: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 Updated: Sunday, April 08, 2012
Considering knee replacement surgery, but still have some questions? Here you will find answers to questions about why people have knee replacement, when to have a knee replacement, and what to ex..
Metal on Metal Hip Replacements Recalled Created: Wednesday, April 04, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Metal on metal hip replacement implants were designed to outperform standard hip replacement implants. Often used for young, active patients, metal on metal hip replacements have had problems with..
How to Get Rid of Bad Cast Smells and Odors Created: Thursday, November 27, 2008 Updated: Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Casts are used from the treatment of broken bones and other orthopedic conditions. Having a smelly cast is a common complaint--the odor under a cast can become quite awful. What can you do to pre..
How Does Physical Therapy Help a Rotator Cuff Tear? Created: Sunday, September 09, 2007 Updated: Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Physical therapy is often recommended as an initial treatment of a rotator cuff tear. However, physical therapy wouldn't seem to help a torn tendon heal. Why is physical therapy often the first t..

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