Healthcare Trends 24

When back pain is persistent despite chiropractic treatments, medical massage and physical therapy, many patients turn to the option of orthopedic spine surgery. Orthopedic spine surgery can be used to treat a range of spinal issues that includes herniated and bulging disks between vertebrae, pinched nerves, arthritis, bone spurs and sciatica. Orthopedic Spine Surgery Traditionally, open back surgery has been used to treat spinal issues that could not be resolved without surgery. However, the open back surgery technique can be quite dangerous. It requires general anesthesia, is very invasive, and has been known to result in worse pain after the procedure than the patient experienced before surgery. Thanks to great advances in the medical world such as the advent of lasers, a new type of orthopedic spine surgery has been developed that is a much better alternative to traditional open back surgery. Instead of open back surgery, the new orthopedic spine surgery is called Universal Endosco...

Total joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which parts of an arthritic or damaged joint are removed and replaced with a metal, plastic, or ceramic device called a prosthesis. The prosthesis is designed to replicate the movement of a normal, healthy joint. Hip and knee replacements are the most commonly performed joint replacements, but replacement surgery can be performed on other joints, as well, including the ankle, wrist, shoulder, and elbow. When Is Total Joint Replacement Recommended? Several conditions can cause joint pain and disability and lead patients to consider joint replacement surgery. In many cases, joint pain is caused by damage to the cartilage that lines the ends of the bones (articular cartilage)—either from arthritis, a fracture, or another condition. If nonsurgical treatments like medications, physical therapy, and activity modifications do not relieve your pain and disability, your doctor may recommend total joint replacement. Preparing for Joint Replaceme...