Dr Hilary Jones' Healthcare Guide - West Midlands - (Page 75)

ORTHOPAEDICS – BONES, JOINTS AND LIGAMENTS CHOOSE YOUR CONSULTANT – SLUG IN HERE CYC editorial colour pallete a step AHEAD Musculoskeletal problems can be debilitating and demand expert help O rthopaedics is the branch of medicine concerned with injuries and diseases of the body’s musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves. Orthopaedic surgeons treat injuries, infections and cancers relating to this. Here, we focus on common ankle and foot problems and their treatment. ACHILLES TENDON INJURIES The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel bone and is particularly prone to injury, especially among athletes. This injury can take the form of inflammation, known as tendonitis, or tearing, known as rupture. Both injuries can cause intense pain at the back of the leg close to the heel, usually accompanied by some degree of tenderness and swelling. WHAT CAUSES IT? Achilles tendonitis can be caused by a number of factors including overuse of the tendon; a tight Achilles tendon; tight calf muscles; and excessive uphill running. Suddenly increasing the intensity of sports or fitness training and over pronation (where the feet roll inwards when walking or running) can also lead to tendon problems. TREATMENT Ice, elevation and over-thecounter or prescription anti-inflammatories can all help alleviate the symptoms of tendonitis. Ruptured tendons, however, will require immediate immobilisation and in the worst cases may even require immediate surgery. BONE AND ANKLE FRACTURES When there is a trauma or injury, bone and ankle fractures (breaks) are a risk. The ankle bones are commonly fractured and may need surgery to restore the anatomical alignment if they are displaced. Fractures can range from less serious avulsion injuries (where small pieces of bone are pulled off) to severe shattering-type fractures of the bones and dislocations. WHAT CAUSES IT? Ankle fractures are most often caused by a twisting injury of the ankle, with the ankle ‘rolling’ inwards or outwards. In addition, there are several bones in the foot which are prone to fracture as a result of ‘twisting’ the ankle. The bones on the outside of the foot are but there are many foot and ankle injuries where surgery is necessary to enable a patient to make a full recovery and avoid devastating long term consequences. Although not always the case, most bony injuries requiring surgery are those where the broken fragments are displaced. When this is the case, the surgeon resets the bones into their original place and fixes them with screws and/or plates. CARTILAGE DAMAGE Cartilage (flexible, rubbery connective tissue that cushions bones at the joint) damage is common in the foot and ankle area. Joint affair Springy and tough hyaline cartilage is the type found between your joints particularly at risk and therefore the whole foot has to be examined thoroughly after what may appear to be a sprain. TREATMENT All foot and ankle injuries should be X-rayed and ideally seen by a specialist. As a general rule, broken bones tend to heal well. Simple fractures do not require surgery WHAT CAUSES IT? Cartilage can be damaged by a trauma, such as a fall that causes vigorous twisting of the joint. This results in the joint surfaces impacting on each other, grinding away the protective cartilage. Degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis can also cause the loss of cartilage, as can wear and tear. TREATMENT Cartilage does not have its own blood supply so it has poor restorative ability. The method of treatment will depend largely on the degree of severity and loss. This is typically identified through an arthroscopic examination (inserting a tiny camera through a small incision), ultrasound or MRI scan. Mild damage can be treated with medication, but in severe cases, surgery may be required. n Dr Hilary Jones’ Healthcare guide – West Midlands 075 WORDS: Holly Quayle, Lynne Maxwell | PHOTOGRAPHS: Getty Images

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dr Hilary Jones' Healthcare Guide - West Midlands

EDITOR’S LETTER
A HEALTHY HELLO FROM DR HILARY
NEWS AND VIEWS
THE BIG INTERVIEW
QUESTION TIME
A WEIGHTY ISSUE
FITNESS FOR FREE
THE HEART OF THE MATTER
TOP NOSH
DR HILARY'S WELCOME
MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION
CHOOSING THE BEST
BREAST CANCER
COLORECTAL
COSMETIC SURGERY
DERMATOLOGY
EARS, NOSE AND THROAT
FERTILITY
GASTROENTEROLOGY
HAEMATOLOGY
NEUROSURGERY
OBESITY
OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
OPHTHALMOLOGY
ORTHOPAEDICS
PAIN MANAGEMENT
PLASTIC SURGERY
PLASTIC SURGERY
UROLOGY

Dr Hilary Jones' Healthcare Guide - West Midlands

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