Orthopedics

Ankle injuries are ankle problems that affect the bones, ligaments, and tendons in the ankle such as sprains, fractures, and tears. A sprain is an injury to the ligaments in the ankle. A fracture is a break to a bone in the ankle. A tear is an injury to the tendons in the ankle that connects the muscles to the bone and cartilage.

Ankle instability is a condition that occurs when the ligaments that hold the ankle stable become weak or torn due to an injury that never completely healed such as recurring ankle sprains. This can make keeping the joint properly aligned difficult, which can cause significant pain and discomfort, and sometimes may also cause the ankle to give out.

Ankle tendinitis or peroneal tendonitis is inflammation in the tendons running along the outside of the ankle bone and the side of the foot. These tendons connect the muscles in the lower leg to the bones in the foot, helping to stabilize and balance the foot and ankle, protecting them from injuries. Tendinitis in the ankle is usually the result of overuse and can also occur suddenly after a fall or foot injury.

Ankle tendon tear is an injury that affects one or both peroneal tendons, in the foot. These two tendons, peroneal brevis and peroneal longus, extend along the outer ankle bone and the side of the foot, and connect muscles in the lower leg to bones in the foot to help stabilize the foot and ankle. A tear occurs due to sudden trauma, such as rolling an ankle or chronic overuse.

Carpal tunnel syndrome or ulnar nerve entrapment occurs when the ulnar nerve that runs from the neck to the hand, and helps control muscles and sensations in the forearm, hand, and fingers, gets irritated or compressed at the side of the elbow. When the ulnar gets compressed, it can cause several uncomfortable and severe symptoms that can lead to muscle weakness and atrophy if it is left untreated.

Forearm fracture occurs when either or both bones in the forearm, the ulna and radius break. A forearm fracture can occur due to a fall, direct impact from an object, or an indirect injury.

Wrist fracture is an injury that causes a break in any of the ten bones that form the forearm and wrist. There are two types of wrist fractures that are called a Colles fracture that occurs after falling on an outstretched hand with a wrist that is bent backwards, and a Smith fracture that occurs after falling on a hand that is bent forward.

Distal radius fracture occurs when the distal radius, the part of the radius that is connected to the wrist joint, is broken. A break in the distal radius usually occurs after falling on an outstretched or flexed hand.

Hip pain is any pain or discomfort in or around the hip joint. The pain could be caused by sports injuries or arthritis. Depending on where the pain is located determines what is causing the pain, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments, will cause pain near the surface above or around the hip. Pain in the bones or cartilage will cause pain deeper inside the hip joint and can also spread to the lower back or groin.

Hip injuries are any injuries that damage any of the parts of the hip joint. Hip injuries include fractures, labral tears, and dislocations. They are usually caused by high-impact traumas such as falls or car accidents, repetitive strain injuries, and sports injuries.

Hip arthritis is a condition that causes pain and stiffness in the hip joint, affecting the cartilage which cushions the joint and the synovial membrane that lubricates it. Hip arthritis can either cause inflammation and swelling in the tissues within the hip, or wear them down, or both which is due to normal wear and tear, genetic factors, injuries, and diseases.

Hip dislocation occurs when the ball joint of the hip comes out of its socket. A dislocated hip is usually the result of a significant traumatic injury and can cause be extremely painful and debilitating.

Hip dysplasia refers to a congenital condition that occurs when the hip socket doesn’t fully cover the ball joint of the upper thighbone. Hip dysplasia can cause the hip joint to become partially or completely dislocated due to damage to the cartilage lining the hip joint or a tear in the labrum.

Knee pain refers to any pain or discomfort in and around the knee joint. Knee pain can be caused by medical conditions such as arthritis, gout, or infections, injuries that damage the knee joint such as sprains, ruptures, tears, and hyperextensions, and overuse which can cause repetitive strain injuries.

Knee injury is any injury that involves damage to the ligaments, tendons, cartilage, bones, and muscles in the knee. Knee injuries include fractures, dislocations, tears, and sprains. These injuries can be the result of a fall, twisting of the knee, a car accident, or another high-impact trauma.

Knee swelling occurs when there is excess fluid that collects in or around the knee joint. A swollen knee may be the result of a trauma to the knee joint, overuse injuries, or an underlying disease or condition that affects the knee joint.

Knee arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation, pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. Arthritis in the knee is usually due to the stress the joints take which damages the cartilage in the knee.

Meniscus tear refers to the meniscus, the cartilage between the femur and shinbone that acts like a shock absorber in the knee, helping it to move smoothly. A tear of the meniscus occurs due to sudden injury or gradual wear and tear to the cartilage.

Knee ligament tears refer to any damage to one of the four ligaments in the knee. The four ligaments in the knee are the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the center of the knee that controls rotation and forward movement of the shin bone, the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in the back of the knee that controls backward movement of the shin bone, the medial collateral ligament (MCL) which stabilizes the inner knee, and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) which stabilizes the outer knee. An ACL tear is one of the most common knee injuries and is caused by car accidents, sports injuries, and falls.

Knee tendinitis is a condition that refers to the inflammation or irritation to the patella tendon which connects the kneecap to the shinbone. Knee tendinitis is caused by the overuse of the patella.

Shoulder pain is any type of pain or discomfort in the shoulder joint. Pain in the shoulder can be caused by overuse, degenerative conditions, injury or fall, or when the soft tissue surrounding the shoulder joint swells and forms scar tissue, which is called frozen shoulder.

Shoulder injury is any injury that causes damage to the muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons in the shoulder joint. There are several types of shoulder injuries that include inflammation, sprains and strains, arthritis, fractures, and impingement. Shoulder injuries can be caused by a trauma such as a fall, accident, or direct blow to the shoulder, overuse, or degenerative diseases.

Shoulder sprains & strains are injuries to the ligaments, tendons, and muscles in the shoulder joint. A shoulder sprain occurs when a ligament in the shoulder is overstretched or torn due to awkwardly planting a foot or using a hand to break a fall. A shoulder strain occurs when the muscles or tendons suddenly stretch or tear due to a direct fall on the shoulder, a car accident, an injury to or direct blow to the shoulder.

Shoulder & elbow fractures occur when there is a break in any of the three bones, the clavicle, scapula, and the proximal humerus, that form the shoulder joint, or to the olecranon, radial head, or distal humerus which make up the elbow joint. These fractures can be caused by a fall, sports injury, accident, a direct blow to the elbow, falling on the elbow, or falling on an outstretched hand. Shoulder and elbow fractures can also damage muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves that surround the shoulder or elbow joint.

Shoulder bursitis is a painful swelling in the bursae that cushions the spaces around the bones and tissue in the shoulder joint. Shoulder bursitis occurs when something irritates or damages the bursae in the shoulder joint, causing inflammation.

Shoulder dislocation is an injury that causes any of the bones in the shoulder joint to move out of place. A dislocated shoulder can be caused by a fall, sports injury, or a car accident.

Rotator cuff syndrome is any injury, disease, or degenerative condition that affects the rotator cuff muscles and tendons within the shoulder. This syndrome causes damage to the muscles and tendons in the shoulder due to repetitive use, preventing the shoulder from functioning properly.

Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is a degenerative disease that affects the cartilage in the shoulder joint, causing the cartilage to deteriorate. When the cartilage deteriorates, it causes the bones in the shoulder to rub against each other, causing pain, swelling, and sometimes bone spurs.

Elbow injuries are any injuries that weaken the elbow, impact everyday activities, and affect quality of life. Elbow injuries are common and occur due to repetitive strain, trauma or impact, a sports injury, lifting objects that are too heavy, overextension, and arthritis.

Elbow sprains and strains refer to injuries to the ligaments in the elbow when they are stretched too far or torn, which is considered a sprain. Sprains occur due to a sudden force or impact that forces the elbow joint into an unnatural position. Strains refer to the stretching and tearing of muscles or tendons around the elbow joint. This is caused by overuse or excessive pressure on the muscles.

Arm fracture or broken arm occurs when any of the three bones in the arm, the humerus, ulna, and radius are fractured. It is more common to break the ulna or radius; however, severe traumas such as a fall or car accident can break the humerus.

Elbow tendinitis is a condition that results from overuse of the muscles and tendons in the elbow. Tennis elbow is often caused by repeated motions of the wrist and arm. Pain from tennis elbow can travel from the outside of the elbow into the forearm and wrist.

Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tear is an inner elbow injury that happens when the ulnar collateral ligament is overstretched or torn. An ulnar collateral ligament tear can be caused by repetitive stress to the UCL, falling on an outstretched arm, or a traumatic injury such as a dislocated or fracture elbow.

Hyperextension injury occurs when the knee joint bends backwards beyond its normal straight position. Hyperextension of the knee can strain the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and the other supporting tissues which keep the femur and shinbone aligned. When stretched too far, they become less effective at stabilizing the joint, such as with hyperextension; a great enough force can cause a partial or complete tear in those ligaments.

Torn rotator cuff is a partial or complete tear of the muscles and tendons that make up the rotator cuff in the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff helps lift and move the arms away from the body and keeps the humerus in the shoulder blade socket. A torn rotator cuff can be the result of a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder due to a fall, or a degenerative tear, when the rotator cuff is worn down from age.

Achilles injuries occur when the Achilles tendon, the thick tendon that attaches the calf muscle to the heel bone which is crucial for walking, running, and jumping, is stretched beyond its limits causing inflammation or tendonitis.

Achilles tendon ruptures occur when a sudden force is applied upon the tendon, causing the fibers in the tendon to tear and separate. This is often due to movements such as sudden pivots, a sudden step off a curb, or even a simple trip and fall, which can be enough to overstretch and tear the tendon.

Patella fractures are a break in the kneecap, which is the bone that covers the knee joint. A fracture to the patella can be caused by a direct injury such as a fall on the knee, a forceful blow to the knee, or a car accident. There are several types of patella fractures such as a stable or nondisplaced fracture which is when the broken pieces of the bone remain in place, a displaced fracture which is when the broken pieces have been knocked out of their correct position and don’t line up as they usually would, a transverse fracture which is when the patella breaks into two pieces, a comminuted fracture which is when the bone is broken into three or more pieces, and an open fracture which when the skin over the bone has been broken by the broken pieces of bone or an object that pierces the skin from the outside.

Groin pain refers to any pain, discomfort, or unusual sensations in the area where the abdomen meets the upper thigh. Groin pain can be caused by conditions such as muscle strains, hip arthritis, inguinal hernias, and kidney stones, which can be worsened when sitting due to the way the hip flexes in that position.

Hamstring tendon rupture occurs when one or more of the tendons that connect the hamstring muscles to the pelvis or lower leg become partially or completely torn. A hamstring tendon rupture can result from any form of extreme stress on the tendons in the hamstring during activities that require sudden bursts of speed, explosive movements, rapid acceleration, or deceleration. These ruptures can also occur when the hamstring muscle is overloaded during irregular contractions of the muscle.