Fractures Treatment: Expectations vs Reality

Fractures

A fracture is a broken bone. A bone can be broken in multiple ways, it can be completely fractured or partially fractured. Fractures can be of several types, here are a few common types of fractures, stable fracture, open and compound fracture, oblique fracture.

Causes of fractures:

1. Trauma: Accidents and injuries can cause fractures.
2. Overuse: Overuse of certain part may weaken the muscles and put excess pressure on the bones, causing stress fractures.
3. Osteoporosis: This disorder is known to weaken bones.

In the case of a fracture, a patient receiving treatment expects three things,

1. Achieving the original status of the broken bone, post the treatment.
2. Achieving complete weight bearing status.
3. Having a minimum rest duration.

After going through the basics of fractures like it’s types, causes and patient expectations etc. Let us have a look at the treatment options and reality.

A fracture, depending upon its type and nature can be treated in five different ways.

1. Cast immobilization: A plaster or fibreglass cast is used to immobilize the broken bone after repositioning it to its proper position. This is the most common method used to manage a fracture. Improper alignment of the broken bone before the cast immobilization may hamper the patient’s first expectation from the fracture treatment. The experienced team at one of the best orthopedic hospital in Nagpur, Icon Hospital makes sure no expectations go unfulfilled.
2. Functional cast or brace: In certain cases, factors like location and nature of the fracture do not allow complete immobilization. In such cases, only partial immobilization that allows functional movement is useful. These are the cases wherein, functional cast or braces were brought in.
3. Traction: This refers to the application of gentle, steady and pulling action on the broken bone to set it in the proper position.
4. External Fixation: In this type of treatment, metal pins or screws are used above and below the fracture site. These pins protrude out of the skin and are connected to a metal rod outside of the body. This complete setup acts like a stabilizing frame to hold the broken bones in proper position until the fracture heals.
5. Open reduction and Internal fixation: This method is brought in cases where bone fragments are completely separated. Here, the fragments of bones are first repositioned in their normal positions/alignments and then special screws, plates and wires etc are used to maintain the alignment until the fractures heal. In certain cases, the fragments can also be held together using rods through the marrow space in the centre of the bone.

Icon hospital, one of the best orthopedic hospitals in Nagpur offers all kinds of fracture management treatments that are performed by experienced, skilled and the well aware team of healthcare providers ensuring the patient of complete and expected recovery.

Want to send joint pain on a vacation this winter?

Joint Pain In Winter

Many of the people reading this must be thinking of this to be a big joke. Isn’t it? But it is not a joke. Because the dipping temperature and chilling weather do take a toll on the health of the people who suffer from the excruciating joint pain. Definitely, there is a scientific reason due to which joint pain aggravates in the winter. The change in the weather most probably causes it. The tendons, muscles and the surrounding tissues of the joints expand as the barometric pressure drops down in the chilly season. This puts pressure on the joints and causes pain.

As it is said “An ounce of prevention is better than an ounce of cure” we should also be aware of our medical condition and take preventive measures to lessen the after effects of it. So we are going to give you some tips to help you fight joint pain this winter and make it pain-free for you.

Be hydrated- We do not realize but as winter approaches our water intake goes on reducing with us not realizing it. Many of us do not know that even mild dehydration can trigger the sensitivity of your pain. Drink at least 2 to 3 litres of water for staying hydrated and to remove the stiffness in your joints.

Vitamin D is your new friend- The lack of vitamin D causes joint and bone pain so covering up its deficiency can definitely reduce your problem. Soaking up some goodness from the sun can give you a good amount of vitamin D. Apart from this include vitamin D rich food in your diet or vitamin D supplements but only after consulting your doctor.

Layer up- The best way to beat the chills is by wearing layers because layering yourself up can ease your joint pain as it acts as an insulator on your body and provides heat to your body. In Nagpur, winter is tough but not as that compared to the northern sides of India. But being on the safer side we should definitely cover up properly making sure to cover our knees, fingers and hands properly.

Shed some sweat- Don't let your body adapt to a sedentary lifestyle because the freezing weather makes us long for a long time in bed along with eating more and not at all indulging in physical activity. But here’s the kicker because if you involve in physical activities in winter your body keeps moving and the joints do not remain in a stationary condition and are mobile keeping the muscles healthy.

Have comforting warm baths- Warmth is what we crave for in this chilly season. And what is better than a warm water bath. It helps to soothe the stiff muscles and joints by stimulating the blood flow. We can also use heating pads or warm compresses to reduce the pain.

Get rid of the “O”- Maintaining a healthy body weight is very important as Obesity can lead to various health issues. Increased body weight exerts pressure on your feet and knees leading to pain. Many times there is a significant improvement in joint pain when the patients undergo exercise and diet for weight loss.

Treat yourself to a professional massage- A massage proves to be very soothing and effective against joint pain. A professional massage every week can help us deal with the pain. Only after we undergo it that we realize how much it helps us to relax our body and reduce the ache we experience.

Make your diet “FISHY”- Omega 3 fatty acids which happen to be present in fish oil is believed to reduce joint pain. But before starting it make sure to consult your doctor for instructions about the dosage. It has certain side effects such as nausea, rashes or indigestion so it’s better to be on the safer side.

Apart from these tips make sure that you definitely make a regular trip to your orthopedic doctor to keep a check on your health. But here’s the kicker. Proper diagnosis plays a major role in treating painful condition. 

And at such a stage being treated with an experienced doctor plays a crucial role. So making sure that you get treated by the best will be best for you. Dr Karan Kishore Mane is one of the best orthopedic doctors in Nagpur who is one of the reputed and experienced doctors who leads the department of Joint replacement, orthopedics and trauma in Icon Hospital. The department provides the best patient care along with prompt services making it one of the best orthopedic hospitals in Nagpur.

Understand the background of joint replacement.

“It’s not just pain BUT It’s a total Physical, Mental and Emotional assault on your body” this quote very well comes true for the people who are suffering from joint pain. Not only the pain takes a toll on your body but also on our mind. You know what the bottom line is? The mentality of backing out of things you like, thinking of the possibility that the pain might escalate while doing something is the worst. For the people who are always leading their life actively and doing things on their own face a major challenge due to joint pain.

You might be wondering that there must be some way to overcome this unbearable pain? Here is when the idea of joint replacement surges in.

But many people just casually toss around the terms joint replacement or hip replacement without exactly understanding what it really means. So it’s always necessary to know the depth of water before entering it. So let us actually know what joint replacement really is.

Introduction- A joint is where two or more bones come together such as the hip, knee, shoulder, or elbow. Over time joints experience wear and tear, which is referred to as joint degeneration. The most common cause of joint degeneration is arthritis, but joints can also be damaged by trauma, autoimmune disorders, and medications.

Understanding about joint replacement -Joint replacement surgery is exactly what it sounds like: removing a damaged joint and replacing it with a new, albeit artificial, one. The most common joint replacements are hips and knees, but other joints that can be replaced include shoulders, elbows, ankles, and fingers. Artificial joint implants are made of plastic, metal, or both. Sometimes a surgeon replaces the entire joint, which is referred to as a total joint replacement, and other times a surgeon opts to replace only the damaged parts of a joint, which is referred to as a partial joint replacement.

Joint replacement on the peak- If you are thinking that joint replacement surgery is uncommon then you may be on the wrong page because millions of people all around the world have undergone it. The remarkable fact is 75% women and 25% of men above the age of 64 have undergone the surgery. The active, ageing population, the improvement in instrumentation and the evolution in implants has comparatively made the scenario quite remarkable. In the old days, joint replacement took several hours. Nowadays it’s a much more easygoing process. Joint replacement is not a big deal anymore. The best part is, patients are usually up and walking the same day of surgery.

The right time to choose a joint replacement- If the pain is affecting every aspect of your life then it’s the correct time to consider this. Joint replacement isn’t an emergency situation like a heart attack; it is an elective procedure — and ultimately it is up to an individual to decide when it is the time. But things have changed. First, the technology has improved and the implants now last longer. Instead of 10 to 12 years, many implants now last 15 to 20 or even 25 years. Second, the revision surgery — the term for replacing the implant when it wears out — has gotten easier. As a result, individuals who want to stay active can opt for surgery at a younger age.

After reading this maybe we can consider that your major confusion about joint replacement has become clear till now. Finding a good surgeon, one with a history of successful knee replacement surgeries, will help ensure you have a successful surgery and recovery. 

It’s critical you feel comfortable with your surgeon and feel you can discuss your concerns and questions openly with them. And thinking about a well experienced orthopaedic surgeon the first name which comes to our mind is of  Dr Karan Kishore Mane who is one of the best orthopedic surgeons in Nagpur with a good experience and also with a success in joint replacement surgeries in his kitty.

Dr Mane is the Joint Replacement and Orthopaedic Surgeon at Icon hospital which is also considered as one of the best orthopaedic Hospital in Nagpur due to the well-equipped services and facilities. So if you are planning to undergo a joint replacement surgery then, Icon definitely stands out as the best option for you.