Total Knee Replacement

TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT

DEFINITION

Knee replacement surgery — also known as knee arthroplasty (ARTH-row-plas-tee) — can help relieve pain and restore function in severely diseased knee joints. During knee replacement, a surgeon cuts away damaged bone and cartilage from your thighbone, shinbone and kneecap and replaces it with an artificial joint made of metal alloys, high-grade plastics and polymers.

The first artificial knees were little more than crude hinges. Now, you and your doctor can choose from a variety of designs that take into account your age, weight, activity level and overall health. Most knee replacement joints attempt to act like your knee, with its ability to roll and glide as it bends

DEFINITION ABAUT BRACHIAL PLEXUS

DEFINITION OF BRACHIAL PLEXUS

The brachial plexus is the network of nerves that sends signals from your spine to your shoulder, arm and hand. A brachial plexus injury occurs when these nerves are stretched, compressed, or in the most serious cases, ripped apart or torn away from the spinal cord.

Minor brachial plexus injuries, known as stingers or burners, are common in contact sports, such as football. Babies sometimes sustain brachial plexus injuries during birth. Other conditions, such as inflammation or tumors, may affect the brachial plexus.

The most severe brachial plexus injuries usually result from auto or motorcycle accidents. Severe brachial plexus injuries can leave your arm paralyzed, with a loss of function and sensation. Surgical procedures such as nerve grafts, nerve transfers or muscle transfers can help restore function.

Muscular dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. In muscular dystrophy, abnormal genes (mutations) interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle.

There are many different kinds of muscular dystrophy. Symptoms of the most common variety begin in childhood, primarily in boys. Other types don't surface until adulthood.

Some people who have muscular dystrophy will eventually lose the ability to walk. Some may have trouble breathing or swallowing.

There is no cure for muscular dystrophy. But medications and therapy can help manage symptoms and slow the course of the disease.

Winged Scapula

A winged scapula is a symptom of another condition, rather than an injury itself. It is where the shoulder blade protrudes out on the back, rather than laying flat against the back of the chest wall.

Winged scapula symptoms

A winged scapular is usually fairly obvious as the scapular or shoulder blade protrudes outwards sticking out of the back. Patients can complain of shoulder blade pain with pressure on the scapular from a chair when sitting. If caused by an injury resulting in nerve damage, the patient may have limited shoulder elevation as well as shoulder blade pain

Winged scapula treatment

Applying ice or cold therapy may help reduce the shoulder blade pain although the back isn't the easiest place to apply a cold pack. Assistance will be required!

A full rehabilitation and strengthening program consisting of winged scapular exercises as well as a range of other exercises for the shoulder is important. The most important muscle to strengthen is the serratus anterior muscle which holds the shoulder blade in place. Exercises to strengthen the serratus anterior which is known as the punching muscle including punching type exercises.

Spina bifida

Spina bifida is part of a group of birth defects called neural tube defects. The neural tube is the embryonic structure that eventually develops into the baby's brain and spinal cord and the tissues that enclose them.

Normally, the neural tube forms early in the pregnancy and closes by the 28th day after conception. In babies with spina bifida, a portion of the neural tube fails to develop or close properly, causing defects in the spinal cord and in the bones of the spine.

Spina bifida occurs in various forms of severity. When treatment for spina bifida is necessary, it's done surgically, although such treatment doesn't always completely resolve the problem.

Torticolis

Torticollis

    

Torticollis is a condition in which the neck muscles cause the head to turn or rotate to the side.

Causes

Torticollis may be:

• Inherited -- due to changes in your genes
• Acquired -- develops as a result of damage to the nervous system, upper spine, or muscles

If the condition occurs without a known cause, it is called idiopathic torticollis.

Torticollis may develop in childhood or adulthood. Congenital torticollis (present at birth) may occur if the baby's head was in the wrong position while growing in the womb, or if the muscles or blood supply to the neck were injured.

Symptoms

• Limited range of motion of the head
• Headache
• Head tremor
• Neck pain
• Shoulder that is higher than the other
• Stiffness of the neck muscles
• Swelling of the neck muscles (possibly present at birth)

Cervical Injury

If a cervical vertebra is fractured by trauma, such as in a car accident, a fall, a diving accident that jars the head, or any other significant cervical injury, the spinal cord can be damaged, possibly resulting in not only cervical pain but different types of impaired functioning depending on which cervical vertebra has been injured.

For example, a cervical injury to:

• C1, C2, or C3 (one of the first three cervical vertebrae) may result in functional loss of the diaphragm and necessitate the use of a ventilator to aid in breathing
• C4 (the fourth cervical vertebra, etc.) may prompt loss of functional control of the shoulders and biceps
• C5 may result in complete functional loss at the wrists and hands in addition to partial loss of the shoulders and biceps
• C6 may result in complete loss of hand function and limited use of the wrist
• C7 may result in decreased skillful use in the hands and fingers, and limited use of the arms.

Huntington's Disease

Huntington's disease is an inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown (degeneration) of nerve cells in the brain. Huntington's disease has a broad impact on a person's functional abilities and usually results in movement, thinking (cognitive) and psychiatric disorders.

Most people with Huntington's disease develop signs and symptoms in their 30s or 40s, but the onset of disease may be earlier or later in life. When disease onset begins before age 20, the condition is called juvenile Huntington's disease. Earlier onset often results in a somewhat different presentation of symptoms and faster disease progression.

Medications are available to help manage the symptoms of Huntington's disease, but treatments can't prevent the physical, mental and behavioral decline associated with the condition.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle — so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses like bending over or coughing can cause a fracture. Osteoporosis-related fractures most commonly occur in the hip, wrist or spine.

Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn't keep up with the removal of old bone.

Osteoporosis affects men and women of all races. But white and Asian women — especially older women who are past menopause — are at highest risk. Medications, healthy diet and weight-bearing exercise can help prevent bone loss or strengthen already weak bones.

ACL INJURY

Anatomy

Normal knee anatomy, front view

Three bones meet to form your knee joint: your thighbone (femur), shinbone (tibia), and kneecap (patella). Your kneecap sits in front of the joint to provide some protection.

Bones are connected to other bones by ligaments. There are four primary ligaments in your knee. They act like strong ropes to hold the bones together and keep your knee stable.

Collateral Ligaments

These are found on the sides of your knee. The medial collateral ligament is on the inside and the lateral collateral ligament is on the outside. They control the sideways motion of your knee and brace it against unusual movement.

Cruciate Ligaments

These are found inside your knee joint. They cross each other to form an "X" with the anterior cruciate ligament in front and the posterior cruciate ligament in back. The cruciate ligaments control the back and forth motion of your knee.

The anterior cruciate ligament runs diagonally in the middle of the knee. It prevents the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur, as well as provides rotational stability to the knee.