Tag Archives: broken bones

General Ortho

5 Of The Most Common Orthopedic Surgeries

Did you experience a slip or fall that has left you with a painful injury? Unintentional injuries account for 24.2 million emergency department visits each year. These include injuries ranging from strains, sprains, and dislocations to concussions and fractures, most of which affect the musculoskeletal system creating the most common orthopedic surgeries.

The musculoskeletal system includes the bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, joints, and bursae–the lubricated cushions between a bone and the surrounding soft tissue. 

When possible, non-surgical treatment methods are always preferred. However, in many cases, surgery is necessary to correct these orthopedic injuries. If you encounter an orthopedic injury that requires surgery, work with a team you can trust. Paris Orthopedics is here to help by starting with sharing the most common orthopedic surgeries with you. 

Partial Shoulder Replacement 

Shoulder replacement surgeries are significantly less common than knee or hip replacements. While they may be performed to treat an injury such as a severely torn rotator cuff, shoulder replacement surgeries are often used to relieve painful conditions such as osteoarthritis. A partial shoulder replacement, or hemiarthroplasty, is a procedure during which the head of the humerus bone (long bone in the upper arm) is replaced with a prosthetic ball, but the natural socket is left intact.

Total Shoulder Replacement 

In cases where the shoulder socket is affected, a total shoulder replacement is necessary. There are two different methods–traditional arthroplasty and reverse arthroplasty. In a traditional shoulder replacement surgery, the original ball-and-socket surfaces of the shoulder are replaced with similarly shaped prosthetics. During a reverse, the positions of the shoulder joint’s ball and socket are switched–the ball at the top of the upper arm bone (humerus) is replaced with a socket-shaped prosthetic, and the socket is replaced with a prosthetic ball.

Partial Hip Replacement 

Partial hip replacement surgery is often performed to repair certain hip fractures. Like the shoulder, the hip comprises a ball and socket joint. With a partial replacement, the femoral head (or ball) is removed and replaced with either a ceramic or metal ball attached to a metal stem. The stem called a hip implant, is set into the femur. The socket is left intact.

Total Hip Replacement 

The hip is one of the body’s largest joints, and hip replacement surgery is considered one of the most successful surgical procedures in all medicine. A total hip replacement includes replacing the femoral head (ball) and neck and removing any damaged cartilage in the pelvis. Three bearing surfaces are available for total hip replacements: a metal ball on the plastic liner, ceramic on ceramic, and metal on metal. Metal on highly cross-linked polyethylene (plastic) is the most recommended for durability. Around 98% of this type of replacement last around 20 years in young, active patients.

Total Knee Replacement 

Knee pain is among the most common causes of chronic pain in the United States. Joint replacement surgery is often recommended for those unable to perform everyday tasks, such as sleeping, without difficulty and pain. It may also be used to correct a knee deformity.

The procedure name, total knee replacement, can be misleading. Many people may not realize that the bones themselves are not actually replaced but instead their surfaces in these surgeries. The bones (tibia and femur) are prepared by removing damaged cartilage from their surfaces and a small amount of underlying bone. Metal implants are then used to recreate the surface. The patella (kneecap) is also resurfaced before a medical-grade spacer is inserted between the metal components. This space creates a smooth gliding surface to restore joint function.

Contact Paris Orthopedics

Have you experienced an injury that can’t be healed without surgery? It may be time to find an orthopedic surgeon you can trust. Paris Orthopedic and Sports Medicine’s board-certified physicians offer patients comprehensive orthopedic and musculoskeletal services. Our services include surgical and non-surgical treatments for sports injuries and a broad range of bone, muscle, and joint problems. For more information, visit our website to schedule an appointment or give us a call at (903) 737-0000.

Bone Health

How to Know if Your Bone is Broken

Broken bones can sometimes be tricky to self-diagnose. On the one hand, you could stub your toe and feel a level of pain that convinces you that it’s broken even when it’s not. On the other hand, you may be surprised to learn that it’s not uncommon for someone to walk around with a broken bone without realizing it. This is especially concerning because an untreated broken bone has the potential to mend at an incorrect angle that can leave you immobile or less capable. While the best way to truly know if your bone is broken is to visit your doctor, we’ve compiled a list of the most common signs of broken bones. 

Hearing or feeling a snap

One of the first signs of a broken bone that you may experience can occur at the very moment the bone breaks. As soon as the injury occurs, you may hear or feel a snap or a crunch. This is usually the first indication of the broken bone. After the initial break, you may also be able to feel crunchiness underneath the skin, which is a sign that broken pieces of bone are rubbing against each other.

Bruising or discoloration

Following the initial breaking of the bone, bruising and swelling is very common. Large bruising is due to the blood escaping from the capillaries within the damaged tissues. 

Tenderness

When a bone is broken, it is typically incredibly painful to touch, press, move, or put weight on it. A good way to see if the bone is broken is to try and move the injured body part. While tenderness is common with bruising of any kind, the tenderness of a broken bone is usually far more intense. 

Loss of function

In addition to not being able to move your injury due to pain, a broken bone may also make it so you’re physically incapable of moving your body part due to the fracture of the bone. If you are able to move it but feel pain, it’s probably not broken. If you have a complete loss of function, however, this is usually indicative of a broken bone.

Deformation

If you need a clear indication of a broken bone, deformity is a sure signifier to help you know that your bone is broken. If your bone is ever bending in an abnormal direction, this means that it is definitely broken. In some cases, the bone may also be poking out of the skin, which means that it is either dislocated or broken. 

After you’ve broken a bone, it’s not uncommon to feel faint, sick, or dizzy as a result of the shock. If you suspect your bone is broken, it’s important to seek medical treatment right away. If a broken bone isn’t corrected right away, you may be subjecting yourself to the possibility of developing an infection or a permanent deformity. 

Broken bones that are not realigned and healed properly may also create long-term joint problems. As you grow older, it’s important to be extra careful, as bones become weaker with age. 

Consult an Orthopedic Specialist

The team at Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is dedicated to helping our patients recover from a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our services include general orthopedic medicine, joint replacement, sports injury treatment, and osteoporosis treatments at our bone health clinic. If you have questions about the broken bones, or bone health call (903) 737-0000 to make an appointment.