Orthopedics

Long Term Impact of Osteoporosis Reported March 12, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Bisphosphonate treatments, proven to enhance bone density and reduce fracture incidence in post-menopausal women, may adversely affect bone quality and increase risk of atypical fractures of the femur when used for four or more years. Bisphosphonates are designed to slow or stop the … [Read more...]

Study: Total Knee Replacement Improves Balance, Relieves Pain Reported March 15, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Total knee replacement (TKR) successfully relieves pain and improves function in patients with advanced knee arthritis, according to a new study. Researchers found the surgery also improves balance among elderly patients. “Balance is critical to the … [Read more...]

Pediatric Sports Injuries: A Silent Epidemic Reported March 11, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Year-round sports and increased exposure are leading to a dramatic rise in adolescent sport-related injuries. Awareness, education, warning signs and early treatment can make a significant difference and help keep young athletes in the game. According to Thomas M. … [Read more...]

Arthritis: Side Effect-Free Treatment Reported March 09, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Electromagnetic pulses were found to significantly decrease pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. In a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study, 34 patients who used a portable battery-operated device that emits a low-intensity pulsating … [Read more...]

Long-term use of osteoporosis drugs may harm bone Reported March 10, 2010 LOS ANGELES - Medications called bisphosphonates are standard tools for the treatment of osteoporosis. They include Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel and Reclast. But new data released Wednesday raise some concern about whether the drugs are safe for long-term use. Although the medications help … [Read more...]

Avoiding Amputation: Lengthening Legs Reported March 01, 2010 WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Imagine the doctors saying amputation is your only option. That's the reality for some kids born with leg deformities. One doctor is working to give these children more choices, including a treatment that allows them to keep their legs. The process isn't easy … [Read more...]

Exercise Program Associated With Denser Bones, Lower Fall Risk In Older WomenReported February 03, 2010 Women age 65 or older assigned to an exercise program for 18 months appeared to have denser bones and a reduced risk of falls, but not a reduced cardiovascular disease risk, compared with women in … [Read more...]

MRSA: Attacking Implant Infections Reported February 19, 2010 PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Almost 1 million people go under the knife every year for a knee, hip or shoulder replacement. Surgeons say those metal implants can become playgrounds for bacteria, leading to potentially deadly infections like MRSA. It happens to nearly 20,000 people every … [Read more...]

Knee Pain: Filling Cartilage Potholes Reported February 08, 2010 ROYAL OAK, Mich. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- From skiing down the slopes in Vancouver at the 2010 Olympic games, to running down your own road … You don't have to be an all-star athlete to feel the effects of a hard workout. Often, knees take the biggest beating. A new type of transplant is getting … [Read more...]

Beer: Does a Body Good? Reported February 09, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Beer may be giving milk a run for its money as a beverage to build strong bones. A new study found beer is a significant source of dietary silicon, a key ingredient for increasing bone mineral density. Researchers at the University of California, Davis studied the relationship between … [Read more...]

Osteoporosis Treatment That Could Cure Reported February 08, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Treatment that slows the production of serotonin in the gut holds promise for an osteoporosis cure. Known before as primarily a neurotransmitter in the brain, researchers have discovered serotonin released by the gut slows the formation of bone. In fact, 95 percent of the … [Read more...]

Bone Disease Secret Revealed Reported January 25, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Scientists have uncovered a genetic secret about previously unexplained forms of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic condition that weakens the bones. A newly identified gene contains the information necessary to make a protein called Cyclophilin B, partly responsibly for … [Read more...]

Vitamin D Reduces Falls Reported January 21, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Giving people living in nursing facilities vitamin D can reduce the rate of falls. In hospitals, supervised exercise programs also show benefit. According to a new Cochrane Review, older people living in nursing facilities or who have been admitted to hospital are much more likely to … [Read more...]

Does Stabilizing the Spine Help or Hurt Trauma Victims? Reported January 14, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The time-consuming, on-scene medical intervention of immobilizing the spines of shooting and stabbing victims before they are taken to the hospital appears to double the risk of death, compared to immediately transporting patients to a trauma center. The … [Read more...]

Program Saves Young Girls' Knees Reported January 13, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new program designed for young female soccer athletes can reduce risk of injury and elongate careers on the field. A new soccer-specific exercise program featuring strengthening exercises and improved motion pattern routines appears to reduce the risk of knee injuries -- … [Read more...]

Agent Used in Spinal Fusion Linked to Complications, Higher CostsReported July 01, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Back pain, a leading cause of disability in the U.S., is second only to the common cold as a reason for seeking evaluation by a physician. While nonsurgical interventions remain the first-line of therapy, many patients eventually progress to surgical treatments, … [Read more...]

Compound Reduces Bone Loss in Postmenopausal WomenJune 19, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research shows two years of treatment with phytoestrogen genistein reduces bone loss in postmenopausal women. Researchers from three medical centers in Italy included 389 postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density in a study … [Read more...]

Delaying Knee Surgery in Kids a Bad IdeaReported July 13, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – As more and more children participate in competitive sports at an increasingly early age, the incidence of knee injury has increased accordingly. Knee injuries are especially problematic in a child under 14 whose skeleton has not reached a mature size. A new study explores the benefits and … [Read more...]

Epilepsy Drug bad for the Bones Reported April 29, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Young women who suffer from epilepsy may want to steer clear of the drug phenytoin (Dilantin). A new study out of Columbia University in New York finds women who took the medication for one year were significantly more likely to show signs of bone loss on standard bone … [Read more...]

Genetic Engineering for Back Surgery (Ivanhoe First) Reported March 23, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new genetically engineered material made of human proteins speeds recovery time and improves results in lumbar spine fusions at greater rates than originally believed, according to Charles Rosen, M.D., a spine … [Read more...]

Heart Healthy Vitamin D Reported December 03, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A lack of vitamin D can cause bone and muscle weakness, but now researchers say it may also affect your heart health. A growing body of evidence links vitamin D deficiency to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), leading to common CVD risk factors like hypertension, obesity, diabetes, … [Read more...]

Insomnia Therapy Helps Osteoarthritis Patients   Reported August 18, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – A new study shows the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is an effective treatment for older patients with osteoarthritis and the attendant pain which causes insomnia. According to the study, sleep quality is a major concern for people … [Read more...]

MDs urge women to test bone densityReported August 27, 2007 A bone density test for osteoporosis should be as routine for women over age 65 as mammograms are now, according to Victoria endocrinologist Lucretia van den Berg. "It's important because we're all getting older," says the physician, explaining that with age bones thin, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and … [Read more...]

New MRI may Help Prevent Knee Surgery Reported May 23, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A newer version of magnetic resonance imaging, called the 3-Tesla, can help doctors better assess knee injuries in patients and help them avoid unnecessary surgery, according to two new studies. Lead study author of both studies, Tom … [Read more...]

Overweight Children at Risk for Spinal Problems Reported December 07, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Being pudgy as child may not only leave painful memories of school yard jokes … it could also leave lasting health consequences. A new study shows being overweight as a child could cause early degeneration of the spine. Researchers examined images of the … [Read more...]

Some Drugs Linked to Falls Among Elderly Reported November 24, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Falls among elderly people are closely associated with drugs, especially sedatives prescribed as sleep aids and medications used to treat mood disorders. Falling and related complications such as hip fractures are the fifth leading cause of death in the developed … [Read more...]

Surgery is Best for Spinal Stenosis Reported May 31, 2007 ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Surgery is the best option for the millions of patients who suffer from a very common back condition called spinal stenosis, according to a new study. Degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis is a condition that affects six times as many women as men and is especially … [Read more...]

U.S. Children Short on Vitamin D Reported October 28, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Vitamin D levels in children across the United States are lower than experts consider healthy. In a nationally representative study out of Children's Hospital Boston, researchers found about 20 percent of children in the United States fall below the 50nmol/L standard … [Read more...]

Winter's Tail Helps Humans   Reported April 06, 2009 CLEARWATER, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- She may be the only dolphin to lose her tail and survive. Now her progress in the water is helping amputees on land. The research behind the one-of-a-kind prosthetic is making life more comfortable for others who've lost a limb. Winter the dolphin … [Read more...]

Aging and Bone Loss Reported June 23, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Measuring bone density is the most common way of diagnosing osteoporosis, but how often should we get tested? Researchers from Canada note older women and men have more hip fractures because bone loss accelerates as they age. Scientists wanted to find the average rate of change in bone … [Read more...]