Orthopedics

Health Care Providers Can Prevent Falls Reported July 17, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- For one of the most common health problems in the elderly, prevention may be in the hands of health care providers. In a recent study involving clinical practices in Connecticut, researchers found certain safety measures reduced fall-related injuries by nine percent. Researchers translate … [Read more...]

Injection for Better Bones -- In-Depth Doctor's Interview Reported July 13, 2005 Michael McClung, M.D., explains a new drug to fight osteoporosis that is easier to take and just as effective as traditional drugs. Ivanhoe Broadcast News Transcript with Michael McClung, M.D., Endocrinologist, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon,   TOPIC: Injection for … [Read more...]

Repairing Spinal Fractures Reported July 23, 2008 LOS ANGELES (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Twenty-five percent of postmenopausal women develop spinal fractures, often brought on by osteoporosis. If untreated, it can cause chronic, debilitating back pain. Yet many women don't realize there's a way to get fast relief. It's the calcium, not the taste Nora Ripper craves. At age 83 … [Read more...]

New Knees That Fit Reported December 24, 2007 ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It’s a common problem: 19 million Americans see their doctors each year complaining of knee pain. But only about 300,000 undergo knee replacement surgery. More patients may soon decide to get a new knee with the arrival of a new, more-customized replacement. Kelly … [Read more...]

Relieving That Pain in the Neck Reported November 23, 2007 DALLAS (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Each year, more than 200,000 people in the United States have spinal fusion surgery to try to get rid of neck pain. The procedure usually helps, but can create other problems and limit motion. Even something as simple as backing up her car was once painful for … [Read more...]

Simple Test Better at Diagnosing Chronic Back Pain   Reported April 09, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – There may a better way to diagnose chronic back pain than what is currently being used. Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a simple, new test to better distinguish neuropathic pain -- pain from damage to the nervous … [Read more...]

Shot of Alcohol Eases Foot PainJune 21, 2007 Careful now - yes, researchers in England have discovered that a shot of alcohol eases the pain of Morton's neuroma. This is a common cause of chronic foot pain and is often quite difficult to treat. The pain begins gradually and is intermittent in the early stages. … [Read more...]

Adults Born With Very Low Birth Weight at Risk for Osteoporosis   Reported August 25, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- In a new study, Petteri Hovi and colleagues from the National Institute for Health and Welfare Helsinki, Finland evaluated skeletal health in 144 adults, ages ranging from 18 to 27 years, who were born preterm with very low birth … [Read more...]

Dangerous Flip-Flops Reported August 19, 2008 AUBURN, Ala. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- They might be the unofficial footwear of summer. Millions of pairs of flip-flops are sold every year, and chances are you have at least one pair in your closet; but could your flip-flops be changing the way you walk? "I think there's an attitude that goes with them," one avid flip-flop wearer … [Read more...]

Epidural Injections Fall Short for Aching Back Reported March 6, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Don’t look to epidural steroid injections to ease your lower back pain. Researchers who reviewed the medical literature on the injections find they provide little relief for pain that starts in the back and radiates down the leg. While some patients do perceive a slight lessening of … [Read more...]

Fractures up Death Risk for Men and Women   Reported February 05, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Older men and women who suffer a broken bone are at higher risk of dying over the next five to ten years, and among those who have a second fracture, the risk period is even longer. Australian researchers arrived at those conclusions after studying … [Read more...]

Heart Danger for Osteoporosis Drug Users Reported May 01, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A drug to prevent fractures in women with osteoporosis may be linked to an abnormal heart rhythm. A new study reveals alendronate (Fosamax) may be associated with atrial fibrillation, which occurs when the atria -- the smaller upper heart chambers -- start to beat … [Read more...]

Injection for Better Bones Reported January 31, 2005 PORTLAND, Ore. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- If you are a woman over 50, you have a one in two chance of eventually suffering a fracture caused by osteoporosis. The risk for men is one in four. Medications can lessen … [Read more...]

Bone loss linked to depression in new studyReported November 27, 2007 Depression eats away at a young woman's bones at least as much as does low calcium, putting women at risk of life-threatening fractures as they get older, new research shows. Reporting today in the journal, Archives of Internal Medicine, U.S. researchers found women aged 21 to 45 who are mildly … [Read more...]

Out-Patient Treatment Provides Long-Term Back Pain Relief Reported December 04, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – A minimally invasive treatment called percutaneous disc decompression for painful herniated disc kept patients pain-free up to two years later. Discs are sponge-like cushions that rest between the bones of the spine. When a disc bulges or herniates … [Read more...]

Repairing Spinal Fractures Reported July 23, 2008 LOS ANGELES (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Twenty-five percent of postmenopausal women develop spinal fractures, often brought on by osteoporosis. If untreated, it can cause chronic, debilitating back pain. Yet many women don't realize there's a way to get fast relief. It's the calcium, not the taste Nora Ripper craves. At age 83 … [Read more...]

'Size zero' pressure on girls leads to weak bones, say scientists Reported January 06, 2010 Dieting by teenage girls desperate to reach 'size zero' could be putting their bones at risk, say British researchers. They found bone strength is linked to fat levels - meaning the pressure to be thin may increase the chances of fractures. A long-term child development study … [Read more...]

Surgery-Free Back Treatment Reported May 31, 2007 TAMPA, Fla. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- Ninety percent of adults will have back pain at least once during their lifetime. The last thing many people want to have is surgery. There is now an option that has many people finding the relief they want without going under the knife. Last year, Rick Terrana hurt his back. He … [Read more...]

Sports enthusiasts urged to protect joints Reported September 24, 2007 Amateur sportspeople have been warned that they could be doing irrevocable damage to their joints. A report says that millions of Britons are unknowingly damaging their joints through sport, while people with less active lifestyles experience fewer incidents … [Read more...]

Wii-itis Reported October 01, 2009 ROCHESTER, Minn. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It's happening around TV sets in more than 10 million households across the U.S. An interactive video game is connecting grandparents with their grandchildren and providing a great workout. But is there such a thing as too much Wii?   Move over Monopoly. Many family game … [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...]