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Falls are a serious problem in Lee County. Falls are the most common cause of accidents in people over 65 years of age and the leading cause death to the injury. In fact, 94 people died in Lee County in 2008 due to falls. People living with orthopaedic conditions are especially at risk of falls and fall-related injuries.

The Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition is stepping up to help residents and their loved ones prevent falls and fall-related injuries and deaths through a community-wide campaign, appropriately named “Step WiseLee.”

Step Up and Do Your Part
Falls are not a normal part of aging. But according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), they are more common among the elderly population and the leading cause of injury deaths. Hip fractures and head traumas are the most serious injuries resulting from falls. The CDC recommends taking the following steps to reduce the risk of falls:
• Remove throw rugs or use double-sided tape or non-stick pads under rugs
• Eliminate clutter in walkways such as cords, wires, shoes, clothes, books, etc.
• Keep items you regularly use within reach and stored safely in cabinets and drawers
• Have grab bars installed in showers, bathtubs, next to toilets and in hallways
• Use non-slip mats in bathtubs and shower floors
• Have handrails and lights installed on staircases
• Add nightlights in bathrooms and hallways
• Wear shoes both inside and outside the house and avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers
• Schedule an appointment annually to have your vision checked
• Encourage seniors to participate in regular exercise such as walking or water aerobics to maintain balance and muscle tone
• Have health care provider review medications

By working together, we can reduce the number of falls and fall-related injuries and deaths in Lee County. For more information, visit www.StepWiseLee.com.

When preparing for surgery, Kari Massengill is the point person for patients and families, providing them guidance and helping to prepare them for the next step in their road to recovery.

As surgical coordinator for Dr. Curcione, Kari is responsible for coordinating pre-operative tests and exams and scheduling surgeries. Having worked with Dr. Curcione and his staff for the past five years, Kari has formed friendly relationships with patients and serves as an advocate for patient care.

“When patients call or come to see me, it usually means their pain has increased and non-surgical options are not effective,” said Kari. “It’s time for surgery, and that can bring fear and anxiety along with it. I try to reassure them and walk them through the process, one step at a time.”

For Kari, the best part of her job is when they return: “When patients return following surgery, they always tell me two things – ‘I wish I hadn’t waited so long and I’m no longer in pain. That’s what we like to hear.’”

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, there are more than 320,000 hospitalizations for hip fractures every year.

The total cost in medical bills and lost income resulting from hip fractures is more than $12.6 billion a year or an average of $37,000 per hip fracture.

Because of the aging U.S. population, the number of hip fractures is expected to reach about 650,000 by 2050.

More than 90 percent of hospitalizations for hip fractures are persons 65 and older. Women have a one in seven chance of having a hip fracture during their lifetime. Men have a one in 17 chance.

The aging Baby Boomer who may be caring for a parent with a broken hip also is in danger because the incidence of hip fractures starts to increase at age 45.

Who is vulnerable to a hip fracture?

Hip fractures are caused by a variety of factors that weaken bone and, often, are caused by the impact from a fall. The common characteristics of persons who are vulnerable to hip fractures are:

• Age. The rate increases for people 65 and older.
• Gender. Women have two to three times as many hip fractures as men.
• Heredity. A family history of fractures in later life, particularly in Caucasians and Asians. A small-boned, slender body.
• Nutrition. A low calcium dietary intake or reduced ability to absorb calcium.
• Personal habits. Smoking or excessive alcohol use.
• Physical impairments. Physical frailty, arthritis, unsteady balance and poor eyesight.
• Mental impairments. Senility, dementia, e.g., Alzheimer’s disease.
• Weakness or dizziness from side effects of medication.

For more information, call 239-368-8277 or visit www.bone-fix.com. For tips on preventing hip fractures, visit http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00305.

In 2006, approximately 7.5 million people went to the doctor’s office for a shoulder problem, including shoulder and upper arm sprains and strains. More than 4.1 million of these visits were for rotator cuff problems.

Shoulder injuries are frequently caused by athletic activities that involve excessive, repetitive, overhead motion such as swimming, tennis, pitching and weightlifting. Injuries also can occur during everyday activities such washing walls, hanging curtains and gardening.

While shoulder pain can often result from injury, the most common cause of shoulder and other joint pain is osteoarthritis, which involves the wearing down of cartilage in the joints. As the cartilage wears away, the bones rub directly against each other, resulting in pain and stiffness. 

If you are experiencing pain in your shoulder, ask yourself these questions:

• Is your shoulder stiff? Can you rotate your arm in all the normal positions?
• Does it feel like your shoulder could pop out or slide out of the socket?
• Do you lack the strength in your shoulder to carry out your daily activities?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you should consult an orthopaedic surgeon for help in determining the severity of the problem. Early detection is the key to preventing and treating osteoarthritis and shoulder injuries.

Treatment may include exercises to strengthen the shoulder muscles, anti-inflammatory medication to reduce pain and swelling or in some cases, joint replacement shoulder surgery may be necessary. This may be either arthroscopic or open surgery. During arthroscopic surgery, the orthopaedic surgeon inserts a pencil-thin device with a small lens and lighting system into tiny incisions to look inside the joint. The images inside the joint are relayed to a TV monitor, allowing the doctor to make a diagnosis. Your physician will provide you guidance on the best treatment options for you.

For more information, call 239-368-8277 or visit http://www.bone-fix.com/.

By working within your physician’s game plan, you can often safely return to resuming most routine activities following joint replacement surgery and rehabilitation. Recovery from surgery is a process that should be outlined and monitored by your physician and physical therapist.

Exercise is a critical component of home care, particularly during the first few weeks after surgery. You should be able to resume most normal light activities of daily living within three to six weeks following surgery. Some discomfort with activity and at night is common for several weeks.

Under the guidance of your surgeon and therapist, your activity program may include:

• A graduated walking program, initially in your home and later outside
• A walking program to slowly increase your mobility and endurance
• Resuming other normal household activities
• Resuming sitting, standing, and walking up and down stairs
• Specific exercises several times a day to restore movement
• Specific exercises several times a day to strengthen your hip joint
• You may wish to have a physical therapist help you at home

Following surgery, some patients may be advised to avoid certain activities, including jogging and high-impact sports, for the rest of their life while others may resume normal activities when strength returns and they have received clearance from their physician and therapist. Recovery and return to activity is dependent upon many factors including the patient’s condition, age, type of surgery and abilities.

In general, the success of surgery depends in large measure on how well patients follow the instructions of the surgeon and therapist during the first few weeks after surgery.  Helping patients return to normal activity and maximum independence are the end goals.

For more information, visit http://www.bone-fix.com/ or call 239-368-8277.

As a team physician for both professional and youth sports teams, I cannot stress enough the importance of annual physicals, stretching and athletic wellness. Learn more about the STOP sports injury campaign: http://www6.aaos.org/news/Pemr/releases/release.cfm?releasenum=889

View this video and learn more including frequently asked questions to see if you are a candidate for hip replacement. For more information visit www.bone-fix.com or call 239-368-8277.

• Do you sometimes limp?
• Is it difficult to perform daily tasks like walking, housework or tying shoes?
• Does pain limit your activities and lifestyle?
• Does one leg feel “shorter”? 
• Do you have balance problems?
• Do you experience pain in the thigh, groin or buttocks?
• Does pain radiate to the knee?

It’s estimated 70 million people in the U.S. have some form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types, causing wear and tear that deteriorates the “cushion” in your joints. Because osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition, it won’t get better and may get worse.

In healthy hips, the end of each bone in the joint is covered with cartilage, acting as a cushion so the joint functions without pain.

In cases of a diseased hip or osteoarthritis, the wear and tear deteriorates natural cushion, leading to bone-on-bone contact, soreness and swelling.

For a proper diagnosis and to discuss treatment options, consult your physician or a board certified orthopaedic surgeon. For more information, visit http://www.bone-fix.com/.

Have questions about hip replacement?  Want to learn more for yourself, a friend or family member?

To read answers to frequently asked questions about hip replacement, click here or call 239-368-8277.

One of the most frequently asked questions at my seminars is “Am I too old for hip replacement?”

My response is that diagnosis and overall health play a larger role in determining if a patient is a candidate for hip replacement surgery than age alone. Fortunately, there is now new research that validates this point.

According to a study, hip replacement surgery may still be a viable option for men and women over 80. The study, published in the December 2007 issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, looked at patients 80 and older are experiencing success with hip replacements compared to those of their younger counterparts.

More than 234,000 total hip replacements (also known as hip arthroplasties) are performed in the U.S. each year; this number has increased dramatically in the last decade.

The study compared patients 80 years old and above with those who were 70 years old and below. Results showed that at the time of the surgery, patients in the 80-year-old group had similar strength and function in the replaced hip(s) as did the patients who were 70 years or younger.

The good news is that this study shows that people in their 80s can look forward to an excellent surgical outcome and therefore have a much improved quality of life.

For more information, visit www.bone-fix.com or call 239-368-8277.