Bone & Joint Injuries

With dislocations, keep the joint area immobilized until your doctor recommends doing exercises to rehabilitate the joint and to help it heal effectively. Also, avoid sports or other strenuous activities until the area has fully healed. This will help to... Full Answer

When someone dislocates their patella (kneecap), it is usually displaced laterally (to the outside). This lateral displacement causes damage to the medial soft tissue structures (joint capsule, muscles, tendons and ligaments). These soft tissue... Full Answer

If you are caring for someone with a dislocation, help them to avoid putting any unnecessary force or pressure on the joint until it has healed. Help them rebuild strength by reminding them to do any exercises prescribed by their doctor. Keep in mind... Full Answer

Your risk for dislocations is increased if you play sports. Falling and being involved in a car accident also puts you at risk for dislocations. Young children whose bones are still growing are least likely to suffer from dislocations. They are more... Full Answer

Subluxation occurs when a bone is partially pulled or pushed out of place (out of its normal relationship to the other bones that make up a joint). This can happen in joints such as the kneecap, hip, fingers, elbow or shoulder. A subluxation may be... Full Answer

After joint replacement surgery, small airways in the lungs can collapse and create an ideal environment for pneumonia to develop. To keep your lungs clear, the nurse will instruct you to cough several times an hour and to perform deep breathing... Full Answer

Researchers are currently working on ways to put drugs—specifically, antibiotics—directly in the prostheses. Oral or intravenous antibiotics are routinely given to patients after joint replacement surgery. Still, serious infections can... Full Answer

Risks from total knee or hip replacement surgery can include complications of anesthesia, infection, bleeding, and nerve damage, but are rare when procedures are performed by an experienced surgeon. Another major potential complication is that a blood... Full Answer

There are different types of prostheses, with different features, and you can discuss the options with your doctor. A hip replacement can be performed using either a cement or non-cement type of glue. A cemented prosthesis allows the patient to return to... Full Answer

A hemiarthroplasty is a surgical option for treatment of arthritis. A hemiarthroplasty replaces only part of the joint. In some joints, such as the shoulder, hemiarthroplasty is generally preferable to total joint arthroplasty. Full Answer