General Practitioner Orthopedic - Western Orthopedics

Posted on November 9, 2020 / by western orthopaedics / in General Practitioner

Orthopaedic Fracture and Trauma Conditions

There are many different types of orthopaedic conditions. At Western Orthopaedics, we care about providing you with orthopaedic solutions. We offer a range of surgery and treatment options to help you start enjoying pain-free movement. The hip, knee and shoulder are the most common areas of the body that can have orthopaedic problems. Fractures and trauma are also one of the most common orthopaedic conditions.

Orthopaedic Fracture and Trauma

A bone fracture is when there is a break in the continuity of the bone and it may be cracked or completely broken. A bone may become fractured completely or partially from trauma. This can be due to a fall, motor vehicle accident or sports activity. Many fractures may be the result of high force impact or stress. Bone fractures may occur as a result of certain medical conditions. This is weakening of the bones such as osteoporosis. Athletes may experience overuse injuries as well.

Hip Fractures

The hip joint is a ‘ball and socket’ joint. The ‘ball’ is the head of the femur or thigh bone and the ‘socket’ is the cup shaped acetabulum. The joint surface is covered by a smooth articular surface. This allows pain free movement in the joint.

Pelvis Fractures

Pelvic fracture is an orthopaedic condition. It arises due to breakage of the pelvis bones. It may damage the following areas of the pelvic region:

Internal organs
Nerves
Blood vessels

Fractures of the Proximal Tibia

The tibia or shin bone is a major bone of the leg which connects the knee to the ankle. A tibial fracture is a break in the continuity of the shin bone (tibia).

Paediatric Thighbone (Femur) Fracture

The femur or thigh bone is the largest and strongest bone in the human body. Paediatric thighbone fractures can occur when someone falls hard on the ground. It can also happen by getting hit during sports and in automobile accidents. In a thigh bone fracture, the broken bones may be aligned or displaced. The fracture can either be closed (with skin intact) or open (with the bone piercing out through the skin). Suffering from this type of orthopaedic fracture may involve:

Severe pain
Swelling
Inability to stand and walk
Limited range of motion in the hip or knee

Shinbone Fractures

The tibia or shin bone is a major bone of the leg which connects the knee to the ankle. A tibial fracture is a break in the continuity of the shin bone (tibia).

Thighbone (Femur) Fracture

The femur or thigh bone is the longest and strongest bone in the body, connecting the hip to the knee. An orthopaedic femur fracture is a break in the femur. The distal femur is the lower part of the thigh bone which flares out like an upside-down funnel. It’s lower end is covered by a smooth, slippery articular cartilage. This protects and cushions the bone during movement. An orthopaedic fracture of the distal femur may involve the cartilaginous surface of the knee as well as resulting in arthritis.

Broken Collarbone

The clavicle or the collarbone is the bone that connects your sternum or breastbone to your shoulder. An orthopaedic clavicle fracture is also known as a broken collarbone. It is a very common sports injury seen in people who are involved in contact sports. This includes:

Football
Martial arts
Impact sports such as motor racing

Fracture of the Shoulder Blade (Scapula)

The scapula (shoulder blade) is a flat, triangular bone. It provides attachment to the muscles of the back, neck, chest and arm. The scapula has a body, neck and spine portion.

Shoulder Trauma

Shoulder injuries most commonly occur in athletes. Those who are participating in sports such as swimming, tennis, pitching, and weightlifting. These injuries are caused due to over usage or repetitive motion of the arms.

Posted on October 16, 2020 / by western orthopaedics / in General Practitioner, Surgery

The Purpose of an Orthopedic Surgeon

Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that deals with correcting the musculoskeletal system. Many people are unsure when or if they need an orthopedic surgeon. More importantly, people are unsure where to find an orthopedic surgeon if they need one. Some people are afraid of the term ‘surgeon’. This is because it seems like a scary process when planning for surgery. But the truth is that an orthopedic surgeon is the one who will get you back to a healthy lifestyle that is pain-free.

In The Life of An Orthopedic Surgeon

The most rewarding part of an orthopedic surgeon career is helping patients. There is a lot of skill that is required to fix their problems. Dr Sunner from Western Orthopedics loves seeing a smile on his patients face. This always happens when they are walking pain-free again.

In orthopedics, most of the problems are lifestyle-related. Arthritic joints cause pain and affect the patients’ lifestyle as a result. Dr Sunner – orthopedic surgeon – finds it very satisfying to relieve his patients. All his surgery procedures have successfully reduced patients’ pain and restored lifestyles.

Dr Sunner has had many patients in recovery after a hip replacement saying, “the pain has gone.” He believes that this feedback is the most satisfying part of a surgeon’s journey.

The orthopedic surgeon had a 93-year-old lady who had not walked for 6 months. She required Dr Sunner’s expertise to operate on a painful knee. She returned to him 6 weeks after her knee replacement and gave him a hug. He finds this the most rewarding feeling of all, being an orthopedic surgeon.

According to Doctor Sunner, there is no such thing as a typical day in the life of an orthopedic surgeon. He states that it can vary so much and that is another beauty of working in the field of orthopedics. “It all depends on whether I am running a clinic or operating at the private hospital or public hospital.”

History of Orthopedic Surgeons

Jean-André Venel established the first orthopedics clinic. This was in 1780. It was the first hospital dedicated to the treatment of skeletal deformities. He developed the club-foot shoe for children born with foot deformities. He also created various ways to treat curvature of the spine.

Orthopedic Surgery

Looking for a place where you can trust in advanced orthopedic surgery? Western Orthopedics has a top orthopedic surgeon who provides the following surgery.

Total Hip Replacement
Hip Resurfacing
Total Knee Replacement
Partial Knee Replacement
Total shoulder Replacement
Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement

Seeking The Right Orthopedic Surgeon

Seeking the right orthopedic surgeon can be a worrying and stressful process. This is extremely true if you are already suffering from orthopedic problems. But the truth is that there is no need to add to the stress that you are already feeling. There is always a solution when it comes to finding the right orthopedic specialist. Check out this article on Seeking The Right Orthopedic Surgeon to help you create an easier journey.

Western Orthopedics Quizzes

Do you believe that you could be suffering from an orthopedic problem? Western Orthopedics have designed a range of quizzes to help you determine the best solution.

The Hip Quiz

Many conditions can cause or contribute to chronic hip pain. The good news is that many treatments exist. Each person’s experience with chronic hip pain will be different. You can take the hip quiz to find out how our orthopedic specialist can help you.

The Knee Quiz

The cause of your knee pain can determine the symptoms you experience. Chronic knee pain is long-term pain, swelling, or sensitivity in one or both knees. You can take the knee quiz to find out how our orthopedic specialist can help you.

The Shoulder Quiz

Many conditions can cause or contribute to chronic shoulder pain. There are many treatments that exist. Each person’s experience with chronic shoulder pain will be different. You can take the shoulder quiz to find out how our orthopedic specialist can help you.

Posted on October 16, 2020 / by western orthopaedics / in General Practitioner

Total Fusion in Orthopedic Medicine

Total fusion is a special type of surgery. It is performed to correct different areas of the musculoskeletal system. It is a term that is used in the branch of orthopedics medicine. An orthopedic surgeon will operate on their patients to create a total fusion in a specific area of the body. This article will help you to gain a better understanding of surgery used to treat the ankle, wrist and knee.

Ankle

Ankle total fusion is a type of surgery used to fuse the bones of your ankle into one piece. It’s also referred to as ankle arthrodesis. The ankle total fusion surgery is usually performed to treat arthritis that is found within the ankle. The ankle joint is also called the tibiotalar joint. It is where the shinbone rests on top of a bone located at the foot, called the talus. The ankle also includes the subtalar joint. This is where 2 of the foot bones meet. Arthritis can create pain in these 2 joints in the foot. Over a period of time, the smooth cartilage on the surface of the bones wears away which creates pain and swelling.

Ankle total fusion is a surgery that is performed to fuse 2 or more bones together within the ankle. This helps to stop the pain and inflammation. An orthopedic surgeon will make an incision in your ankle to work on the joint using total fusion. They will then compress the bones together. They do this by attaching them with plates, nails and screws. In some cases, an ankle can be treated with minimally invasive surgery.

Wrist

Arthrodesis is the surgical immobilisation of a joint. It is created by the process of total fusion of the adjacent bones. Wrist total fusion is also known as wrist fusion. It is a surgical procedure in which the wrist joint is stabilised. This is done by fusing the forearm bone together with the small bones of the wrist. Wrist total fusion is done to relieve the pain that is created by severe trauma to the wrist. A painful wrist can interrupt daily activities and make them difficult.

The wrist is made up of 8 different small bones. These are called carpal bones. The metacarpal bones are the long bones that lie within the palm. These attach to the phalanges which are the bones in the fingers and thumb. Wrist total fusion is used to stop problems such as pain and inflammation.

Knee

Knee total fusion is major and complex surgery. This is why it is performed in a hospital setting or orthopedic clinic. Sometimes a post-operative stay in a rehabilitation unit is required to help the transition. Damaged cartilage and bone from the ends of the thigh and leg bone will be removed. Then the ends of the bones are fused together with metal plates. Sometimes the orthopedic surgeon will carefully remove a small piece of bone from your pelvic bone. This is used as a bone graft to help fuse the bones together. Depending on the type of hardware that is used, the device may stay in place permanently. If complications occur during the knee total fusion, you may need to stay in the hospital longer.

Sometimes, patients are discharged to a rehabilitation centre. This is to help with recovery and the healing process. It is normal for swelling to occur after surgery. Be sure to keep your leg elevated to reduce the swelling and maintain circulation. Your doctor will also prescribe you with pain management medications. This will help you transition into your new life after knee surgery.

Total Fusion

Searching for a qualified and caring practitioner in Sydney? Western Orthopedics offers total fusion treatment performed by Dr Pavitar Sunner. You can be sure that you are in the hands of advanced methods to help create a better lifestyle. Book in for a consultation and start your journey to pain-free living today.