Orthopedic and Pain Management Services

Orthopedic specialists at University General Hospital specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a full range of disorders of, and injuries to the musculoskeletal system. These include:

• sports injuries
• joint disorders of the knee, hip, and shoulder
• arthritis
• back and neck injuries and disorders
• osteoporosis
• hand and foot disorders

Services

University General Hospital offers a full range of orthopedic services to patients, including inpatient and outpatient surgery, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, (and specialized home health care?). These services are provided by an experienced and skilled team of physicians and caregivers whose priority is returning patients to work and enjoyable activities.

Other highlights of University General’s orthopedics services:

• University General offers its orthopedic patients a preoperative education program two weeks to one month before admission to ensure proper patient education, and to help reduce any anxiety and uncertainty.
• Patients are given a tour of the patient unit and are educated about their surgery, post-operative care and care at home. Patients and their families are active participants in the patients' care and are given an appropriate expectation about what happens before, during and after surgery.
• University General offers a full range of orthopedics programs, including hand and foot surgery, hip and joint replacement, and sports medicine.

Conditions and Treatment

University General Hospital's orthopedics program provides a complete range of treatment options for most every orthopedic condition, including carpal tunnel syndrome, hammer toes, arthritis, and neck and back conditions. Many surgeries can be performed on an outpatient basis enabling you to return home the same day.

Treatment options for some common orthopedic problems include:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Mild cases of carpal tunnel syndrome may be treated by applying a brace or splint that is usually worn at night and keeps the wrist from bending. In more severe cases, a doctor may recommend a cortisone injection into the carpal tunnel. Patients who do not gain relief from these non-surgical measures may benefit from surgery. A University General hand specialist can explain the benefits and risks of both non-surgical or surgical treatment based on each patient’s individual circumstance.  Our medical specialists have extensive experience and expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Hammer Toe, Bunions and Morton’s Neuroma

Conservative treatment for hammer toes starts with different shoes. If that, or other basic measures do not remedy the issue, hammer toe can be surgically corrected in an outpatient surgery setting. 

The main goal of early treatment of bunions is to relieve pressure on the bunion and smaller toes, which diminishes the progression of joint deformities. If a remedy such as padding, medications, physical therapy or shoe inserts fail, outpatient surgery may be necessary.

Treatment of Morton’s Neuroma begins with conservative padding and strapping of the foot. Orthotic devices, anti-inflammatory medicine, physical therapy, steroid injections and the changing of shoe types are used in treating this common foot problem. In chronic cases, surgical excision of the involved nerve mass provides the best relief from this painful condition.

University General Hospital has medical specialists with extensive experience and expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of foot conditions.

Arthritis

Medications used to control arthritis fall into two categories: those that relieve symptoms and those that have the potential to modify the course of the disease. When medications fail and joints have deteriorated, joint replacement surgery is an option, and is effective in restoring function.

University General Hospital has medical specialists with extensive experience and expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis.

Neck and Back Conditions

Orthopedic Specialists at University General Hospital can prescribe different treatment options for your neck and back conditions. Some of the non-surgical treatment methods include:  rest, medication, immobilization, physical therapy, exercise, activity modification, or a combination of these.

There are a variety of surgical solutions.  Some of the more common procedures include the removal of herniated disks and/or the use of implants.  For more chronic or complex back and neck problems, University General Hosiptal surgeons may utilizae our state-of-the-art 3-D image guided surgery equipment to help pinpoint and remedy your condition.

University General Hospital has medical specialists with extensive experience and expertise in diagnosis and treatmetn of neck and back conditions.

Joint Replacement

Replacing natural joints with artificial ones has been a successful form of treatment for more than 30 years. Joint replacements have helped thousands who were crippled by arthritis, injury, and disease to walk more freely and without pain.

Every time you move, you use at least one joint and due to repeated use, over a period of time joint problems may develop and may result in pain and stiffness.  A common condition is osteoarthritis, which causes the smooth lining of a joint (the cartilage) to break down. When cartilage becomes rough and worn, the bony surfaces of the joint begin rubbing against each other and this action causes pain.  Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis cause painful swelling in the joints and can be very problematic.

The most common joint replacement operations are knee and hip replacements. These two procedures provide a safe, reliable means of easing your pain and helping you return to an active life.

University General Hospital has medical specialists with extensive experience and expertise in joint replacement.

Knee Replacement Surgery

During total knee replacement surgery, a diseased or damaged knee joint is replaced with an artificial joint (called a prosthesis). To understand the surgery, it's important to know how the knee works:

A knee joint moves backward and forward, much like a hinge. It joins the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (lower leg bone). The patella (kneecap) covers the knee joint. All parts of the joint are covered with cartilage to provide a cushion and enable the bones to move easily.

During surgery your doctor may replace one or all three working parts of the knee. The cartilage covering the thigh section (femur) of the joint is replaced used metal implants. The cushioning and lubricating sections of the lower joint section are replaced with a metal implant lined in plastic. The cartilage under the kneecap is replaced with a plastic cap - all of which leads to smooth working parts.  With smooth-working parts, the joint can again function much like a natural knee. For most patients, it will also ease the pain experienced before surgery.

University General Hospital has medical specialists with extensive experience and expertise in knee replacement.

Hip Replacement Surgery

A hip prosthesis also provides a smooth-working joint. It will have the same basic parts as a healthy hip, but is made of new materials. Your hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint that allows your leg to move and rotate in several ways. The ball portion of the joint, at the top of your thigh bone, fits into the socket at your pelvis. When cartilage covering both the ball and the socket bone is smooth, it provides a cushion for the bones. It also allows the ball to move easily and painlessly in the socket. When the cartilage or bone deterioate, pain occurs and hip replacement surgery may be needed.

During hip replacement surgery, the ball-and-socket joint is removed. A metal cup-like socket lined with plastic is inserted in the pelvis to replace the rough bone of your own socket. A metal ball-with a metal stem is implanted to add support and will replace the rough bone and cartilage at the top of your thigh bone.

When you have fully adjusted to your new hip, you should be able to once again move easily and painlessly. University General Hospital has medical specialists with extensive experience and expertise in hip replacement.

Recent Advances

Joint replacement surgery has seen many advances over the years. Improved hardware has been developed, including modular and ingrowth prostheses, for different needs. In ingrowth prostheses, for example, the bone actually grows into the metal, becoming stronger with time. Special techniques such as "bone banking" have also been developed for "revision surgery," which is necessary when manmade joints loosen or wear out.

Advances have also been made in hospital procedures.  For example, patients lose blood during joint replacement surgery, physicians now suggest that patients give their own blood several weeks before surgery in case they need a transfusion during surgery. In addition, surgery takes less time in the operating room, patients stay fewer days in the hospital, and rehabilitation afterward is faster.  For hospitals with experienced surgical/treatment teams, joint replacement surgery has become a routine procedure with predictable patient outcomes.

University General Hospital has medical specialists with extensive experience and expertise in joint replacement.

Rotator Cuff Injury

University General Hospital’s orthopedic specialists are experts in diagnosing and treating rotator cuff injuries resulting from strain or tears to the muscles and tendons in the shoulder (rotator cuff). University General has experienced medical professionals in sports medicine, orthopedic surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and other medical specialties with expertise in rotator cuff injuries who have a high rate of success in providing pain relief and restoring patients' ability to use their arm.

The rotator cuff is made up of muscles and tendons in the shoulder. These muscles and tendons connect the upper arm bone (humerus) with the shoulder blade. They also help hold the ball of the upper arm bone firmly in the shoulder socket. The combination results in the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body.

Rotator cuff injuries are fairly common. Causes of the injury may include falling, weight training, and repetitive overhead arm activities such as throwing and swimming. Poor shoulder posture can also contribute to rotator cuff irritation.

Diagnosis of Rotator Cuff injury

Rotator cuff injuries are relatively common, particularly among adults over age 40. These injuries have several types and causes. The degree of pain and loss of shoulder movement can vary significantly among injured persons.

As a result, accurate diagnosis is critical. University General Hospital has medical specialists with extensive experience and expertise in diagnosing and treating rotator cuff injuries.