arthritis

What is a thumb injection? A thumb injection is a procedure in which medications, such as coricosteroids, are injected into the thumb joint to treat diseases of the joint. Thumb pain and stiffness can be debilitating and difficult to treat. It can negatively affect the quality of life and cause functional problems that can limit …

What is a unicompartmental knee arthroplasty? A unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a surgical procedure in which only the damaged parts of the knee are replaced in one of the knee compartments. A unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a surgical procedure used to relieve disease in one of the knee compartments. In UKA, only the damaged parts of the knee …

What is superficial heat and cold therapy? Superficial cold therapy can reduce swelling and pain. Superficial heat therapy can reduce pain, and increase muscle relaxation. Superficial heat and cold therapy are adjunctive therapy used for pain control and sports injury treatment. These therapies exert their effects at a depth of 1-2 cm. In general, these therapies limit tissue damage, control …

What is a hemiarthroplasty of the shoulder? A hemiarthroplasty of the shoulder involves the replacement of the ball (humeral head) with the prosthesis, and the socket (glenoid) is left intact. A hemiarthroplasty is a surgical procedure that replaces one half of the shoulder joint. The shoulder is made up of three bones: the upper arm bone (humerus), shoulder blade (scapula), …

What is an ulnar nerve release surgery? Ulnar nerve release is a surgical procedure that helps release the compression on the ulnar nerve and the symptoms caused by the compression of the ulnar nerve. Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, and cubital tunnel syndrome are common conditions it treats. The ulnar nerve is one of the three main …

What are splints? An ulnar gutter splint is a flexible splint that is used to support, stabilize, and immobilize injuries, dislocations and fractures of the hands, fingers, or wrists. Splints are usually applied to reduce movement and provide support and comfort by stabilizing an injury. They are primarily used during nonemergency injuries to the bones or ligaments until they can …

What is hallux valgus? A hallux valgus osteotomy involves straightening the big toe to restore the normal alignment of the toe. Hallux valgus, also known as a bunion, is the most common misalignment of the big toes. It is a deformity in which the big toe deviates toward the small toes. In a severe type of deformity, the big toe …

What is a sacroiliac joint? A sacroiliac (SI) joint injection is the injection of local anesthetics or corticosteroids into the SI joint to treat pain. A sacroiliac (SI) joint is a joint in the lower back that connects the bones of the spine and tailbone (sacrum) to the hip bones (iliac crests). The main function of the SI joint is …

What is anterior shoulder instability? Putti-Platt is one of the surgical treatment options for anterior shoulder instability. The shoulder joint is one of the largest and most complex joints in the body. It has the greatest range of movement of any joint, but this leaves it unstable and with the highest chance of dislocation of all the body’s joints. The …

What is a shoulder dislocation? Shoulder dislocations are the most common joint dislocations observed in the emergency department and make up for more than 50% of all dislocations observed in hospitals. Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint where the head of the humerus (ball) fits into the glenoid cavity (socket) of the scapula bone. When the humerus slips out of …