September 28th, 2011
Dr. Michael L. Granberry, MD says every year, one in three people over 65 years of age falls, and those falls can result in major injuries. Some of the injuries can be very severe. In fact, 19,700 people died as the result of unintentional falls in 2008.
Minor injuries can also occur during a fall. Those injuries could include bleeding and skin lacerations. More severe injuries usually involve fractures. Ninety percent of hip fractures are caused by a fall. While women are more likely to fall and sustain a hip fracture, the death rate from falling is higher in men. Death from falls usually results from closed head injuries usually, but can also occur as a consequence of bed rest after a more minor falling injury.
Osteoporosis, which occurs mainly in elderly females, can also occur in men. This weakening of the bones can be the reason why fractures occur during the fall. The degree of bony injury can be worse due to the osteoporosis as well.
Due to the increased number of people over age 65 in recent years, injuries from falls is a growing number. In 2000 the direct medical cost of injuries due to falls was about $19 billion.
Preventative measures include regular exercise, having the medications screened to avoid side effects that might cause falls. Screening for and treating osteoporosis can help lower the fracture risk, or at least the severity of the fracture. Getting routine eye exams to avoid falls from poor vision can be very helpful. Lastly, improving the environment at home, reducing trip hazards, the use of grab bars, and good lighting can be very useful in preventing falls.
Dr. Michael L. Granberry, MD
AOC is on campus at Springhill Medical Center
3610 Springhill Memorial Dr N.
Mobile, AL 36608
Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm
251-410-3600
www.alortho.com
May 3rd, 2011
Suanne White-Spunner, MD, appeared on Studio10 to talk about what is Osteoporosis and who it can affect.
Please click on the video link to see the interview on Osteoporosis. Also, Studio10 host Joe Emer takes a bone density scan on the air. Below is more information on Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic, Springhill Medical Center, and a description of Osteoporosis from Suanne White Spunner, MD.
Osteoporosis: By Suanne White-Spunner, MD
Studio 10 video with Dr White-Spunner RE: Learning about Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis (porous bone) means decreased bone strength which can result in painful broken bones from minor injuries. Osteoporosis is caused by normal aging and progresses more rapidly in people with certain risk factors such as:
• Menopause
• Low body weight (<127lbs)
• Medications (steroids, blood thinners, anticonvulsants)
• Diseases (diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, alcoholism)
• Family history of broken bones due to osteoporosis
• Physical inactivity
Testing for osteoporosis is done by non-invasive diagnostic scans. All women over age 65, all men over age 70, all adults who have an osteoporotic fracture and all adults with the above risk factors should be tested. Once a patient has been diagnosed with osteoporosis, they should be re-scanned every two years.
Treatment options include exercise, calcium and vitamin D supplements as well as medications prescribed by a physician. These prescribed medications can be oral or injectable, depending on the severity of the disease.
To estimate your risk for osteoporosis, complete the online FRAX (Fracture Risk Assessment Tool)http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/FRAX/tool.jsp?country=9
You can also learn more about Osteoporosis by visiting the National Osteoporosis Foundation at http://www.nof.org/
Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic, PC (on campus at Springhill Medical Center)
3610 Springhill Memorial Dr N
Mobile, AL 36608
251-410-3600
www.alortho.com
www.springhillmedicalcenter.com
September 1st, 2010
Dr. Clayton Lane
Mark Ingram’s injury on Tuesday was likely a meniscus tear. I have no inside knowledge of the procedure performed or diagnostic studies and am not involved in his care. However, I can guess what the injury is based on the formal statements made describing the injury as: more…
March 29th, 2010
Dr. Clayton G. Lane
Ask any of the BayBears what the key to becoming a pro athlete is, and most will say “staying healthy”. At the pro level, enormous amounts of time, resources and research is spent developing and implementing stretching, strengthening, and practice regimens. more…
March 19th, 2010
Dr. Clayton G. Lane
A shoulder separation is often confused with a shoulder dislocation.
A shoulder separation is technically an injury to the acromioclavicular joint. This joint is located at the top of the shoulder just under the skin and is often a visible bump in thin individuals. A shoulder separation or AC injury occurs as a result of a direct blow to the top of the shoulder such as might be experienced by an athlete during a shoulder tackle in football or a fall onto the top of the shoulder. The ligaments that support the AC joint may be sprained or completely torn resulting in varying degrees of pain and disability. more…
March 19th, 2010
Dr. Clayton G. Lane
This football season, I saw a fair number of shoulder separations in my office. It was clear in talking to my patients, that many were not sure exactly what this injury is. Therefore, I think this explanation of the injury and prognosis may be helpful to my patients as well as anyone who has had a shoulder injury from a direct blow. more…
March 19th, 2010
Dr. Clayton G. Lane
When parents read stories of childhood “prodigies” such as Tiger Woods learning a sport as young as 3 years old, it is natural for us to wonder what sports are best for our child and at what age they should start. While there are no sure answers as to when a particular child is ready for a sport, there are well-studied developmental patterns that can guide us. more…
March 19th, 2010
Dr. Clayton G. Lane
Here in South Alabama athletes have the advantage of being able to train outdoors year-round thanks to our subtropical climate. The downside of that is that in mid to late summer the heat and humidity can combine to put athletes at risk of heat-stroke, a deadly condition responsible for the deaths of 37 football players between the years of 1980 and 2001. While a sports medicine orthopedist’s primary job is to evaluate and treat orthopedic injuries, one of the most common issues I run into on the sideline is heat-illness. more…
March 19th, 2010
Dr. Clayton G. Lane, M.D.
Forearm fractures are the most common long bone fracture in children. They usually result from a simple fall onto an outstretched hand while running or playing sports. When this injury occurs, it is arguably more traumatic to the parents than it is to the injured child! Here are some basic first aid techniques and things to expect to help parents be prepared in case the unexpected happens. more…
July 6th, 2009
Dr. Clayton G. Lane
The Achilles tendon is the strongest tendon in the human body and owes its name to the great, invulnerable warrior of Homer’s Iliad. Invulnerable, that is except at his heel. Greek mythology has it that, Thetis, Achilles’ mother dipped him in the Styx River making him invincible at all points on his body but the heel by which she grasped him as he was being immersed. This proved to be his undoing when Paris, the brother of Hector, shot him in the heel with a poisoned arrow. more…
