Back Pain in Children

Back pain in children is not like back pain in adults. Compared to an adult, a child with a backache is more likely to have a serious underlying disorder. This is especially true if the child is 4 years old or younger, or if a child of any age has back pain accompanied by:

• Fever or weight loss
• Weakness or numbness
• Trouble walking
• Pain that radiates down one or both legs
• Bowel or bladder problems
• Pain that keeps the child from sleeping

More serious causes of back pain need early identification and treatment or they may become worse. Always see a doctor if your young child's back pain lasts for more than several days or progressively worsens.

Osteochondroma

An osteochondroma is a benign (noncancerous) tumor that develops during childhood or adolescence. It is an abnormal growth that forms on the surface of a bone near the growth plate.

Growth plates are areas of developing cartilage tissue near the ends of long bones in children. Bone growth occurs around the growth plate, and when a child becomes full-grown, the growth plates harden into solid bone.

An osteochondroma is an outgrowth of the growth plate and is made up of both bone and cartilage. As a child grows, an osteochondroma may grow larger, as well. Once a child has reached skeletal maturity, the osteochondroma typically stops growing, too.

In most cases of osteochondroma, no treatment is required other than regular monitoring of the tumor to identify any changes or complications.

Osteochondromas can develop as a single tumor (osteocartilaginous exostosis) or as many tumors (multiple osteochondromatosis). Because symptoms and treatment options may vary depending on which form a patient has, this article discusses them separately.

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Desert Orthopedic Center

 702-731-1616

2800 East Desert Inn

Las Vegas, NV 89121 

Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of rare diseases that cause muscles to weaken and deteriorate. MD affects the voluntary muscles that control movement in the arms, legs, and trunk. It also can affect involuntary muscles, such as the heart and respiratory muscles.

MD is a progressive disease, meaning that it worsens over time. Depending upon the form of MD, children and adults may gradually lose the ability to walk and do other everyday activities. In later stages of some forms of the disease, heart and breathing problems may develop.

Although there is currently no cure for MD, there are medications that may slow the rate of muscle degeneration, as well as other treatment options to improve function and assist in activities of daily living.

Limb Length Discrepancy

Limb length discrepancy is a difference between the lengths of the arms or legs. Except in extreme cases, differences in arm length do not usually impact how the arms function and do not require treatment. For this reason, this article focuses on differences in leg length.

A discrepancy in leg length will usually become obvious to parents as they watch their child grow and begin to crawl and walk. Some children are born with legs of different lengths. In other cases, illness or injury causes a discrepancy in length to develop over time. While a slight difference in leg length may not cause symptoms, a significant difference can cause a noticeable limp and make it difficult for a child to run and play.

Treatment for a discrepancy depends upon the severity. In many cases, a minor difference in leg length can be evened out by wearing a lift in one shoe. A child with a more significant difference, however, may benefit from surgery to make his or her legs the same length. This can be done a number of ways, but is most often accomplished through a procedure that slows or stops growth in the longer leg.

Bone Tumor

Bone tumors develop when cells within a bone divide uncontrollably, forming a lump or mass of abnormal tissue.

Most bone tumors are not cancerous (benign). Benign tumors are usually not life-threatening and, in most cases, will not spread to other parts of the body. Depending upon the type of tumor, treatment options are wide-ranging—from simple observation to surgery to remove the tumor.

Some bone tumors are cancerous (malignant). Malignant bone tumors can metastasize—or cause cancer cells to spread throughout the body. In almost all cases, treatment for malignant tumors involves a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

Claw Toe

People often blame the common foot deformity claw toe on wearing shoes that squeeze your toes, such as shoes that are too short or high heels. However, claw toe also is often the result of nerve damage caused by diseases like diabetes or alcoholism, which can weaken the muscles in your foot. Having claw toe means your toes "claw," digging down into the soles of your shoes and creating painful calluses. Claw toe gets worse without treatment and may become a permanent deformity over time.

Sledding Injury Prevention

Sledding Can be Fun and Safe. The speedy, bumpy, sometimes scary slide downhill is one of the outdoor winter activities that youths and adults have always enjoyed. It can be fun, but every year thousands of youths and adults are injured sledding down hills in city parks, streets and resort areas. Most of these injuries are preventable.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were more than 52,000 sledding, snow tubing, and tobogganing-related injuries treated at hospital emergency rooms, doctors' offices and clinics in 2014. The total medical, legal and liability, pain and suffering, and work loss-related costs were close to $2 billion.

The majority of injuries happen to youths age 14 and younger, especially in the run outs at the end of the sledding path. Adult supervision is needed to make sure that children sledding down a hill don't collide with children in the run outs and that the end of the sledding path isn't in a street or parking lot, pond or other hazardous area.

Some of the injuries can be serious enough to cause lifelong disability or death. When a sled hits a fixed object such as a tree, rock or fence, the rider may suffer head and neck injuries. Helmets help prevent head injuries and should be worn by sledders under 12 years old.

Young children are very vulnerable to injuries. They have proportionally larger heads and higher centers of gravity than older children and teens. Their coordination has not fully developed and they can have difficulty avoiding falls and obstacles

Juvenile Arthritis

Children sometimes complain about aches in their joints. A joint is where the ends of bones meet, such as the knee joint, shoulder joint, or the small joints in the fingers and toes. Joint pain in children can be caused by a variety of things. But if a child's joints are swollen for 6 weeks in a row or longer, he or she may have juvenile arthritis (JA).

Juvenile arthritis is a long-lasting, chronic disease. It is the most common form of arthritis in children. In the United States, it affects nearly 250,000 children under the age of 16 years.

There are several types of juvenile arthritis. Nearly all of them are different from rheumatoid arthritis in adults. This is why the term "juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA)" is no longer widely used.

Backpack Safety

Backpacks are a popular and practical way for children and teenagers to carry schoolbooks and supplies. They are designed to distribute the weight of the load among some of the body's strongest muscles. When used correctly, backpacks can be a good way to carry the necessities of the school day.

Tips for Proper Use of Backpacks
Backpacks that are too heavy or are worn incorrectly can cause problems for children and teenagers. Improperly used backpacks may injure muscles and joints. This can lead to severe back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as posture problems.

Although they are linked to posture problems, heavy backpacks do not cause scoliosis. Scoliosis is a sideways curve of the spine that often shows up in children during adolescence.

The following guidelines can help your family use backpacks safely.

Clubfoot

Clubfoot is a deformity in which an infant's foot is turned inward, often so severely that the bottom of the foot faces sideways or even upward. Approximately one infant in every 1,000 live births will have clubfoot, making it one of the more common congenital (present at birth) foot deformities.

Clubfoot is not painful during infancy. However, if your child's clubfoot is not treated, the foot will remain deformed, and he or she will not be able to walk normally. With proper treatment, however, the majority of children are able to enjoy a wide range of physical activities with little trace of the deformity.

Most cases of clubfoot are successfully treated with nonsurgical methods that may include a combination of stretching, casting, and bracing. Treatment usually begins shortly after birth.

Intoeing

Intoeing means that when a child walks or runs, the feet turn inward instead of pointing straight ahead. It is commonly referred to as being "pigeon-toed."

Intoeing is often first noticed by parents when a baby begins walking, but children at various ages may display intoeing for different reasons. Occasionally, severe intoeing may cause young children to stumble or trip as they catch their toes on the other heel.

In the vast majority of children younger than 8 years old, intoeing will almost always correct itself without the use of casts, braces, surgery, or any special treatment.

Intoeing by itself does not cause pain, nor does it lead to arthritis. A child whose intoeing is associated with pain, swelling, or a limp should be evaluated by an orthopaedic surgeon.

Neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis is a disease that affects the development and growth of nerve cell tissues. It causes tumors to grow on nerves and can affect many systems in the body including the skin, skeleton, and brain. The tumors, called neurofibromas, are usually benign (noncancerous) and grow on nerves within the body, as well as on and under the skin.

Neurofibromatosis can cause skin changes, bone deformities, and other problems. In many cases, symptoms are present at birth or develop during childhood. Some people have symptoms that are mild or not noticeable at all. In other people, neurofibromatosis causes significant disability.

There is no cure for neurofibromatosis. Many symptoms, however, can be treated and managed. Children with more severe symptoms will naturally require more medical attention than children who have mild symptoms. In many cases, neurofibromatosis symptoms worsen as a patient ages.

Juvenile Arthritis

Children sometimes complain about aches in their joints. A joint is where the ends of bones meet, such as the knee joint, shoulder joint, or the small joints in the fingers and toes. Joint pain in children can be caused by a variety of things. But if a child's joints are swollen for 6 weeks in a row or longer, he or she may have juvenile arthritis (JA).

Juvenile arthritis is a long-lasting, chronic disease. It is the most common form of arthritis in children. In the United States, it affects nearly 250,000 children under the age of 16 years.

There are several types of juvenile arthritis. Nearly all of them are different from rheumatoid arthritis in adults. This is why the term "juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA)" is no longer widely used.
 
Description
Juvenile arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body attacks its own healthy cells and tissues. Arthritis results from ongoing joint inflammation in four steps:
The joint becomes inflamed
The joint stiffens (contracture)
The joint suffers damage
The joint's growth is changed

In some cases, symptoms of juvenile arthritis are mild and do not progress to more severe joint disease and deformities. In severe cases, juvenile arthritis can produce serious joint and tissue damage. It can also cause problems with bone development and growth.

For many years it was believed that most children eventually outgrow juvenile arthritis. Now it is known that half of the children diagnosed with juvenile arthritis will continue to have active arthritis 10 years after diagnosis unless they receive aggressive treatment.

Hip Replacement Practices at Desert Orthopaedic Center

Hip arthritis is a degenerative condition that affects the hip joint, and often leads to a significant impairment in the quality of life. The ability to walk, work and live pain free can be adversely affected. Approximately 43 million Americans suffer from arthritis and many of them are affected in the hip joint. In general, the treatment of hip arthritis involves activity modification, exercises, and treatment with anti-inflammatory medications. The use of assist devices such as canes, crutches or walkers can also be helpful. Occasionally surgical reconstruction such as total hip replacement is necessary. 

Learn about AC Separation!

An acromioclavicular joint separation, or AC separation, is a very frequent injury among physically active people. In this injury the clavicle (collar bone) separates from the scapula(shoulder blade). It is commonly caused by a fall directly on the "point" of the shoulder or a direct blow received in a contact sport. Football players and cyclists who fall over the handlebars are often subject to AC separations.

In general, most AC injuries don't require surgery. There are certain situations, however, in which surgery may be necessary. Most patients recover with full function of the shoulder. The period of disability and discomfort ranges from a few days to 12 weeks depending on the severity of the separation. Disruption of the AC joint results in pain and instability in the entire shoulder and arm. The pain is most severe when the patient attempts overhead movements or tries to sleep on the affected side.

What Chondral Defects?

Although symptoms may not appear until later in life, articular cartilage problems are very common. Painful osteoarthritis develops when this smooth, gliding surface on the end of the bone has lost its cushioning, deformity develops, and bone rubs on bone. Damage may occur as the result of a sudden injury or wear and tear over many years. There are some people with damaged articular cartilage who display few symptoms and may not develop osteoarthritis until they are elderly.

The development of ostearthritis depends on several factors:

• The patient's age when the degeneration starts

• The patient's activity level and weight

• The presence of ligament damage

Articular cartilage problems can be particularly difficult to treat because the onset, while occasionally sudden, often occurs gradually and thus is not immediately detected.

To learn more click here!

Learn about Knee Injuries!

The knee is a commonly injured joint. Within recent years, the increase in ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries has been remarkable. Trauma to this ligament within the knee can be serious, and injuries to it usually occur during athletic activity.
Click here to read more about knee structure.

Why are knee injuries so common?
The knee is particularly vulnerable to injury. It is the joint between the two longest bones of the body, and the entire weight of the body is transferred to the foot through the knee. The knee is also more prone to injury because its stability decreases as it bends. The menisci and the ligaments provide less effective support to the bent knee.

Frostbite

Frostbite is an injury to the body's tissues caused by exposure to very cold temperatures. The nose, cheeks, ears, fingers, and toes are the extremities most commonly affected. The condition results in a loss of feeling and color in the affected area and can cause permanent tissue damage. In severe cases, frostbite can lead to amputation of the extremity.

During winter, it is always important to cover exposed skin

To learn more click here!

Adult Forearm Fractures

Your forearm is made up of two bones, the radius and ulna. In most cases of adult forearm fractures, both bones are broken.

  

Fractures of the forearm can occur near the wrist at the farthest (distal) end of the bone, in the middle of the forearm, or near the elbow at the top (proximal) end of the bone. This article focuses on fractures that occur in the middle segments of the radius and ulna. Fractures that involve the wrist or the elbow are discussed in separate articles

  If you hold your arms at your side with your palms facing up, the ulna is the bone closest to your body and the radius is closest to your thumb. The ulna is larger at the elbow — it forms the "point" of your elbow — and the radius is larger at the wrist.

The primary motion of the forearm is rotation: the ability to turn our palms up or down. The ulna stays still while the radius rotates around it. This is the motion used to turn a screwdriver or twist in a light bulb. Forearm fractures can affect your ability to rotate your arm, as well as bend and straighten the wrist and elbow.

To learn more click here!