e ping you •ac to an active
BACK PAIN
THE BASICS OF PREVEN TION
BRUCET.
HENDERSON, MD
e
The spine is the origin of the majority of
low-back pain.
Low-back pain is perhaps the
TREATMENT The non-
most common health problem
surgical treatment for low-
in America. Everyone has some
back pain is to protect your
kind of back problem during a
lower back with a combi-
lifetime, For many, it is intermit-
nation of proper posture,
tently severe or chronic, and for
support, activity restrictions
some, it is even disabling.
and, most important, body
mechanics.
BACKGROUND "First, you
should know that muscular back-
Posture. A good posture
ache is a myth," says St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO)
for your lower back is one
orthopedic surgeon Bruce T. Henderson, MD. "Virtually
that is erect, but with your
all lower-back pain is caused by problems in the spine."
shoulders and upper body completely relaxed. At the same
body with your feet only, keeping an erect posture and
time, it is important to isometrically keep your stomach
positioning yourself directly in front of whatever you are
pulled in, keeping your lower back as flat as possible.
doing. You should never bend, twist or lean sideways to
is where almost all movements occur and is the origin of
Support. Always sit with your back against the back of a
When picking up something from the floor, you should
the majority of low-back problems.
chain This means pulling the chair close enough to a desk,
square up to it and then bend only your knees and hips
table, computer, etc.A firm back brace is extremely helpful,
to reach for it.
The spine is the core structure of your body, with the last
two levels acting as the flex point of your skeleton. This
CAUSES There are many causes of spinal pain, such
reach for things that are not directly in front of your body.
especially in the acute phase of low-back pain.
as degenerative disk disease, arthritis, pinched nerves,
ruptured disks, spinal stenosis and scoliosis. It is important
For many, adhering to these principles may be the only
Body mechanics. Use of proper body mechanics is the
treatment needed for back problems, Dr. Henderson says.
to make an accurate diagnosis of what is causing the
most important treatment of all. This means everything
symptoms, but a few basic principles of treatment apply
you do physically must be directly in front of you. Avoid
For a referral to a St. Joe orthopedic surgeon, call the re-
to all.
reaching for things to the right or left. Instead, move your
ferral line at 800 372 6094.
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SJMO FIRST IN MICHIGAN TO OFFER CUSTOM-FIT KNEES
Every year, hundreds of thou-
younger and more active, the demand for exact placement
assortment of instruments are used to size the com-
sands of Americans experiencing
and sizing of knee replacements grows.The one-size-fits-
ponents for knee replacement and to establish proper
pain or disability as a result of
all knee replacement is being superseded by a procedure
positioning and alignment. The custom-fit knee allows a
degenerative joint disease gain
tailored to fit a person's individual anatomy.
surgeon to match the size and placement of the implant
improved quality of life and in-
SAFA
KASSAB, MD
to each patient's anatomy.
creased mobility because of total
CAUSES The most common cause of chronic knee pain
hip and knee replacements.
and disability is arthritis.
According to Safa Kassab, MD, a St. Joseph Mercy Oakland
• Osteoarthritis usually occurs in people 50 and older
(SJMO) orthopedic surgeon, the number of patients choos-
As the patient population that
and often in those with a family history of arthritis. Carti-
ing a custom-fit knee has increased over the past few years
seeks joint replacement gets
lage that cushions the bones of the knee wears away, caus-
because of its success, giving St. Joe a wealth of experience.
ing the bones to rub against one another,
resulting in knee pain and stiffness.
An MRI is performed before surgery to obtain exact mea-
• Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in
surements of the patient's arthritic knee and overall leg
which the synovial membrane becomes
alignment, and a 3-D image of the knee is created "cor-
thickened and inflamed.This chronic inflam-
recting" the deformity and developing a model of the knee.
mation can damage the cartilage and even-
The 3-D image helps determine the implant's correct size
tually cause cartilage loss, pain and stiffness.
and placement.
• Traumatic arthritis can follow a serious
knee injury, causing knee pain and limited
"This information is used to generate special cutting guides
knee function.
to use during the procedure," Dr. Kassab says."The guides
indicate precisely where bone cuts should be made to
TREATMENT With traditional surgery,
custom-fit the knee."
a standard technique allows implants to
Two views of a custom-fit knee replacement
be placed with a similar overall fit and
It offers faster surgery, quicker recovery and a more ac-
placement for each patient. X-rays and an
curate knee replacement.
SUMMER 201:
4
MICHIGAN MEDICAL REPORT