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.

-

-

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