Guidelines are in place for adult males injured on the football field. Cervical spine (neck) injuries are of special importance because of the danger of permanent spinal cord damage. In football, the helmet and shoulder pads are left on the adult injured player. The player is placed on a spine board and transported to the hospital. The face mask can be removed to allow for breathing.

Pain pumps are often used after joint surgery to deliver a controlled amount of anesthetic and narcotic. This device provides good pain relief. Patients use less narcotic medication. But previous animal studies have shown that some drugs (lidocaine, bupivacaine) actually cause chondrocytes (cartilage cells) to die.

Sometimes tears of the rotator cuff tendon (RCT) are so severe, they can't be repaired. Trying to bring the two torn ends together puts too much pressure on the tissue.
In this study, researchers from Seoul, Korea report on a way to bridge the gap and obtain complete healing of the RCT. They used the biceps tendon as an interposition repair.

Hamstring injuries are common in sprinters. If we can find specific reasons for this, injuries to elite sprinters may be avoided. In this research, the relationship between hip and thigh muscle strength to hamstring injury was studied. The scientists conducting this study looked for imbalances and deficits in muscle strength between the quadriceps and the hamstrings.

Researchers are actively seeking information and knowledge that can reduce the number of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women. Several studies are ongoing collecting information about hip and knee function and strength in jumping athletes.

The Hoffmann sign is used by examiners assessing patients with symptoms of myelopathy (spinal cord compression). The test is done by quickly snapping or flicking the patient's middle fingernail. The test is positive for spinal cord compression when the tip of the index finger, ring finger, and/or thumb suddenly flex in response.

Scar tissue formation after lumbar disc surgery is a major cause of failed-back surgery syndrome. One in four patients are affected. Surgeons are looking for ways to keep this from occurring.

Different drugs and topical agents applied to the surgical area have been studied. These substances may act as a barrier to fibrosis (scar tissue). They may inhibit the development of scar tissue. So far, nothing has been found that works well.

It is suggested that 30 percent of vertebral compression fractures in persons with osteoporosis is due to falling.
Compliant flooring may be a promising way to reduce impact force during a fall and reduce vertebral fracture risk during a fall.

The authors described five case studies of patients who suffered traumatic spondyloptosis of the thoracolumbar junction. This is a rare but severe injury. There is complete fracture dislocation of the spine. These injuries have the highest association with spinal cord injury of all fracture types. The thoracolumbar junction is involved in 15 percent of all spinal cord injuries. Three of the five patients were involved in high speed motor vehicle crashes.

The authors of the study present four case studies of sudden onset coccydenia with calcium crystal deposition in the sacrococcygeal or intercoccygeal joints.

Common coccydenia is usually characterized by persistent or chronic pain. It is usually localized to the coccyx with sitting, or arising from sitting. It is usually caused by disc degeneration, instability, deformity of the coccyx, and trauma.

Prevalence of chronic neck pain is thought to be 60 percent in persons five years or longer after an initial episode. Thirty nine to 67 percent of chronic neck pain is thought to be from facet joints. Facet joints are rich with nerves, pain receptors, and mechanoreceptors. Facet joints can also refer pain to the head and upper extremities.

While percutaneous vertebroplasty is an effective tool in the treatment of vertebral compression fracture, twelve to 52 percent will have post percutaneous vertebroplasty, PVP, vertebral fracture.

Osteoporosis (brittle bones) can be a devastating disease leading to vertebral compression and hip fractures. Postmenopausal women are affected most often. But a second group is also at increased risk. Anyone who takes corticosteroids over a long period of time for chronic conditions is at risk for corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis.

Given the aging of America and rising numbers of women with fractures from osteoporosis, it's time to review this topic. In this article, current understanding of risk factors, screening, and treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis are summarized. The goal is to reduce modifiable risk factors and prevent osteoporosis as much as possible.

Many people are familiar with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. But inside the knee joint there are two important ligaments. The ACL criss-crosses with the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). And PCL injuries account for up to one-third of all knee injuries.

The PCLs main job is to keep the tibia (lower leg bone) from sliding backwards under the femur (thigh bone). A second function of the PCL is to restrain the tibia from rotating outward too far.