Drug helps re-grow injured bone

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- A drug designed to treat iron poisoning can help boost the body's ability to re-grow injured bone, U.S. researchers said.

In a study published online, in advance of the print edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers said deferoxamine activates a cell pathway that helps the body respond to low oxygen levels that often accompany fractures, by triggering the growth of new blood vessels, which in turn causes bone to regenerate and heal.

"With deferoxamine activating this pathway, we've proven a significant point -- it is possible to explore new, safe and more affordable ways to kick-start bone repair," study co-author Dr. Shawn Gilbert of the University of Alabama at Birmingham said in a statement. "Current treatments use complex proteins, which are expensive to make and cost thousands of dollars per dose. The type of agent used in this study is a simple, small molecule drug that costs hundreds, not thousands."

In the study, the bone density of broken mouse bones injected with deferoxamine more than doubled to 2.6 cubic millimeters, compared to 1.2 cubic millimeters in untreated bones. There were also significant increases in the number of new blood vessels, and excellent connectivity between those vessels, the study found.

Source: http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Health/2008/01/11/drug_helps_re-grow_injured_bone/3872/

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Cast Care

Why do I need a cast?
You have been given a cast to help your broken bone or torn ligaments heal. A cast can help keep the injured area from moving so you can heal faster without risk of repeated injury. How long you'll need to wear your cast depends on the type of injury you have and how serious it is. Your doctor may want to check your cast 1 to 3 days after putting it on to be sure that the cast isn't too tight and that your broken bone or torn ligament is starting to heal.

Will the broken bone hurt?
Almost all broken bones cause pain. The cast should relieve some pain by limiting your movements. Your pain should become less severe each day. Call your doctor immediately if the pain in the casted area gets worse after the cast has been applied. New pain may mean that the cast is too tight. You should also call your doctor right away if you have new pain that develops in another area (for example, pain in your fingers or forearm if you have a wrist or thumb injury, or pain in your toes or calf if you have an ankle or foot injury).

To relieve discomfort that can occur when you get a cast, raise the cast above your heart by propping your arm or leg on pillows. You will have to lay down if the cast is on your leg. This may reduce pain and swelling. Your doctor may want to see you to check the cast.

Is it okay to get the cast wet?
With some fiberglass casts, you can swim and bathe. However, most casts shouldn't get wet. If you get one of these casts wet, irritation and infection of the skin could develop. Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cast.

To avoid getting the cast wet during bathing, you can put a plastic bag over the cast and hold it with a rubber band. If the cast does get wet, you may be able to dry out the inside padding with a blow-dryer. (Use a low setting and blow the air through the outside of the cast.) Ask your doctor about using a blow-dryer before trying this.

What can I do about itching?
If your skin itches underneath the cast, don't slip anything inside the cast, since it may damage your skin and you could get an infection. Instead, try tapping the cast or blowing air from a blow-dryer down into the cast.

Source: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/firstaid/after-injury/094.html

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Slips, Trips And Falls Injury Compensation Claim

Claiming compensation out from an injury that is caused by a slip, trip or fall can be tricky. If you slip on a patch of water at work, do you hold your employers liable or the plumbing company who did not work properly on the plumbing system? If you slipped on a road or a pavement, do you sue the council or the private firm that maintains the road or pavement?

Thankfully, you do not have to answer that question; your solicitor can answer that for you. Then again, you are required to present time-sensitive evidence. If you slipped on that puddle of water, check with your officemates that they saw it before your injury. If you need help in the documentation, your solicitor might have his own set of investigators who can gather the evidence for you, and properly at that.

Yes, a simple slip can cause head injuries, back injuries, broken bones and even paralysis. However, compensation claims for injuries arising from slipping and falling is one of the most abused. In the beginning, the councils simply paid out to anyone making a claim (for slipping on a road or a pavement) because an investigation would have cost more. The tide has turned however, and there are already strict guidelines and a good set of laws in place. You will find that although you tripped over a broken pavement slab, you cannot file a claim if the crack's lip does not reach the height requirement. And if you slipped on a slab that was broken only within the last 48 hours, the council will also not be held liable - they would not have known about the slab.

Thankfully though, the laws are kinder to those who have a genuine claim to file. These claims are often handled swiftly. Remember, though, that compensation claims for slips, trips and falls are only possible when the council or your employer has a proven liability. Do not expect a check in the mail if you tripped on your own shoelaces.

The rule of thumb then on claiming under "Slips, Trips and Falls" type of injury is that your slipping, tripping or falling was not your fault and you suffered from injuries that resulted in medical bills, loss of income, and pain.

In general, however, slips, trips and falls that were not your own fault could get you awarded for damages. These can include accidents that happened at work, or in public places, or in buildings, which were caused by uneven flooring or wet flooring. If you have any doubts on whether you are entitled to compensation or not, go and seek your solicitor's advice.

Aside from work places and roads, other circumstances under which you may make a claim for slips and falls include
(a) shops that do not keep their floors dry or free from any spillage,
(b) sports centers that do not keep their floors dry and free of hazardous objects, and
(c) other people's homes that have not been kept safe.

Article Tags: No Win No Fee, Solicitors, Personal Injury, Rta

Author: Hunter Blyth

About the Author:
Hunter writes articles for Start2Claim and Real Compensation No Win No Fee Personal Injury Compensation Solicitors

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/slips-trips-and-falls-injury-compensation-claim-290065.html

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Fractures (broken bones): First aid

A fracture is a broken bone. It requires medical attention. If the broken bone is the result of a major trauma or injury, call 911 or your local emergency number. Also call for emergency help if:

• The person is unresponsive, isn't breathing or isn't moving. Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if there's no respiration or heartbeat.
• There is heavy bleeding.
• Even gentle pressure or movement causes pain.
• The limb or joint appears deformed.
• The bone has pierced the skin.
• The extremity of the injured arm or leg, such as a toe or finger, is numb or bluish at the tip.
• You suspect a bone is broken in the neck, head or back.
• You suspect a bone is broken in the hip, pelvis or upper leg (for example, the leg and foot turn outward abnormally, compared with the uninjured leg).
Take these actions immediately while waiting for medical help:

• Stop any bleeding. Apply pressure to the wound with a sterile bandage, a clean cloth or a clean piece of clothing.
• Immobilize the injured area. Don't try to realign the bone, but if you've been trained in how to splint and professional help isn't readily available, apply a splint to the area.
• Apply ice packs to limit swelling and help relieve pain until emergency personnel arrive. Don't apply ice directly to the skin — wrap the ice in a towel, piece of cloth or some other material.
• Treat for shock. If the person feels faint or is breathing in short, rapid breaths, lay the person down with the head slightly lower than the trunk and, if possible, elevate the legs.

---

MORE ON THIS TOPIC
• Shock: First aid
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): First aid
• Severe bleeding: First aid

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-fractures/FA00058

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Five Foot Problems Men Should Never Ignore

Feet are the Rodney Dangerfield of body parts; they don't get no respect.

That's especially true for men's feet. Men often resist going to the doctor
when they're sick or in pain. But most foot conditions are treatable, and
easier to treat, when diagnosed early.

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) wants men to know about five foot problems they should never ignore:

• Heel pain is often caused by tissue inflammation, but can also result from a
broken bone, a tight Achilles tendon, a pinched nerve, or other problem. A qualified physician will know how to diagnose and treat the true cause of heel pain.

• Ankle sprains always, always, always require a prompt visit to the doctor. Men who skip out on medical care are more likely to suffer repeated ankle sprains and then develop chronic ankle instability.

• Big toe stiffness and pain develops slowly over time, as cartilage in the big toe joint wears down. This eventually leads to arthritis. The sooner a man has this diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.

• Achilles tendonitis usually develops from a sudden increase in physical activity, such as when men play weekend sports. Chances of an Achilles tendon rupture can be reduced by treatment of the symptoms of Achilles tendonitis: pain and tenderness on the back of the foot or heel.

• Ingrown toenails can pierce the skin, open the door for bacteria to enter the body, and convince some men to perform dangerous "bathroom surgery." Few men know that a doctor can perform a quick procedure that will end the pain and permanently cure an ingrown toenail.

For a list of five additional foot problems men should never ignore, visit the
ACFAS Web site, http://www.footphysicians.com/ .

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) is a professional society of more than 6,000 foot and ankle surgeons. Founded in 1942, the College's mission is to promote research and provide continuing education for the foot and ankle surgical specialty, and to educate the general public on foot health and conditions of the foot and ankle through its consumer website, http://www.footphysicians.com/ .

SOURCE: American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS108479+08-Jan-2008+PRN20080108

Mark Forstneger of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons,
+1-773-693-9300, ext. 1306, forstneger@acfas.org

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My toe was in agony until surgeons put a contact lens inside it

Surgery for arthritic toes can leave patients with a lifelong limp. Film director Kenny Rye, 39, from Worthing, West Sussex, underwent a pioneering technique using technology borrowed from contact lenses, which avoids these problems.

He tells DAVID HURST about the experience, and his surgeon explains the procedure...

THE PATIENT

Sport has always been a big part of my life, especially cycling and jogging, and I was a competitive body builder when I was younger. But at the age of 20, I skidded on my motorbike on a wet road, and feared my sporting days were over.

The bike was a write-off and I was in agony. For a minute I thought I was paralysed. Then slowly I started to move. By now, cars had stopped and someone must have called an ambulance. There was no visible damage, but I had a severe pain in my foot.

I was taken to the local hospital, where doctors said I'd broken a couple of joints in my foot, including my big toe - hence the terrible pain.

They wanted to put my foot in a plaster cast for a month, but in those days bodybuilding meant the world to me and I had an important to me and I had an important competition in six weeks. So I told them not to, but to bandage it instead.

The doctors reluctantly agreed, but warned I might have problems later on, such as an ache in my foot from time to time.

For 16 years it didn't give me any more cause for concern. However, three years ago I noticed the joint in my big toe looked swollen and became really painful if I walked for more than five minutes - like a sledgehammer had been bashed over my foot.

My GP thought it was a bunion, but advised against surgery because the procedure can be extremely painful and I would not be able to walk for six weeks afterwards.

Earlier this year, a friend of mine asked why I was limping so badly. When I told her, she said she'd heard of a doctor called Dieter Nollau in her home country of Germany who was doing operations on people with painful toes.

I got in touch with Dr Nollau this summer and he agreed to come to Worthing. When I saw him for the initial consultation, he took my toes in his hands, bent them a few times and said I had osteoarthritis.

I was shocked - I associated osteoarthritis with older people, but he explained it can happen to younger people too, especially if they've suffered trauma to the affected joint.

He said that within a year the joint would fuse together and I wouldn't be able to walk at all. When I told him about my motorbike accident, he was certain that was why my big toe joint was defective.

This meant that my cartilage, the protective tissue which should have ensured smooth movement, was being pushed out by the bone, causing friction and pain.

He told me that with conventional surgery I'd have the toe joint fused together using wires and metal plates. This would stop the pain, but would leave the toe rigid - and with the possibility of painful symptoms recurring.

However, he said he had a new procedure - I would be the first person in the UK to have it - which was not only less painful, but longer-lasting and would bring back total mobility to the toe.

I had the operation in August - when I woke up I was told I'd be able to walk home from the hospital in an hour, without limping. Sure enough I did. I did feel nauseous from the anaesthetic and a tenderness on my toe joint but within a week I was jogging on the treadmill at my gym.

Now I'm in training for a triathlon. I can run and walk, because the surgery has taken the pain away, and I have got my quality of life back.

THE SURGEON

Dr Dieter Nollau is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at BMI Goring Hall Hospital, Worthing, and medical director of the European Foot Institute.

As soon as I examined Kenny it was clear that he had osteoarthritis in his toe. An X-ray showed a small piece of cartilage had been pushed out by the friction between his joints. Something needed to be done because his pain was only going to get worse.

Osteoarthritis is usually something we associate with age, but it is becoming a greater problem in younger people as a result of activities such as jogging and squash. This puts pressure on the toe joints and wears away at the cartilage.

The cartilage gradually loses its elasticity, becomes brittle, splinters and is destroyed, resulting in complete loss of motion. The small joints of the foot are often the first to be affected. The same effect is caused by accidental damage to the toe.

Up to 20 per cent of adults in the UK have osteoarthritis in their big toe joints. It can happen at any age, but is most common from the age of 40.

Conventional surgery involves fusing bones using plates and wires to hold the joint together. It doesn't work well and takes months of painful healing. It also leaves people with a lifelong limp due to their stiff toe.

Often, due to this incorrect walking, it will lead to ankle, knee and finally hip problems.

A few years ago I heard about a gel-like material called SaluCartilage, developed in America. It's made from a similar substance to that used to make soft contact lenses. Even under pressure and friction it does not wear at all.

In December 2002, I used it to operate on my best friend, who suffered from osteoarthritis in his foot, at the German Podiatry Institute in Munich.

I'm pleased to say he's walking well, and is still my best friend! Since then, I've performed 117 operations in Germany, all with excellent results. Now I'm training surgeons all over the world.

During Kenny's operation I made a 4cm incision on the top of his big toe joint, so I could see the defective cartilage causing the pain.

Next, I cut this cartilage debris with a plier-type instrument; using a drill, I created a hole in the toe bone. This is similar to when you drill a hole in a tooth before a filling - it ensures all the 'bad' pieces you are replacing are removed.

I then inserted a 1cm-diameter cylinder of SaluCartilage directly into the hole where his cartilage should have been. It plugs in securely and we make certain by pushing it down with a small hammer.

Five stitches sealed the incision and after a small dressing was put on it, Kenny was taken to a ward until the anaesthetic wore off. The operation took 25 minutes. Two hours later he was walking home.

Two days after the operation Kenny was given physio, mostly traction - pulling and stretching - to improve flexibility. His stitches were removed ten days after that and he was already able to go to the gym by then.

The speed of the surgery, the pain-free healing period and the fact that the patient can put weight on the joint immediately as well as recover mobility are all great positives for this operation.

The procedure costs £2,000 privately and should be available on the NHS next year.

• European Foot Institute, 01903 261 593; footinstitute@aol.com

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/myoperation.html?in_article_id=506577&in_page_id=1989

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