Stratford Health Center – Orthopedics Trauma Surgery
Conditions Treated

This clinic treats the following conditions, among others.

Achilles tendon tear
The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. A badly torn Achilles tendon causes pain and sudden loss of strength and movement. Sometimes this is called a rupture. An Achilles tear is most often caused by a sudden, forceful motion that stresses the calf muscle. This can happen during intense sports activity or even during simple running or jumping. Middle-aged adults are more likely to get this kind of injury. A tendon that is badly or completely torn is most often treated with surgery. Sometimes a tear may be treated with a cast, splint, brace, or other device that keeps the lower leg from moving.

Arm pain
You can hurt your arm by using it too much or by injuring it. Biking, wrestling, and home repair projects are examples of activities that can lead to arm pain. Everyday wear and tear, especially as you get older, can cause arm pain. Your forearms, wrists, hands, and fingers are the parts of your arm that are most likely to become painful. A minor arm injury usually will heal on its own with home treatment to relieve swelling and pain. If you have a more serious injury, you may need tests and treatment.

Arthritis
Arthritis is inflammation of a joint. Symptoms of arthritis may include pain, swelling, redness, warmth, and limitation of movement. There are over 100 types of arthritis. Three common types are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.

Broken collarbone
You have broken or cracked your collarbone, or clavicle. The collarbone is the long, slightly curved bone that connects the shoulder to the chest. It supports the shoulder. A broken collarbone may take 6 weeks or longer to heal. You will need to wear an arm sling to keep the broken bone from moving while it heals. At first, it may hurt to move your arm. This will get better with time.

Broken pelvis
The pelvis is the ring of bones between your hips. It connects to the spine and to the leg bones at the hip joints. Blood vessels, nerves, and muscles run through the pelvic ring and can be affected by a break. A broken pelvis also can affect the organs in your pelvic area. Shoulder problems and injuries: Minor shoulder problems, such as sore muscles and aches and pains, are common. Shoulder problems develop from everyday wear and tear, overuse, or an injury. They can also be caused by the natural process of aging.

Broken toe
You have broken (fractured) your toe. Depending on which toe and the type of fracture, you may not need a special cast or brace. Buddy-taping your broken toe to a healthy toe next to it is sometimes all you need to do. The toe may take 4 weeks or more to heal. You heal best when you take good care of yourself. Eat a variety of healthy foods, and don't smoke.

Bursitis
Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a small sac of fluid that cushions and lubricates an area where tissues—including bone, tendon, ligament, muscle, or skin—rub against one another. Bursae are located throughout the body, in and on joints and other places that are at risk of rubbing or pressure.

Carpal tunnel
Carpal tunnel syndrome is numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain in your hand, wrist, and sometimes forearm. It is caused by pressure on the median nerve. This nerve runs through a space in the wrist called the carpal tunnel. You may be more likely to get the syndrome if you overuse your hand or wrist. You may also be more likely to get it if you are pregnant or have a problem like an underactive thyroid or diabetes. Many people get better if they rest their wrist and wear a splint. Some people need surgery.

Elbow injuries
Everyone has had a minor elbow injury. You may have bumped your "funny bone" at the back of your elbow, causing shooting numbness and pain. The funny-bone feeling can be intense, but it's not serious. It will go away on its own. Maybe your elbow has become sore after activity. Elbow injuries can be minor or serious. They may include symptoms such as pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, weakness, or decreased range of motion. Home treatment often can help relieve minor aches and pains.

Finger, hand, and wrist injuries
At one time or another, everyone has had a minor injury to a finger, hand, or wrist that caused pain or swelling. Most of the time our body movements don't cause problems. But sometimes symptoms can develop from everyday wear and tear, overuse, or an injury.

Foot pain
Foot injuries that cause pain and swelling are fairly common. Almost all sports or home repair projects can cause a misstep that ends up as foot pain. Normal wear and tear, especially as you get older, also can cause foot pain. Most minor foot injuries will heal on their own, and home treatment is usually all you need to do. If you have a severe injury, you may need tests and treatment.

Fracture
A fracture is a break in a bone. Fractures can range from a hairline crack in the bone to the bone being broken into two or more pieces that no longer line up correctly. A fracture may occur at the same time as other injuries, such as sprains, strains, or dislocations.

Hip pain
Hip pain may be caused by many things, including overuse, a fall, or a twisting movement. Another cause of hip pain is arthritis. Your pain may increase when you stand up, walk, or squat. The pain may come and go or may be constant. Home treatment can help relieve hip pain, swelling, and stiffness. If your pain is ongoing, you may need more tests and treatment.

Hip Repair for a Hip Fracture
Hip repair means that the surgeon lines up the pieces of bone using metal plates, rods, nails and screws and then closes the skin over the surgery site. The metal pieces hold the bone together while it heals, and they stay in the leg permanently. This picture shows one type of hip fracture and the way it might be repaired. This surgery is also called hip pinning, or internal fixation.

Knee pain or injury
Injuries are a common cause of knee problems. Sudden (acute) injuries may be caused by a direct blow to the knee. They can also be caused by abnormal twisting, bending, or falling on the knee. Pain, bruising, or swelling may be severe, and may start within minutes of the injury.

Leg injuries
Minor leg injuries are common. Symptoms often develop from everyday wear and tear, overuse, or an injury. Leg injuries are most likely to occur during sports or recreational activities, work-related tasks, work or projects around the home.

Leg problems, noninjury
Minor leg problems, such as sore muscles, are common. Leg problems often occur during sports or recreational activities, work-related tasks, and work or projects around the home. They also can be caused by injuries.

Osgood-Schlatter disease
Osgood-Schlatter disease is a knee problem that causes pain and swelling in the shinbone (tibia) just below the kneecap (patella). This is the spot where the patellar tendon attaches to a bony mound in the knee (tibial tubercle). This condition is a common cause of knee pain in older children and teenagers. It usually flares during periods of rapid growth and goes away at the end of the growth spurt. Symptoms include pain and tenderness in front of the knee and mild swelling or a bump below the kneecap at the top of the shin. Symptoms may get worse with exercise or activity. This problem usually affects only one knee, but sometimes it affects both knees.

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is usually called arthritis. Many people get this type of arthritis as they age. It happens when the cartilage that cushions your joints—like your knees and hips—gradually breaks down. Then the bones rub against each other. This causes damage and pain. There are many treatments that can help with the pain and make it easier to move.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (Runner’s Knee)
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is pain in the front of the knee. It is caused by overuse, weak thigh muscles (quadriceps), or a problem with the way the kneecap moves. Extra weight may also cause this syndrome.

Shoulder fracture
A fractured shoulder may involve a broken collarbone (clavicle), shoulder blade (scapula), upper arm (humerus), or the shoulder cup (glenoid). This injury might occur when someone falls against an outstretched hand or receives a direct blow to the shoulder. Sprains, strains, or dislocations may occur at the same time as a fracture. It may be hard to tell the difference between a bad sprain and a fracture.

Shoulder separation
A shoulder separation (acromioclavicular joint injury) occurs when the outer end of the collarbone (clavicle) separates from the end (acromion) of the shoulder blade because of torn ligaments. This injury occurs most often from a blow to the top of the shoulder or a fall onto the shoulder.

Strains
A strain is a mild injury caused by overstretching muscles, ligaments, or tendons. Most strains respond well to home treatment and heal on their own.

Sprain
A sprain is an injury to the tough ropey fibers (ligaments) that connect bone to bone. Symptoms of a sprain may be mild or severe, and they may sometimes be mistaken for a broken bone (fracture) because some injuries can cause a sprain and a fracture in the same area.

Stress fracture
A stress fracture is a hairline crack in a bone. In some cases, the crack may be so small that it is not visible on an X-ray. Stress fractures are usually caused by repeated stress on a bone rather than by a specific injury. They can occur in any bone that repeatedly bears weight. For instance, stress fractures in the small bones of the foot are common during intensive training for sports that involve lots of running or jumping. A stress fracture is also more likely to occur in a bone that is not accustomed to or conditioned for a particular activity, such as when a person starts a new sport. The most common symptom of a stress fracture is persistent pain at the site of the fracture. Pain may improve temporarily during exercise but gets increasingly worse after each exercise session. If the activity that caused the stress fracture is stopped, the bone will heal and symptoms will go away. The activity can then be resumed gradually until the bone becomes conditioned to the repeated movements.

Tendon injury (tendinopathy)
A tendon injury is a condition in which you have irritated or damaged the tough fibers that connect muscle to bone. Most tendon injuries occur near joints, like the shoulder, elbow, knee, or ankle. Doctors may use different terms to describe a tendon injury. Tendinitis means "inflammation of the tendon," but inflammation is rarely the cause of tendon pain. Tendinosis or tendinopathy happens when a tendon is injured and doesn't heal as it should.

Tennis elbow
Tennis elbow is soreness or pain on the outer part of your elbow. It happens when you damage the tendons that connect the muscles of your forearm to your elbow. The damage makes it painful to rotate your forearm and flex your wrist and fingers backward. The cause is usually overuse from repeated hand and wrist movements. These movements are sometimes a part of everyday activities, like using a screwdriver. Or the overuse can come from playing sports, like tennis.

Toe, foot, and ankle injuries
Everyone has had a minor toe, foot, or ankle injury that caused pain or swelling. Most of the time our body movements don't cause problems. But sometimes symptoms develop from everyday wear and tear, overuse, or an injury. Toe, foot, or ankle injuries most often occur during sports or recreational activities, work-related tasks, work or projects around the home.

Torn ligament
A torn ligament is an injury to a tough, ropey fiber that connects a bone to another bone. Sudden force, a direct blow to a joint, a deep cut, or a smashing injury can cause ligaments to tear.