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Knee replacement surgery is one of modern medical technology's most amazing triumphs. Being able to fully or partially replace a person's knee with artificial parts so that they an continue their life free of knee pain yet still maintain an active lifestyle is nothing short of miraculous. In addition to new advances in this incredible technology there have also been advances in knee therapy as well, reducing the need for this kind of surgery. Here's what you should know about these two treatments if you're having knee problems.
Advances Knee Replacement Surgery
Traditionally knee replacement surgery would require very large incisions to remove bones and insert the artificial parts into the knee area. Thanks to new procedures known as MIS (minimally invasive surgery) which uses new techniques and instruments to drastically lower the area of incision. On average knee replacement surgery used to require an incision of eight to twelve inches but that has been reduced to three to five inches, a dramatic improvement. MIS also allows the surgeon to avoid having to cut through the tendon as well. Smaller incisions have resulted in less tissue trauma, shorter recovery times and less pain overall.
In addition to this computers are also being used more for knee replacement surgery. This allows for overall better navigation during surgery and better surgical precision.
Advances in Knee Therapy
While knee surgery is better than ever it is always best if this can be avoided. One such treatment is kneecap realignment. This process is needed in many cases due to the fact that when someone has a knee condition they tend to walk differently and place an uneven amount of pressure on one knee which causes the kneecap to more out of place. By moving the kneecap to its original position and then using physical rehab techniques to train the muscles to hold it there the kneecap can be realigned.
Your knees are an important part of your body, as they are the body part that takes the brunt of the force and stress associated with walking, running, sitting and standing. In fact, you need to have healthy and pain free knees in order to be mobile and thus able to get around without pain, discomfort or other issues. Knees can be injured through a variety of ways and means.
One way knees can become damaged is through an accident or injury such as being hit while playing sports, falling down or being in an accident. Sports injuries cause many knee injuries, and sometimes just being active in a sport over time can place stress on the knees and eventually cause problems to arise. Though these injuries happen quickly, the recovery process may be long. Knees can also suffer from the aging process alone or the development of arthritis which commonly occurs in the joints of the knees.
Regardless of how you developed a knee problem, you need to seek help by a qualified knee specialist who can assess your condition, offer guidance for treatment options and help get you back to being able to do all of the things you were able to do before you injured your knees.
Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Sforzo, father of Sydney '20 and Ryan '22, visited The Out-of-Door Academy to give a presentation to Lower School Marine Science about the skeletal system. In addition to learning about the 206 bones in the body, students also learned what bones looked like using x-rays and MRI scans, how to keep bones strong and healthy, and handled exact replicas of human bones.
The students were all engaged and excited to learn about the skeletal system from Dr. Sforzo.
 
 
Christopher R. Sforzo, MD
Hand and Shoulder Surgery
Director of Sports Medicine, the Premier Sports Campus of Lakewood Ranch
Team Physician, The Out-of-Door Academy
Consultant, IMG Academies
Recently The Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch was honored to hold the Nike International Friendlies in Lakewood Ranch, Florida – where Dr. Sfores is the Director of Sports Medicine for the Premier Sports Campus. Click the link below to read more about the tournament held locally in Lakewood Ranch, FL.
http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/junior-flores-shines-for-u-s-u-17-team/
Considered to be one of the most common ailments, shoulder pain can be exactly just that, a real pain. And the symptoms may range from mild to severe, lasting for a few days or much longer. Although, that doesn't mean you you can't find relief, there are many ways of relieving the pain, but first let's take a look at some of the causes for shoulder pain.
Some of the common causes of shoulder pain are the following; injury, bursitis, tendonitis, tear in rotator cuff, arthritis, and frozen shoulder. While these may be some causes of shoulder pain, there may also be other reasons for pain that are due to other medical problems, such as; heart disease, liver disease, and spinal conditions.
Getting the proper diagnosis for shoulder pain is always advisable to assure that you are getting the best treatment available. Treatment of shoulder pain is totally based on the cause, and recovery time does vary for each individual patient.
Here are some general treatment methods to help recover from shoulder pain; rest, limiting activities that induce the pain, wearing a protective sling, physiotherapy, and massage therapy. Physiotherapy and massage therapy seem to be very beneficial in improving strength and flexibility in the affected shoulder. Over-the-counter pain relievers may also be prescribed by an orthopedist to help with pain and inflammation to aid in the recovery process.
There are many patients who also suffer from shoulder pain that are only required to follow a simpler treatment method of applying an ice pack and a heat pad to the affected area, in addition to shoulder exercises, which helps tremendously. With proper diagnosis and treatment from an orthopedist, one who suffers from shoulder pain can be on their way to recovery that will have them feeling much better soon!
The pain from a damaged rotator cuff can range from mild or occasional pain to severe on going pain. One of the main symptoms with a damaged rotator cuff is that it affect the range of motion making it very painful to lift or move the arm. A rotator cuff can be damaged by many different events, some ways would included but are not limited to, lifting the arm or shoulder in the same way over a long period of time. People who play sports and do the same over head motions over and over again are in danger of having a damaged rotator cuff. Degeneration of the muscles can be a cause as well, especially in people over the age of 30. Some symptoms of a damaged rotator cuff are, sharp pain in the upper shoulder area, weakness in the shoulder area, and inability to move the arm with out severe shooting pain. There are many ways to treat the symptoms of a damaged rotator cuff. Applying ice to the affected area, wearing a sling to help relieve pressure off the shoulder, and taking an anti-inflamitory medication such as ibuprofen are a few suggestions you can help at home. In some instances physical therapy or a surgical consult is needed.
For more information or to schedule an appointment visit www.orthocenterflorida.com
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Hip injuries in the elderly present an array of problems. The type and severity of injury will determine the treatment and eventual outcome. Bruises, strains, tears and fractures can all occur in the elderly. For many non-fracture injuries, supportive care and physical therapy may be all the treatment that is needed.
Hip fractures are the most common and most concerning of hip injuries in the elderly. According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 280,000 people over age 65 will be hospitalized each year due to a hip fracture. Most often, hip fractures in the elderly result from a fall, and will then require surgery, followed by a hospital stay and rehabilitation. Evaluation and treatment by a qualified orthopedic surgeon is required to optimize recovery since up to one out of five people who suffer a hip fracture may die within a year of the fracture.
An elderly person who has fallen and complains of pain in the hip or leg or who cannot bear weight on the leg should be evaluated immediately. When surgery is required and is delayed by more than 48 hours after the injury, risk of problems related to the fracture and risk of death both increase significantly. Blood clots in the legs or in the lungs, pneumonia and general decline in strength and health are all risks following hip fracture.
The femur –the long bone of the upper leg — is straight with an angled neck and a ball-like structure at the top called the head. The head of the femur fits into the socket of the pelvis and together these structures form the hip joint. Hip fractures can involve any of these structures but breaks most commonly occur at the neck of the femur in the elderly.
Hip fractures that occur through the angled neck of the femur may need to be repaired by a partial or total hip replacement. If the fracture, called an "intratrochanteric fracture", occurs below the neck on the straight part of the bone, the repair may require plates and screws to stabilize the bone. Alternatively, a rod may be placed down the shaft of the bone, instead of a plate on the outside of the bone for stabilization.
The ultimate goal of treatment is to heal the fracture and then allow a return to the previous level of function, which is possible over 25 percent of the time. Most patients with hip fractures will need some additional care such as devices to assist mobility, nursing care or other special treatment. This should allow a reasonable amount of recovery to achieve an acceptable quality of life. A qualified and experienced orthopedic surgeon guides this care to give the best possible outcome.
With his lacrosse stick in hand, 7-year-old Ryan Sforzo anxiously stands on the sideline waiting to take the field.
It is the first official day of the Manasota Lacrosse Club’s summer league; and The Out-of-Door Academy second-grader, who also plays lacrosse for the Manasota Monsters — a youth travel lacrosse organization with U9 and U11 teams — is eager to get the summer season under way.
Ryan began playing lacrosse last year after hearing countless stories of his father Chris Sforzo’s playing days at the University of Notre Dame.
Following in the footsteps of his father, Ryan joined the Lakewood Ranch Lightning and fell in love with the sport.
“I enjoy getting out there and having fun,” Ryan said. “I’m looking forward to playing for my dad, since he’s the coach, and having a great time.”
The Manasota Lacrosse Club summer league began about six years ago, after Jamie Carver, who played lacrosse at the University of Maryland and also coaches the Sarasota Fire, decided to further develop youth lacrosse in the East County.
The club spent the past five seasons playing at Adventure Park in Greenbrook, before opening its sixth season June 16 at its new home — the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch.
“They are absolutely committed to the growth of lacrosse as we are,” Carver said of Premier. “The potential is really endless to not only grow lacrosse, but also to get national recognition.
“There’s so much we can do to build local lacrosse and the Premier Sports Campus,” Carver said.
The Manasota Lacrosse Club’s summer league is home to nearly 150 players, ranging in age from Pee Wee to the high-school-plus division. The Pee Wee to middle-school divisions practice on Thursday nights, while the high-school-plus and girls divisions practice on Tuesday nights.
The league is open to players of all skill levels at a cost of $100 for 10 weeks; however, the league will prorate the cost for those individuals still wishing to sign up. During each practice, players learn the basic fundamentals of the sport, such as how to keep the stick in their hands, before hitting the field for a scrimmage.
The league also will loan equipment to those who may be new to the sport.
“We’re just looking to get them to love the sport first, and then make the investment if they want to,” Carver said.
In addition to the Manasota Lacrosse Club summer league, Lakewood Ranch Lightning Lacrosse also recently started a recreational league for children in kindergarten through fourth grade. The club program, which finished its first formal season in April, also provides younger players with additional opportunities to experience the sport and learn the basic skills of the game.
This past season, the Lakewood Ranch Lightning recreational league was home to almost 40 kids.
“Kids of all sizes can play, and it’s just a beautiful sport that lends itself to Florida,” Chris Sforzo said. “We wanted to keep the sport going, get involved and get our kids involved. It’s a fun action-packed sport; and, as long as you stay with it and practice you can really excel at it, especially if you’re an athletic kid.”
In addition to running the Lightning recreational league, Chris Sforzo and his assistant coaches also formed the Manasota Monsters youth travel lacrosse team last month.
The team held tryouts for its team, which combines players in both U9 and U11 age brackets, May 2.
Since then, the Manasota Monsters, which comprises nearly 30 children, including Ryan, have been practicing and competing in local tournaments, including the Sunshine State Series earlier this month in Wesley Chapel where the Monsters Orange team finished second in the U11 division.
During the travel season, which will run through December, players will participate in 40-50 practices, play in three or four games and an additional tournament or two as well as attend a summer lacrosse camp, among other activities.
“It’s definitely the fastest growing sport in the United States and definitely in Florida,” Chris Sforzo said. “We felt a travel team at this point would be (beneficial), so kids would be able to play a little bit all year round. The more you can play, the more you can practice and get better.”
For more information on the Manasota Lacrosse Club’s summer league visit www.manasotalacrosseclub.com or contact Jamie Carver at jcarver@oda.edu or 228-6272.
For more information on the Lakewood Ranch Lightning recreational league or the Manasota Monsters visit www.lrlax.com or contact Chris Sforzo at csforzo@me.com.
Contact Jen Blanco at jblanco@yourobserver.com
Too much strain and use of your shoulder can cause a rotator cuff to be torn. Tendons and muscle keep your arms in there shoulder socket joints. This type of surgery is done with a small camera that is inserted into the arm. The arthroscopy is inserted in a small cut and shows the cartilage, tendons ligaments and bones on a monitor. You will be completely out for this procedure and feel no pain.
With the help of monitors your doctor can see what is going on and can then make other slits in the skin to insert more instruments to fix the damaged areas. Tendons need to be attached to the bone with plastic or metal anchors that are not removed when the surgery is done. Your doctor will clean out any damaged tissue around the joint. Pain in the shoulder could be coming from the acromion which is a part of the bone. If it has a spur, the doctor will remove the spur which will relieve your pain.
If surgery to repair the shoulder does not work, then your doctor may recommend a full shoulder replacement. The most used replacement procedure is a polished ball made of metal that is attached to a plastic socket and a stem. The metal balls come in different sizes and are used when the bone is still in good shape. A press fit can be used or a bone cemented fit that is plastic would also do the job.
A reverse replacement of the total shoulder can be done. This is done for people with extreme arthritis. With this surgery the metal ball is put into the bone of the shoulder and the socket is then attached to the bone in the upper arm. You would then be able to use your deltoid muscles to lift your arm.
Any shoulder surgery is serious and should be done by a professional with a full surgical team. Each person is different and will have different results. You doctor will see to it that you have the best care available and rehabilitation after your surgery.
For more information visit www.orthocenterflorida.com and we will be happy to help you!
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