我的脊椎問題有得醫嗎？

曾經有一個80多歲的老人家，雙腳非常疼痛，行動亦十分不便，每次只可行走5分鐘，之後就要坐下休息，當他來看我的時候，他真的覺得自己是已經屬於無藥可 醫的情況。然而，經過臨床檢查，發現他的病是由退化性腰椎椎體滑脫而引起的嚴重的退化性腰椎椎體滑脫。因為可以肯定地確定神經受壓的地方，再加上他的身體狀況及骨質 密度都良好，所以建議用骨科手術進行神經減壓及椎體融合去醫治。


當然手術不可能令病人重返年輕時的體質與狀態，但是至少可以幫他減輕疼痛及改善生活素質。相反，許多中年人士身體開始出現不同程度的退化，經常受到各種痛 症的困擾，影響日常生活、工作及社交活動，他們或許四處求醫，接受了各式的治療，也僅得到短暫的好轉，一但不吃藥或做物理治療，那些疼痛就又立刻重現。


這 樣的病徵未必可以確定究竟是由哪裡的問題引起的，這亦不是屬於嚴重到要用手術去解決的病，所以，患者只需找骨科醫生做一個仔細的臨床診斷去排除其他嚴重的 病，例如：癌症，的可能性，並且聽骨科醫生解釋這些痛症的原因。最重要的是保持健康的生活習慣，多做運動、加強鍛鍊肌肉、改善姿勢，那些煩人的痛楚便會逐 漸消失。所以，對於我來說複雜的病只要可以確定其病因，大多有醫治方法；反而，那些確定不了原因的輕微痛症，真的要靠病人自身的努力去改善。






參考資料: www.ispine.com.hk
以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向自己的骨科醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

Sciatica

Prolapsed intervertebral disc causing sciatica

Sciatica is a pain symptom radiating from the low back to the calf and foot. It is usually caused by prolapsed intervertebral disc most commonly occurred at 30-50 years old. At these age, our intervertebral discs, especially the lower lumbar, started to have tears of different extent, followed by dehydration and collapse. The may cause low back pain and it was reported that up to 80% of the population may have a least one episode of major low back pain during their working age.

These tears cause pain but most of these are only transient. The pain may improve with time and the most important factor to improve the symptoms and prevent it from becoming chronic pain is to stay active, sometimes with the aid of appropriate pain medications and physiotherapy. In some of the individuals, the disc may protrude through the tear and cause compression on the lumbar nerve. This causes radiation pain down the leg, i.e. sciatica.


Physiotherapy

There are various modalities of physiotherapy help to relief pain and prevent prolonged bed rest which is found to be detrimental to functional recovery. More importantly, the physiotherapists help the patient to maintain proper posture and perform appropriate exercise to strengthening the back muscles. The strong muscles can help to maintain a correct position of the spine. Low-impact activities can increase overall fitness without straining the back.


Pharmacologic and surgical treatment

According to research and clinical experience, many patients can relieve their pain by maintaining regular and appropriate physical activities in several weeks. Six weeks of physiotherapy / pharmacologic treatments would be advised for general case. Orthopaedic doctors may employ nerve blockers for some serious cases. Generally, more then 80% of the patients would have their symptoms improved with these non-surgical treatments in a few weeks’ time.

Surgical treatment is indicated for Cauda equina syndrome-the lumbar and sacral nerve roots are severely compressed by the propapsed intervertebral disc. Apart from lower limb pain, the patient also has pain and numbness in in the buttocks and peranal area and bowel and uninary incontinence or retention. This condition needs emergent surgical treatment.

The disabling pain persist after 6 weeks of physiotherapy / pharmacologic treatments
Progressively worsening neurological deficit.
Orthopaedic doctors will undergo proper diagnosis and evaluation before recommendation for surgery. The main purpose of the surgery is to reduce pressure on the nerves.

Reference information: www.ispine.com.hk

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your personal physician.

Spine knowledge - Intervertebral Disc

INTERVERTEBRAL DISC (IVD) are located between the concave articular surfaces of the vertebral body endplates. IVDs form the most important and unique articulating system in the spine, allowing for multiplanar motion.

These fibrocarilaginous, composite structures make up one fourth of the total length of the spinal column. Discs are present from the C2-C3 interbody space to the L5-S1 interbody space. There is no disc between the skull (C0) and the atlas (C1), nor is there a true disc between the atlas (C1) and the axis (C2).

Intervertebral discs are the cartilaginous joints of motion segments. A motion segment is composed of two adjacent vertebrae, the disc between them, the connecting capsular facet joints and the ligamentous structures attached to the vertebrae.

Each disc permits slight flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation and some circum-duction. Movement at a single motion segment is limited, but since motion segments are stacked on top of each other, considerable movement throughout the spine is possible. The greatest range of motion occurs in the cervical and lumbar areas, with smaller degrees of motion in the thoracic region.

Intervertebral discs are the largest avascular (without blood supply) structures in the human body. The discs are composed of the annulus fibrosus and the nucleus pulposus.

Reference information: ispine.com.hk

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your orthopedic doctors for diagnosis and treatment.

Fracture

Bone fracture and healing

In the past, fracture reduction and fixation required absolute anatomical reduction and stability. This often led to fracture non-union due to excessive vascular and soft tissue damage during surgery. Nowadays, absolute anatomical reduction is found to be un-necessary except fractures into joints. The reduction and fixation should minimize the trauma to the surrounding blood vessels and soft tissues. The fixation stability should be relative to stimulate bone formation during fracture healing. Modern minimally invasive fracture and reduction techniques help to achieve these goals on one hand, and to facilitate rehabilitation and functional recovery on the other.

Reference information: www.ispine.com.hk

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your personal physician.

香港骨科 - 全膝關節置術 (Total Hip replacement, Hong Kong)

全膝關節置術產生併發症的機會率並不高。嚴重的併發症如細菌感染，病發率約為2%，其餘的如心臟病或中風等，更為罕見。長期病患者患上併發症的機會較平常人為高。然而併發症雖不常見，一旦發生，它將拖慢復康進度，甚至影響手術的效果。

腿部靜脈栓塞是其中一種最常見的併發症，為防止它發生，你必須經常墊高下肢，進行腿部運動，使用壓力襪及有需要時使用抗凝血藥物。如對手術有任何疑問，最好在手術前向醫生瞭解清楚。

 

回家後的護理

手術的效果理想與否，很大程度取決於你有否跟隨骨科醫生及物理治療師的指示，在家中進行適當的護理。一般來說，傷口表面的縫線會在兩星期左右拆除。深層的縫線則不用拆除，它們會自動溶解。你應盡量避免沾濕傷口，直至它完全癒合。你可以用紗布覆蓋傷口，避免因衣服的磨擦而引起發炎。

運動方面

運動是家中護理不可或缺的一環，尤其是最初的數星期。通常在手術後的三至六星期後，你應可如常進行一般的日常活動。在這段期間，進行運動時和在晚間感到輕微膝痛是正常的，不用太擔心。你在家中的運動療程應包括以下數點：

• 循序漸進式的步行運動以增強膝部活動能力，開始時在家中進行，漸漸地可移師到室外。
• 一般日常的家居活動，如站立、步行及上落樓梯等。
• 物理治療師會指導你在家中或物理治療中心，進行特定的針對性的膝部運動去強化膝部肌肉，及增加關節靈敏度。慢慢地你可自行在家操練。

當你的膝部可以屈曲至你可以舒服地坐在駕駛席的程度，加上腿部的肌肉有良好反應，令你可以從容地應付油門及煞車腳踏時，你便可以恢復駕駛汽車。一般來說，這需要約六星期。

參考資料: www.ispine.com.hk 

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向自己的骨科醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。