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。

甚麼是骨質疏鬆？

 

 

在我們的一生中，骨質都在不斷地生長及分解。若這兩者之間能取得平衡，骨骼便得以保持強健。然而，在大約30歲後，骨骼的分解便開始超越生長的速度，令骨骼變得脆弱和多孔。當骨質密度減低至一定程度，便屬於骨質疏鬆。

骨質疏鬆的情況十分普遍。在香港，約有一半更年期後的婦女患有骨質疏鬆。

骨質疏鬆 後果可大可小

由於早期症狀不明顯，骨折或許是骨質疏鬆最先出現的症狀，它可出現在身體的任何部位，包括脊椎、股骨。

如不及早預防和治療骨質疏鬆，可能會引致以下嚴重後果：

• 骨折
• 活動能力下降
• 失去自我照顧的能力
• 生活質素下降
• 永久殘障
• 死亡

骨質疏鬆的預防

不少簡單的生活習慣，都可補充骨質及預防骨折，並有助減低患上骨質疏鬆的機會。這些包括：

• 多吸收鈣質
• 多接觸陽光有助吸收維他命D
• 適量的負重運動（建議與專業人士商討）
• 減少或避免吸煙及酗酒

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。