Mayo Clinic Health Letter, August 2011 Highlights: Knee Replacement Relieves ...
ROCHESTER, Minn.--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Here are highlights from the August issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. You may cite this publication as often as you wish. Reprinting is allowed for a fee. Mayo Clinic Health Letter attribution is required. Include the following subscription information as your editorial policies permit: Visit www.HealthLetter.MayoClinic.com or call toll-free for subscription information, 1-800-333-9037, extension 9771.
Mayo Clinic: Knee Replacement Offers Arthritis Patients a Renewed Stance in Life
ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Every year, more than half a million adults in the United States have knee joint replacements. The August issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter provides an overview of knee replacement, also called knee arthroplasty, which helps relieve pain and improve function in severely diseased knee joints.
In a normal knee, joint surfaces are covered with cartilage, a smooth, cushiony substance that allows the underside of the kneecap (patella) and the end of the thigh bone (femur) and lower leg bone (tibia) to move against each other with ease. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can damage the knee cartilage and bone, causing moderate to severe pain, even at rest. Total knee replacement is considered when knee pain significantly impairs daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs and getting in and out of chairs.
The surgeon removes damaged cartilage and bone to prepare the joint surfaces for the new knee joint components. The specialized metal and plastic components are positioned and aligned to restore near frictionless joint surfaces.
After surgery, successful rehabilitation includes exercise and low-impact activities. Most patients return to nonstrenuous activities, such as light housework and shopping, within three to six weeks. Most are able to walk without a cane or crutches after two months.
Knee replacement relieves pain and improves quality of life for most patients. While activity level before surgery will influence recovery, most patients resume a variety of low-impact activities such as swimming, gardening, playing golf or biking.
Knee replacement can be done on adults of all ages but is most commonly performed on older adults. The procedure is considered only when other treatments and strategies haven’t helped. Less-invasive treatment options include modified activities, losing weight, walking aids and pain-relieving medications.
Fluid In Ear Treatment - News
Signs and symptoms of an outer ear infection may include itching of the ear canal; ear pain, especially when touching or tugging on the outer ear; a feeling of fullness in the ear; or clear fluid or pus leaking from the ear. Prompt treatment usually
This year during treatment, a CT scan report has exposed a tiny hole in the temporal bone of his skull indicating a situation where fluid from the semicircular canals of the inner ear was leaking into his brain and conducting internal sounds.
"A middle ear infection from infected fluid behind the eardrum will cause muffled hearing and usually severe pain. This is usually the end result of the Eustachian tube being swollen completely shut for several days. "Usually, antibiotics are not
“The eustachian tube links pharynx to middle ear, which balances the pressure between middle ear cavity and the environment. This helps fluid and mucus drain out of the middle ear cavity. But when one suffers from cough and cold, the tube carries
Curtis Reed, 54, of St. Paul is accused of dousing 19-year-old Antoine Willis with lighter fluid and setting him on fire early Wednesday morning. A criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County says Reed was angry with Willis because he and other males in
Novel Treatment for Glue Ear? « Fauquier ENT Blog
Glue ear is the layman’s term for thick mucoid effusion of the middle ear, usually due to chronic ear infections .
The fluid itself is like maple syrup and usually treated with ear tube placement followed by suctioning as much of the fluid out as possible. However, given there is always some residual present, antibiotic ear drops with steroids is often prescribed.
Unfortunately, these patients are at higher risk of requiring repeated sets of tubes after the body spits them out.
Why?
Because of a phenomenon called biofilms… Think of it as teflon armour made of slime for infections. You can put antibiotics and steroids on it, but they kind of just slip off. Such biofilms make infections nearly 1000 times LESS susceptible to medications. In order to truly eradicate the biofilm (and underlying “hidden” infection), you either have to “scrape” it off which is not possible in the middle ear or use very high concentrations of antibiotics… much greater than that obtained using oral or IV antibiotics.
Though ear drops containing high concentrations of antibiotics are possible, the drops tend to come out of the ear just as easily as they go in preventing prolonged and enduring contact.
That’s were the recent innovation comes in…
Scientists in England have developed a biodegradable antibiotic “pellet” that can be inserted into the middle ear during surgery where it will slowly release high concentrations of antibiotics to target any infections present (active or inactive) over 3 weeks continuously. Furthermore, the pellet contains N-acetylcysteine which effectively breaks apart the biofilm.
In essence, this pellet is like an armour-piercing bullet.
Of course, it is not available in the US yet… nor is it FDA approved.
Read more about this here .
Fluid In Ear Treatment - Bookshelf
Take Care of Yourself
Fluid in the ear will often respond to home treatment alone. Over-the-counter pain relievers will provide partial relief (page 39). Although ear pain isn't ...Diversified health occupations
Symptoms include severe pain; fever; vertigo (dizziness); nausea and vomiting; and fluid buildup in the middle ear. Treatment usually consists of ...The Rocky Mountain medical times
THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC CATARRHAL INFLAMMATION OF THE MIDDLE EAR BY FLUID INJECTIONS. By AB Kibbe, MD, OPHTHALMIC SURGEON TO ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL, DENVER ...JAMA., The Journal of the American Medical Association
Having been taught the hopelessness of the treatment of diseases of the ... ear structures, the ear fluid becomes more or less irregular in density, ...American Medical Association family medical guide
Treatment In many cases, an ear infection will go away on its own. ... condition chronic otitis media with effusion (also called chronic middle ear fluid). ...Day-after-day News Directory
Fluid in the Ear - Diagnosis and Treatment for Fluid in the Ear
Fluid in the ear, also called serous otitis media(SOM) or otitis media with effusion (OME), is usually the result of an ear infection, but it can occur ...
Fluid In Ear Treatment | LIVESTRONG.COM
Middle ear fluid, or serous otitis media, is responsible for causing most cases of hearing loss among ... Treatment for fluid in the ears varies depending on the individual ...
Fluid In Ear Treatment | Ear Problem
The type of treatment for fluid in your ear will depend on which part of your ear is involved. The outer ear, or ear canal can get water in it, especially ...
Treatment For Ear Fluid | LIVESTRONG.COM
Treatment For Ear Fluid. Lifestyle, fitness & health information about Treatment For Ear Fluid. ... Fluid in the middle ear is a common ailment, especially among young children. ...
ear fluid - Causes and Treatment for Fluid in Ear
ear fluid - Fluid in The Ear Treatment: How to get rid of fluid in your ear.