Finger-joint Replacement: From 1 Different Sources
A surgical procedure in which one or more artificial joints made of metal, plastic, or silicone rubber are used to replace finger joints destroyed by disease, usually rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.
The procedure is usually successful in relieving arthritic pain and enabling the patient to use his or her hands again, but it rarely restores normal movement.
Deformation of a ?nger due to sudden forced ?exion of the terminal joint, leading to rupture of the tendon. As a result the individual is unable to extend the terminal part of the ?nger, which remains bent forwards. The middle, ring and little ?ngers are most commonly involved. Treatment is by splinting the ?nger. The end result is satisfactory provided that the patient has su?cient patience.... mallet finger
Also called snapping ?nger. This is the condition in which, when the ?ngers are straightened on unclenching the ?st, one ?nger – usually the ring or middle ?nger – remains bent. The cause is obscure. In severe cases treatment consists of opening up the sheath surrounding the tendon of the affected ?nger. When con?ned to the thumb, the condition is known as trigger thumb.... trigger finger
Within a few years medical scientists have introduced into the domestic scene a steroid which has changed the whole course of female history. HRT has solved some basic medical problems by making good the loss of oestrogen in a woman’s body when menstruation is finished and her body learns to adjust.
A lack of oestrogen induces hot flushes, night sweats, thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) with possible fractures, and a wide range of physical and emotional disorders.
HRT also prevents the increased frequency of coronary disease which may follow the menopause. With oestrogen only, HRT appears to increase the incidence of cancer of the uterine body. Use of oestrogen and progestogen avoids this.
HRT is available as a tablet, transdermal patch, implant or topical cream. Most women notice temporary improvement in their appearance and hot flushes as long as treatment is continued. HRT is not prescribed by the herbal practitioner. Soya and Hops are a mild alternative.
Side-effects of such treatment include blood pressure rise, weight gain and periods probably continue with a monthly bleed. Elderly women taking HRT for osteoporosis may develop bleeding problems, the risk of blood clot and gall bladder diseases.
Helonias has proved a useful alternative, effective in eliminating excess fluids, reducing hot flushes, and relieving that bloated feeling, thus helping the older woman to live a normal life.
Damiana. 1 heaped teaspoon leaves to each cup boiling water; infuse 5-10 minutes; strain. 1 cup 2-3 times daily for 3-6 weeks.
Sarsaparilla. 1oz (30g) root in 1 pint (500ml) water; simmer gently 20 minutes; strain. 1 cup 2-3 times daily for 3-6 weeks.
Supplementation. Daily. Vitamin E, 400iu. Vitamin B-complex (high potency). Evening Primrose oil capsules, 500mg morning and evening. Dolomite, for Calcium and Magnesium, 2 tablets morning and evening.
Note: An extensive study of breast cancer risks with HRT revealed a positive link between the risk of cancer and length of use. Risk of the disease increased with all types of women using HRT with every year of use. Pre-menstrual women were more than twice at risk. It would appear that oestrogens cannot be taken without risk. (Centre for Disease Control, Atlanta, USA) See: OESTROGENS. ... hormone replacement therapy (hrt)
See ARTHROPLASTY.... joint replacement
A surgical operation to replace a diseased – usually osteoarthritic – KNEE with an arti?cial (metal or plastic) implant which covers the worn cartilage. As much of the original joint as possible is retained. The operations, like hip replacements, are usually done on older people (there is some restriction of movement) and about 90 per cent are successful.... knee-joint replacement
One of a pair of joints between each side of the SACRUM and each ILIUM. Strong ligaments between the ilium and the sacrum stabilise the joint, permitting little movement. Childbirth or strenuous sporting activities may strain the joint, causing pain in the lower part of the back and buttocks. Such strains may take a long time to mend; PHYSIOTHERAPY is the treatment. The joint(s) may become in?amed (see SACROILEITIS).... sacroiliac joint
Spasm of the blood vessels in the ?nger, resulting in a white appearance. The condition is common in RAYNAUD’S DISEASE but it can be caused by the long-term use of percussion implements such as mechanical road drills or hammers. It is a recognised industrial disease. Treatment is to remove or treat the underlying cause.... white finger
A joint that is repeatedly damaged by injuries that have gone unnoticed because of loss of sensation in the joint (see neuropathic joint).... charcot’s joint
A surgical procedure to replace all or part of a diseased hip joint with an artificial substitute. The replacement is most often carried out in older people whose joints are stiff and painful as a result of osteoarthritis. It may also be needed if rheumatoid arthritis has spread to the hip joint or if the top end of the femur is badly fractured (see femur, fracture of).... hip replacement
The joint between the mandible (lower jaw bone) and the skull.... temporomandibular joint
Pain and other symptoms affecting the head, jaw, and face, thought to result when the temporomandibular joints and the muscles and ligaments attached to them do not work together correctly. Causes include spasm of the chewing muscles, an incorrect bite (see malocclusion), jaw, head, or neck injuries, or osteoarthritis. Common symptoms include headaches, tenderness of the jaw muscles, and aching facial pain. Treatment involves correction of any underlying abnormality, analgesic drugs, and, in some cases, injection of corticosteroid drugs into the joint.... temporomandibular joint syndrome
Named after a 19th-century French physician, this condition presents as a painless swelling and disorganisation of the joints resulting from damage to the pain ?bres that occurs in diabetic neuropathy (see DIABETES MELLITUS – Complications), LEPROSY, SYRINGOMYELIA and syphylitic infection of the spinal cord (see SYPHILIS).... charcot’s joint
A condition usually occurring in middle-aged people in which the victim ?nds on wakening in the morning that he or she cannot straighten the ring or middle ?nger spontaneously, but only by a special e?ort, when it suddenly straightens with a painful click. Hence the name. In due course the ?nger remains bent at all times unless a special e?ort is made to straighten it with the other hand. The condition is due to a swelling developing in one of the tendons of the affected ?nger. If the tendon sheath is slit open surgically, the condition is relieved. Many cases recover spontaneously if the patient is prepared to wait.... clicking finger
See under MENOPAUSE.... hormone replacement therapy(hrt)
A popular term for a loose body in a joint. It is found especially in the knee. (See JOINTS, DISEASES OF.)... joint-mouse
See TRIGGER FINGER.... snapping finger
The joint that lies between the outer end of the clavicle (collarbone) and the acromion (the bony prominence at the top of the scapula (shoulderblade).... acromioclavicular joint
A type of joint found in the spine, formed by the bony knob (called a process) of one vertebra fitting into a hollow in the vertebra above. Facet joints allow a degree of movement between individual vertebrae, which gives the spine its flexibility.... facet joint
The joint between each metatarsal bone and its adjoining toe bone (see phalanges). The metatarsophalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is commonly affected by gout and by hallux rigidus.... metatarsophalangeal joint
A surgical operation to replace a defective or diseased heart valve. (See also heart-valve surgery.)... valve replacement
a surgical technique used to replace a diseased length of aorta, most often the abdominal aorta. It usually involves inserting into the aorta a flexible tube of artificial material, which functions as a substitute for the diseased section.... aortic replacement
(gliding joint) a form of *diarthrosis (freely movable joint) in which the bony surfaces slide over each other without angular or rotational movement. Examples are the joints of the carpus and tarsus.... arthrodic joint
see enarthrosis.... ball-and-socket joint
see cystectomy.... bladder replacement
a painless joint effusion in a child, usually in the knee, caused by inflammation of the synovial membranes due to congenital syphilis. [H. H. Clutton (1850–1909), British surgeon]... clutton’s joint
see Hoffmann’s sign.... finger-flexion reflex
a test for *ataxia or cerebral lesions. Using the index finger, the patient alternately touches his or her nose and then the examiner’s finger, which is shifted to a new position for each of the patient’s movements. The test is positive if the patient misses a target or develops a tremor as the target is approached (intention tremor).... finger–nose test
see arthrodic joint.... gliding joint
see ginglymus.... hinge joint
n. the point at which two or more bones are connected. The opposing surfaces of the two bones are lined with cartilaginous, fibrous, or soft (synovial) tissue. The three main classes of joint are *diarthrosis (freely movable), *amphiarthrosis (slightly movable), and *synarthrosis (immovable).... joint
(PERT) a therapeutic approach using supplements of the digestive enzymes lipase, amylase, and protease (Creon, Pancrex), which are given when there is insufficient endogenous production of pancreatic enzymes: for example, to patients with pancreatic cancer or cystic fibrosis. The capsules must be taken with all meals and snacks to be effective. PERT treats the symptoms of *steatorrhoea.... pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy
see trochoid joint.... pivot joint
a bone that is formed by replacing cartilage with bony material.... replacement bone
a form of *diarthrosis (freely movable joint) in which the articulating surfaces of the bones are reciprocally saddle-shaped. It occurs at the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb.... saddle joint
see diarthrosis.... synovial joint
(pivot joint) a form of *diarthrosis (freely movable joint) in which a bone moves round a central axis, allowing rotational movement. An example is the joint between the atlas and axis vertebrae.... trochoid joint
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