Dr. Brannan Smoot Travels to Managua on Surgical Mission Trip

Dr. Smoot recently traveled to Managua, Nicaragua with the Health Volunteers Overseas to volunteer his time and expertise to those in need of important knee procedures.

He worked in a local clinic to first evaluate patients and then performed four knee arthroscopy procedures, a surgery that uses a tiny camera to look inside the knee. Small cuts are made to insert a camera and small surgical tools into your knee for the procedure.

Dr. Smoot also spent time teaching surgical residents important skills both in surgery and in clinic.

This is his fourth trip to Managua and he was excited to have his daughter accompany him.

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Congrats to our Super Doctors Rising Stars

Congratulations to Drs. Kenneth Bunch, Brian Hardy and Ai Mukai who were selected by their peers as outstanding "rising star" doctor in Texas. The results were published in Super Doctors Rising Stars, a special section in the July 2015 issue of Texas Monthly magazine.

Physicians selected as Super Doctors Rising Stars must be active physicians who have been fully-licensed to practice for approximately 10 years or less. Only 2.5% of all Texas physicians are selected.

Texas Orthopedics 2015 Super Doctors Rising Stars

Dr. Kenneth Bunch, Physiatrist

Dr. Brian Hardy, Orthopedic Surgeon

Dr. Ai Mukai, Physiatrist

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Common Swimming Injuries

Swimming is a spectacular summer activity. It's refreshing and relaxing. It is also a great low-impact, full-body workout. With any sport though there is an associated risk of injury. The repetitive motion used in swimming strokes puts pressure on the shoulder, knee, and hip joints, and as well as on the back. These types of injuries are known as overuse injuries.

Too strenuous swimming can affect both the upper and lower body. The most common upper body injury is to the rotator cuff in the shoulder. The rotator cuff is made up of several connected muscles and tendons that can weaken and tear with the continuous lifting of the arm as you perform a swimming stroke. Bicep tendonitis is another injury that can occur in the upper arm resulting in a painful inflammation.

The knee is the most frequently injured joint in the lower body. Much like Tennis or Golfer's Elbow, there is also what's known as "Breaststroker's Knee," which is unique to the sport of swimming. The repetitive motion of kicking the leg at a wide, yet controlled, angle can take its toll on the joint and surrounding tissues. Hip and lower back pain can also arise from the non-strop kicking.

To prevent these and other swimming injuries, try the following: 

• Vary and/or alternate the strokes during your workout.
• Warm up for a few minutes out of the water before diving in. 
• Include core-strengthening exercises to better support all the exertion of your upper and lower extremities needed to swim. 
• Stop and take a break when you experience fatigue.

If you are constantly in pain from a swimming injury, and rest and over-the-counter pain medication do not help, make an appointment to see your doctor.

(Adapted from Stop Sports Injuries)

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Misdiagnosis of Teen Hip Injuries

We're starting to see a spike in hip injuries among teens. Hip issues are commonly associated with senior patients, but they also strike fit and athletic young adults. Frequently mistaken for a pulled muscle or groin, hip impingement is a common condition cropping up among teens.

Hip impingement can be downright painful - it may feel like a throbbing, pounding, or pulled sensation in the upper thigh or groin area. Teenagers who play high-impact sports, such as soccer, basketball, and track and field, often think they're suffering from a pulled muscle... and so do the doctors. And sad to say, many patients live with this pain, and go on multiple doctor visits, for several months before getting the right diagnosis.

Hip impingement happens when either the socket or ball of the hip joint gets worn down, preventing smooth movement within the joint. This grinding action of the joint is what creates pain in the surrounding muscles and tissue.

When kids are young and active, and their bones not quite fully formed, repetitive motions like jumping and running in sports can cause the hip joint's ball and socket to lose their shape easily.

If not treated properly, hip impingement can lead to early onset arthritis. In some cases, arthroscopic surgery may be necessary to correct the shape and functioning of the joint. This type of surgery involves a very small incision and tiny instruments with a short hospital stay and minimal recovery time, especially for young and healthy teens.

If your teenager is experiencing this pulled muscle sensation in the hip or groin area, contact us to make sure it's not a hip impingement.

(Courtesy of Houston Methodist Hospital)

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Attention Weekend Warriors: Proceed with Caution

Are you a "weekend warrior" in terms of your workout routine? Meaning do you save up all your energy and aggression from the work week and head to the gym just on weekends? If you are sedentary for the majority of the week, but then really go all out at the end of the week, you could put yourself at risk for several common sports injuries.

This inconsistency in your workout could lead to:

• ankle sprains
• groin pull
• hamstring stain
• shin splints
• knee injury: ACL tear
• knee injury: Patellofemoral syndrome - an overuse injury to the kneecap
• tennis elbow (Epicondylitis)

The most common of these injuries are the sprains and strains.

Many injuries result from not being properly conditioned or warmed up enough before starting physical activity. By adding a workout or two during the week, using those same muscles you plan to engage later on, you will better prepare your body for what lies ahead during your more intense weekend routine. Simple stretches to warm up and get the blood flowing to your muscles can also help protect you from injury.

Learning to recognize when you have reached your limit or are fatigued is important too. You may think that working out longer and harder is a good thing, but shorter, more regular exercise throughout the week tends to be more beneficial.

If you are suffering form any of these injuries, remember to use the PRICE method of treatment:

• P - protect from further injury (appropriate braces or bandages) 
• R - restrict activity
• I - apply ice
• C -  apply compression
• E - elevate the injured area

For ongoing pain that is not alleviated by this treatment and/or over-the-counter pain medication, contact us.

(Adapted from WebMD)

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Derrick Campbell, PT, Scores Magazine Spot

Congratulations to Texas Orthopedics' physical therapist, Derrick Campbell, on being published in the magazine, ADVANCED for Physical Therapy & Rehab Medicine.

Campbell detailed his experience in treating Texas Stars hockey players, the affiliate of National Hockey League's Dallas Stars, during their 2014 championship season. Texas Orthopedics is the official sports medicine provider for the team.

As a former hockey player, Campbell knows intimately about the physical demands, injuries and recovery needs required by hockey players and used that knowledge to assist the players during a long and challenging season.

Read the full article here ... Action Packed: Caring for the AHL's Texas Stars a Keen Understanding of the Professional Hockey Player.

Why Patients Are No Longer 'Too Young' for Hip Replacement Surgery

Turns out hip replacement surgery is now an equal opportunity procedure and is no longer reserved for the 'older' population. New research from the National Hospital Discharge Survey reveals that hip replacement surgery increased by 200 percent from 2000-2010, among ages 45-54... the youngest group in the study.

Hip replacement is becoming increasingly more "hip" and popular among younger folks due to advanced technologies, shorter hospital stays, and a rising number of arthritis cases in younger patients. Hip replacement allows these younger people to continue their active lifestyle, free of nagging hip pain.

The surgery is most often performed on those suffering from advanced osteoarthritis, a painful condition caused by the breakdown of cartilage surrounding the hip joints. Oral or topical anti-inflammatories and physical therapy are usually the first course of treatment to try and alleviate pain. If these don't work, surgery may be the best option.

Vast technological advancements have been made to this procedure over the past 15 years, including improvements to the actual materials used in the artificial hip replacement pieces/joints. These newer materials are stronger and more compatible with the body and now can be expected to function well up to 20 years following the initial replacement surgery.

Hospital stays following surgery have become shorter too, adding to the procedure's appeal. The average patient with no complications can often go home within a day and a half. And once they have completed their prescribed rehab regimen, most younger patients are able to return to their active lifestyle, including sports, within a few months.

If you struggle with constant hip pain, contact us to discuss your options.

(Adapted from U.S. News & World Report, Health)

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