Monthly Archives - April 2022

What Is Clavicle Fracture?

Clavicle fracture is a break in your clavicle bone. The clavicle is the collarbone, which connects your upper arm to your sternum (breastbone). The most common cause of a clavicle fracture is trauma to the shoulder area such as falling on an outstretched hand or being hit by an object. Other causes include:

• sports injuries
• falls from height
• motor vehicle accidents

The most common occupations causing clavicle fracture include:

• Construction work, which involves heavy lifting and carrying materials
• Manufacturing jobs, where workers use machinery with moving parts or repetitive motions that put pressure on their arms and shoulders
• Jobs that require physically demanding tasks such as lifting heavy objects or working at heights

Clavicle Fracture in Singapore

• The average annual number of clavicle fractures in Singapore is about 2,000 cases.
• 70% of these fractures are male and 30% are female.
• The most common age group for this injury to occur is 20-50 years old but it can happen at any time during life if you fall awkwardly or are involved in an accident that causes your shoulder to hit something hard enough to break your collarbone (such as when you're driving).

Diagnosis of Clavicle Fracture

Clavicle Fracture is a common injury that can be diagnosed by physical examination and image tests. Physical Examination:

• The doctor will feel for tenderness over the clavicle in order to locate any fractures or dislocations.
• The patient should be asked to lift his/her arm above their head and then brought down slowly while being examined by the doctor. This test helps determine if there is any pain or discomfort while moving your arms up or down in different positions, which may indicate a problem with your collarbone area.

Risks and Complications of Clavicle Fracture

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Loss of motion in the arm or shoulder
• Instability of the clavicle (the collarbone) due to fracture displacement or deformity.

Treatment Options for Clavicle Fracture

Non-surgical treatment options include:

• A cast is a hard, rigid bandage that's wrapped around the injured area and held in place with pins or wires. It helps keep your bones in place while they heal.
• Slings support an arm or shoulder by wrapping around it and holding it close to the body, which reduces pain and swelling. Slings may be used for fractures that don't need surgery but still cause pain or difficulty moving the arm or shoulder because of injury to muscles or tendons near where bone was broken (for example, if there was damage to nerves).

Rehabilitation After Clavicle Fracture

After you have had your clavicle fracture treated, you will need to follow a rehabilitation program. The aim of this is to help you regain full range of motion and strength in your shoulder joint. Physical therapy may include exercises such as:

• Strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff muscles (which support the shoulder). These are important because they help keep your shoulder stable while moving it through its full range of motion.
• Range-of-motion exercises that stretch and strengthen muscles around your shoulder joint, helping them work better together so they can move more smoothly when you want them too

Prevention of Clavicle Fracture

• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid activities that put you at risk for clavicle fractures, such as contact sports, gymnastics and horseback riding.
• Strengthen chest muscles with push-ups and other exercises that engage the pectoralis major muscle group in your upper body.

  Dr Andy Wee is skilled in arthroscopy of the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle, and has performed over two thousand arthroscopic procedures over the last 10 years. He has performed over a thousand ACL Reconstruction and meniscus surgeries alone, and has treated many national athletes with sports related knee, shoulder and elbow injuries with arthroscopic surgery. Interested to learn more about arthroscopic (keyhole) meniscus repair for your condition? Call us at +65 6247 7958 to make an appointment to see Dr Andy Wee today!  

 

What Is Elbow Arthritis?

Elbow arthritis is a type of osteoarthritis that affects the joint between the upper arm bone and two bones of the forearm. It can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the elbow joint.

What Causes Elbow Arthritis?

Elbow arthritis is caused by the wear and tear of the elbow joint over time. It can also be caused by injury to the elbow joint, such as from falling on an outstretched arm or repetitive movements like golfing or tennis playing. The most common causes of elbow arthritis include:

• Age-related wear and tear of joints (osteoarthritis) in people aged 50 years old and above
• Repetitive trauma injuries such as falling on an outstretched arm

Who Is At Risk For Elbow Arthritis?

As you might have guessed, elbow arthritis is more common in older people. But this doesn't mean that you can't get it if you're young! In fact, some people who develop the disease are as young as 20 years old. The risk of developing elbow arthritis increases with age--particularly after age 50 or 60. Men are also more likely than women to develop the condition; this may be due to differences in body weight or muscle mass between men and women (muscle mass helps support joints). People who perform repetitive motions with their elbows -- such as athletes who play tennis or golf -- are at greater risk for developing elbow arthritis because these activities put stress on the joint over time.

Diagnosis of Elbow Arthritis

The diagnosis of elbow arthritis is made by a doctor based on the following:

• Physical examination. The doctor will examine your arm and ask you to move it in certain ways. This helps him or her determine if there are any problems with the joint movement, pain when moving the arm, and stiffness in the elbow.
• Imaging tests (X-rays). These can show signs of bone damage or inflammation in the joint space between bones. X-rays also help determine if there is any arthritis present in other parts of your body such as hips or shoulders that may contribute to pain at night when sleeping on one side for long periods of time

Treatment Options for Elbow Arthritis

There are a few options for treating elbow arthritis, including:

• Non-surgical treatments. These include physical therapy and medication.
• If you have severe elbow arthritis that does not respond to non-surgical treatments, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Prevention of Elbow Arthritis

• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid activities that put excessive strain on the elbow joint, such as lifting heavy objects or playing sports that require repetitive throwing motions.
• Strengthening exercises can help to reduce pain and improve range of motion in your elbow, especially if you have weak muscles around it (such as those in your forearm). For example:
  • Use an elastic band to perform wrist curls by gripping one end of the band with both hands and holding it straight out in front of you at shoulder height; then slowly bend both wrists up until they are parallel with each other before relaxing them back down again
  • Perform bicep curls by gripping dumbbells or soup cans filled with sand or water, holding them at arm's length away from your body with palms facing forward; then bend elbows until they're 90 degrees out from shoulders

  Dr Andy Wee is skilled in arthroscopy of the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle, and has performed over two thousand arthroscopic procedures over the last 10 years. He has performed over a thousand ACL Recontruction and meniscus surgeries alone, and has treated many national athletes with sports related knee, shoulder and elbow injuries with arthroscopic surgery. Interested to learn more about arthroscopic (keyhole) meniscus repair for your condition? Call us at +65 6247 7958 to make an appointment to see Dr Andy Wee today!  

What Is Total Hip Replacement Surgery?

Total hip replacement surgery is a procedure that replaces your damaged hip joint with an artificial one. The damaged bone and cartilage are removed, and some of the socket of your pelvis is cut away to make room for an implant stem. A metal ball at its center called an implant stem can be used to attach to a plastic liner (cup) or directly into bone if there's enough healthy tissue remaining in your pelvis.

Who Can Benefit From Total Hip Replacement Surgery?

Total hip replacement surgery is a procedure that can be performed on patients who have severe osteoarthritis, bone deformity of the lower leg bone and pain and stiffness in other joints. The following conditions may be considered for total hip replacement:

• Severe osteoarthritis where other treatments have failed to relieve symptoms. This includes people who are unable to walk or find it very difficult to do so because of their condition.
• Bone deformities such as congenital dislocation (where there has been an abnormal development of the hip joint) or slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). SCFE occurs when one side of your thighbone becomes loose while still growing - this can lead to pain and stiffness in your hip joint."

Diagnosis of Total Hip Replacement Surgery

In order to determine if you are a candidate for total hip replacement surgery, your doctor will perform a physical examination and order imaging tests such as X-rays and MRI scans.

• Physical Examination: A physical examination is done to check for any abnormalities in the hip joint or surrounding muscles and ligaments. Your doctor will also assess how well your other joints are functioning before recommending surgery on one side of the body only (unilateral).
• Imaging Tests: X-rays can help detect bone damage caused by arthritis or other conditions that may require surgical treatment. An MRI scan can give more detailed information about soft tissues like cartilage in the hip joint and their surrounding muscles, tendons and ligants

Treatment Options for Total Hip Replacement Surgery

• Total Hip Replacement: This is the most common procedure and involves replacing both sides of the hip joint.
• Partial Hip Replacement: This is done when only one side needs to be replaced, such as when only one side has arthritis or damage from an injury.
• Reverse Total Hip Replacement: This surgery replaces the ball (femoral head) with an artificial ball and replaces the socket with an artificial socket that's wider than normal so that it can accommodate a larger femoral head when you walk or run, which helps prevent dislocation of your hip joint in future years.

Recovery After Total Hip Replacement Surgery

Recovery after total hip replacement surgery is a long process. You should rest the affected area and use crutches or a walker for support. Physical therapy and occupational therapy are important parts of your recovery, as they help you regain strength and mobility. You may also need to take medication to reduce pain and swelling. As you recover from total hip replacement surgery, it's important to keep moving so that your muscles stay strong, which will make it easier for you to do everyday tasks like walking up stairs or bending down to pick something up off the floor. It's also important that you eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables; drink plenty of water; avoid smoking; maintain regular exercise routines (with guidance from a doctor); get enough sleep at night--about eight hours per night--and manage stress levels by taking breaks throughout each day.   Dr Kevin Lee is an orthopaedic surgeon in Singapore specializing in treating sports injuries of the lower limb, Hip & Knee Surgeries, Arthroscopic Surgery, and Cartilage Repair. Let Dr Lee answer your questions regarding your knee injuries today. Contact us at +65 6737 0558 .  

What Is Total Knee Replacement Surgery?

Total knee replacement surgery is a surgical procedure to replace the damaged or worn out knee joint with an artificial one. The damaged cartilage, bone and ligaments are removed from your knee and replaced with metal components that allow movement of your leg.

Who Can Benefit From Total Knee Replacement Surgery?

Knee replacement surgery is not suitable for everyone. It's best to seek advice from a doctor if you have:

• Severe osteoarthritis (joint wear) in both knees and other joints that cause pain and stiffness, such as hips or shoulders
• A bone deformity of your lower leg bone (tibia), such as bowlegs or knock knees

Diagnosis of Total Knee Replacement Surgery

In order to determine if you are a good candidate for knee replacement surgery, your doctor will perform a physical examination and imaging tests such as X-rays and MRI scans.

Treatment Options for Total Knee Replacement Surgery

The treatment options for total knee replacement surgery in Singapore include:

• Non-surgical treatments, such as rest, ice and compression, anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy. These may help relieve your pain but they do not correct the underlying problem of arthritis.
• Surgical treatments include:
  • Total knee replacement surgery. This is the most common procedure for people with severe osteoarthritis in their knees. The surgeon removes the damaged parts of your knee joint and replaces them with metal, plastic and/or ceramic components that are designed to replicate a healthy knee joint.
  • Partial knee replacement surgery. This involves removing only one side of your damaged joint (usually because you have arthritis on only one side). A metal implant is then used to replace the damaged part of your thigh bone while leaving behind healthy cartilage on both sides of your leg bone so that they can glide smoothly against each other without causing further damage when you walk or run.
  • Arthroscopy - This is an alternative treatment option for those who don't want any invasive surgery but still suffer from chronic pain caused by arthritis in their joints

Recovery After Total Knee Replacement Surgery

After surgery, you will be advised to rest the affected muscle and take painkillers as needed. You may also need to use crutches or a walker for support while walking until your knee is fully healed. If you are having trouble getting around, consider physical therapy to help improve mobility and prevent stiffness in your joints. Dr Kevin Lee is an orthopaedic surgeon in Singapore specializing in treating sports injuries of the lower limb, Hip & Knee Surgeries, Arthroscopic Surgery, and Cartilage Repair. Let Dr Lee answer your questions regarding your knee injuries today. Contact us at +65 6737 0558 .  

What is Robotic Knee Surgery?

Robotic knee surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses robotic arms to assist with the precise placement of implants in the knee joint. This allows for a more precise and accurate operation than traditional open surgery, which can often leave scars on your leg or require longer recovery times.

Statistics of Robotic Knee Surgery in Singapore

Robotic knee surgery is a new procedure that has been gaining popularity in Singapore. According to the Singapore Sports Council, more than 2,000 people suffered from sports-related injuries in 2013. The most common sports that result in knee problems include football (soccer), basketball and tennis. Robotic Knee Surgery is available in Singapore at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital (MEH).

Who Can Benefit From Robotic Knee Surgery?

Robotic knee surgery is beneficial for athletes, as it helps reduce the risk of infection and other complications due to its minimally invasive nature. It is also beneficial for those with severe arthritis or other conditions that cause pain and stiffness in their joints, as the precision of the robotic arms helps to reduce the risk of damage to surrounding tissue.

Diagnosis of Robotic Knee Surgery

To determine if you are a good candidate for robotic knee surgery, your doctor will perform a physical examination and imaging tests such as X-rays and MRI scans. The goal of robotic knee surgery is to relieve pain caused by arthritis or injury in the joint. It can also improve mobility by reducing stiffness, improving flexibility and strengthening muscles around the knee joint.

Treatment Options for Robotic Knee Surgery

The treatment options for robotic knee surgery in Singapore include:

• Robotic-assisted partial knee replacement
• Total knee replacement
• and arthroscopy.

Recovery After Robotic Knee Surgery

After surgery, you will be advised to rest the affected muscle and take painkillers as needed. You may also need to use crutches or a walker for support while walking until your knee is fully healed. If you are having trouble getting around consider physical therapy to help improve mobility and prevent stiffness in your joints. Dr Kevin Lee is an orthopaedic surgeon in Singapore specializing in treating sports injuries of the lower limb, Hip & Knee Surgeries, Arthroscopic Surgery, and Cartilage Repair. Let Dr Lee answer your questions regarding your knee injuries today. Contact us at +65 6737 0558 .