Breaking or fracturing of the pinky is an all too common injury that should not be taken lightly. Because of the location of the pinky, it is often possible for the hand to continue to function close to normally in the event of an injury only to that finger. However, a broken or fractured pinky should be seen immediately by an orthopedic specialist.

How do I Know if My Pinky is Injured?

A pinky injury is frequently caused by trauma to the finger resulting from sports and other physical activities but can also occur during day-to-day routines like cleaning or cooking. Individuals with certain orthopedic conditions, such as osteoarthritis or calcium deficiencies, are more susceptible to a pinky injury.

A broken or fractured pinky can be identified by some or all of the following symptoms:

• Swelling
• Bruising or discoloration
• Deformity
• Limited range of motion
• Stiffness

If left untreated, even a minor injury can result in permanent damage which can affect functioning of the wrist and hand as a whole.

What is the Treatment for a Broken Pinky?

If treated quickly and effectively, the average time it takes for a pinky to heal is three to four weeks. Treatment typically involves applying a splint or cast, which prevents the finger from moving and allows the natural healing process to take place. In some cases, bone alignment must be corrected surgically, and follow up physical therapy is sometimes required. In these more severe cases, healing can take as long as ten weeks.

If you believe you may have experienced an injury to your pinky, even if you do not recall an accident or trauma to the finger, do not wait to receive treatment. Contact AOSMI today. One of our orthopedic specialists will determine if any injury exists, its extent, and the best course of treatment.

The benefits of running, jogging, or walking to your health and wellbeing seem endless. Although it might be tempting to take the winter off from your running routine, the colder months are one of the most important times of the year to stay active. Our orthopedic specialists encourage patients to maintain exercise year round in order to keep joints healthy and flexible, to remain at a healthy weight, to reduce inflammation, and to benefit from the feel-good brain chemicals released during exercise.

Here are some tips and strategies to stick to your activity schedule this winter.

• Upgrade Your Gear. Your health is worth investing in. Purchasing a new pair of running shoes, in addition to some warm, layered exercise outfits, will help you get motivated and excited about getting out to run. Having the appropriate footwear, warm clothing, and reflective material will also help to keep you safe while you workout, particularly outdoors.

• Stick to a Schedule. Running at the same time of day will help you to develop a routine that you can maintain. If you know the only way to fit in your run consistently is in the morning, then start waking up earlier to give yourself that extra “you” time.

• Buddy Up. Having a workout buddy to run with can do wonders for motivation. It’s much easier to cancel on yourself than to cancel on someone you made plans to workout with.

• Build a Backup Plan. Inclement weather is a harsh reality in the winter months. Unfortunately, running outdoors is sometimes just not feasible. Luckily, there are many low-cost gym membership options, and some local recreation centers offer access to cardio equipment for free!

Proper form while running is important at all times of year to prevent strain on the joints and muscles. If you are new to running, looking to start, or are experiencing pain after you run, an orthopedic specialist at AOSMI can help. Contact us today to learn more.

Alzheimer’s disease is prevalent in our society, impacting the lives of millions of Americans each year.  Much research has been conducted in efforts to detect its early stages, but one study may have found a link between Alzheimer’s disease and bone loss.  The researchers found that alterations in the brains of individuals in the early stages of this progressive disease may affect bone health, which can be a biomarker for early detection.

This is one of the first studies indicating an approach to early diagnosis not involving examination of the patient’s brain. This study found major changes in the dorsal raphe nucleus, a region of the brain stem that produces most of the brain’s serotonin, a neurotransmitter controlling sleep and mood. These are two processes that are impacted during the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Reductions in bone mineral density result from deterioration of this area of the brain, so bone loss is an indicator of Alzheimer’s disease.  Through this connection, measures can be taken to help individuals in the earlier stages before the onset of severe symptoms.  Early bone loss, due to serotonin deficits, in those with Alzheimer’s disease may provide us with a path of diagnosis and treatment.

By meeting regularly with an orthopedic specialist, an assessment can be made on your bone health, thereby increasing the probability of early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.  Most importantly, a connection between serotonin levels and bone loss to Alzheimer’s disease can be used to enable a therapeutic response, helping millions of individuals with early detection in hopes of the ending and limiting unnecessary suffering.

To learn more about the implication about this exciting new early detection method for Alzheimer’s disease, contact AOSMI or schedule an appointment to meet with our team of orthopedic specialists.

Everyone has developed bruises over the course of their lives. We all have experienced the discoloration and felt the jolt of pain when the tender bruise is touched, even in the slightest way. But what happens when these bruises occur deeper than just underneath the skin?

Bone marrow edemas, or bone bruises, can develop after an injury or traumatic blow to a part of the body. Generally, when a blood vessel breaks near the surface of the skin, blood leaks into the tissues under the skin and creates a bruise. These bruises can occur deeper within the bones as well. Some symptoms of a bone bruise include:

• Swelling
• Change of skin color
• Joint pain near the impact zone
• Joint inflammation and stiffness
• Pain or tenderness that continues after a skin bruise has disappeared

Bone bruises may lead to bone marrow changes that decrease blood flow, increase severe inflammation, and produce fluid inside of the bones. They are the most serious and painful bruises that a person can have, and usually are viewed as the stage before a fracture. Bone bruises can involve swelling and bleeding of the central cavity, between the cartilage and the bone underneath, or beneath the membrane covering the bone’s surface. Because of the severity, bone bruises typically take a couple of months to fully heal, if not longer.

If symptoms persist and pain gets worse over time, is important to seek medical attention. Contact AOSMI to schedule an appointment with an orthopedic specialist as soon as possible if you suspect that you have sustained a bone bruise.

It is often believed that osteoarthritis cannot be detected in its earliest stages, but a recent study has shown that a new blood test may be able to do just that. Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that causes cartilage to break down, inflicting pain, swelling, and problems with joint movement in millions of individuals throughout the country. Not only is there a test that can detect the early stages of this disease, but the test is also able to distinguish osteoarthritis from rheumatoid arthritis by classifying the type of arthritis an individual has.

By 2030, it is estimated that 20% of Americans will have surpassed their 65th birthday and be at increased risk for osteoarthritis. Yet, because of this new test, orthopedic specialists can intervene earlier in the disease’s progression, preventing millions of patients from experiencing the pain and suffering associated with osteoarthritis.

The blood test searches for chemical patterns within the joint proteins, or amino acids, that have been damaged in any way.  The combinations of changes in these amino acids are what have allowed for the early-stage detection and classification of arthritis. Though researchers have known that protein damage is an indication of osteoarthritis, this is the first study conducted to enable early-stage detection and diagnosis. A blood test can be used by measuring the pieces of damaged proteins that seep into the blood from the joint.

This new blood test, which can help an orthopedic specialist with early diagnosis and treatment, should be available within two years. Compared with other techniques that attempt to detect early stages of osteoarthritis, a blood test is less costly, less time-consuming, and more efficient. By detecting this disease early, future physical anguish can be avoided, and more patients can enjoy fulfilling lives without the debilitating effects of osteoarthritis.

To learn more about osteoarthritis and your risk for developing the condition, schedule an appointment with a specialist at AOSMI today!