HIP FRACTURE

CAUSES:
A HIP FRACTURE CAN OCCUR DUE TO SEVERAL CAUSES. THE MOST FREQUENT ARE FALL, TRAUMA OR BLOW TO THE HIP REGION, SUCH AS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. A SPONTANEOUS HIP FRACTURE CAN ALSO OCCUR FROM A GRADUAL LOSS OF MINERALS IN THE BONE WHICH LEADS TO A DECREASE IN BONE DENSITY.
SYMPTOMS:
SYMPTOMS OF A HIP FRACTURE ARE SEVERE HIP/GROIN PAIN, IMMOBILITY IMMEDIATELY AFTER A FALL, UNABLE TO BEAR WEIGHT, AND THE AFFECTED LEG BEING SHORTER AND OR TURNED LATERALLY.
TEST:
MOST FRACTURED HIPS WILL SHOW UP ON XRAYS. CT IS DONE TO DIAGNOSE A HAIRLINE FRACTURE, TO BETTER DEMONSTRATE A KNOWN FRACTURE, AND TO AID A SURGEON IN THE PLANNING A COURSE OF TREATMENT.
TREATMENT:
SURGERY IS REQUIRED ON ALMOST ALL FRACTURED HIPS. DEPENDING ON THE SIGHT AND SEVERITY OF THE FRACTURE SCREWS OR NAILS MAY BE PLACED TO HOLD THE FRACTURE TOGETHER. A PLATE MAY ALSO BE USED ON THE PROXIMAL FEMUR TO AID IN HEALING AND ADD STABILITY. IF THE HEAD AND NECK OF THE FEMUR A SEVERELY DAMAGED AND UNABLE TO BE REDUCED, THE SURGEON MAY REMOVE THEM AND REPLACE THE JOINT IN A PROCEDURE CALLED A HEMIARTHROPLASTY.

APPENDICITIS

APPENDICITIS IS A CONDITION WHEN THE APPENDIX BECOMES INFLAMED AND FILLS WITH PUS. THIS CAN BE CAUSED BY A VIRAL INFECTION, BUT IS MOST OFTEN THE RESULT OF AN OBSTRUCTION OF THE OPENING TO THE APPENDIX BY FOOD OR FECAL MATTER.

SYMPTOMS OF APPENDICITIS INCLUDE PAIN THAT STARTS IN THE MID-ABDOMEN, THEN OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL HOURS TRAVELS TO THE RIGHT LOWER ABDOMEN. THE PAIN BECOMES SHARPER OVER TIME AND SETTLES IN THE RIGHT LOWER QUADRANT OF THE ABDOMEN. TENDERNESS OVER THIS AREA, NAUSEA, VOMITING, FEVER, AND ABDOMEN SWELLING ARE ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS THAT ACCOMPANY APPENDICITIS. IF THE APPENDIX RUPTURES ITS CONTENTS SPILL INTO THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY. THIS CAUSES AN INFLAMMATION KNOWN AS PERITONITIS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS INFECTION THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION AS IT CAN BE FATAL.

DIAGNOSES OF APPENDICITIS WOULD USUALLY START WITH A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PATIENT. A BLOOD TEST WOULD BE ORDERED TO CHECK IF THE WHITE BLOOD COUNT IS HIGH. IF AN APPENDICITIS IS SUSPECTED, A CT OF THE ABDOMEN AND PELVIS IS THE MOST COMMONLY ORDER WITH ORAL AND IV CONTRAST.

TREATMENT OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS IS ALMOST ALWAYS SURGICAL REMOVAL OF THE APPENDIX IN A PROCEDURE KNOWN AS AN APPENDECTOMY.