Orthopedic injuries refer to any injury to the musculoskeletal system of the body i.e. injuries to muscles, bones, ligaments, joints, tendons, cartilage, etc. It can lead to bone displacement or muscle and tendon tears in the affected areas. Some of the most common examples of orthopedic injuries include:
1. Ankle Sprain
An ankle sprain is an injury where the ankle rolls, turns or twists in an awkward or unnatural way. It is caused by the overstretching and tearing of the ligaments which support the ankle. It often occurs when participating in activities and sports which involve high amounts of jumping, running or pivoting.
2. Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is caused by repeated strain to the plantar fascia, which is the connecting ligament between the heel bone and the toes. It can cause pain, weakness, inflammation, and swelling in the affected heel.
3. Tennis Elbow
This orthopedic condition is caused by overuse of the arm, forearm and hand muscles. It is caused by inflammation of the tendons connecting your elbows to your arm. It may occur as a result of involvement in activities which involve repetitive gripping, which may cause inflammation of the tendons.
4. ACL tear
An ACL tear is the tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament as a result of a sudden stop, jump or twist of the knee. It is commonly experienced in sports like football, skiing, and basketball. Someone who develops an ACL tear may hear a loud pop followed by sharp pain, after which they may have difficulty standing or bending the knee.
5. Meniscus Tear
A meniscus tear is caused by abrupt turning or twisting of the meniscus, pieces of fibrocartilage which help the knee joint glide and turn when the foot is placed on the floor and the knee is already bent. It often happens to professional athletes but can also happen to non-athletes.
6. Shoulder Dislocation
A shoulder dislocation occurs when the head of the humerus joint pops out of the shoulder joint. It is often followed by intense pain and can cause the shoulder to be locked in a fixed position. It is common in contact sports, falls, or vehicle accidents.
7. Rotator Cuff Tear
A rotator cuff tear occurs when there is a slit in one or more of the tendons located in the rotator cuff muscles found in the shoulder. This may be caused by progressive degeneration or repeated wear and tear of the tendons and is common in both contact and non-contact sports.
8. Stress Fractures
Stress fractures are injuries resulting from overuse of muscles. As the muscles become weak and fatigued, they begin to lose the ability to absorb the shock caused by frequent impacts and eventually start to transmit this stress to the bone. This repeated stress can eventually result in small cracks developing in the bone.
9. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the compression of the median nerve as it passes through the wrist via the carpal tunnel. It can result in numbness, pain or tingling in the fingers and can be caused by diabetes, wrist injuries, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
10. Distal Radius Fracture
A distal radius fracture occurs when there is a breakage in the radius near the wrist. It is usually as a result of you falling on your outstretched arm or an intense force being applied to the wrist.
