Ballard Seafood Fest a Success!

Ballard Seafood Fest a Success!

OSS staff enjoying the festivities during the Seafood Fest!

The 39th Annual Ballard Seafood Fest was enjoyed by thousands of people during the weekend of July 13 and 14th. OSS was once again a sponsor and enjoyed meeting community members and the like from all over the Puget Sound area.

The foot traffic we encountered at our booth gave us the opportunity to let the community know of our orthopedic services while at the same time be able to find out the healthcare needs of our community at large. The weather was beautiful, the food was awesome and the music was a blast!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and learned about OSS!


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Wrist and Hand Injuries From Bike Falls

I have always enjoyed cycling. There is something about grinding your way up a steady incline for a mile or greater and then riding over the hillcrest to claim your reward. Turning all the responsibility of propelling the bike over to gravity is one of those great feelings that only vigorous exercise can produce.

Here in Seattle, we have great opportunities for cycling, whether for fitness or just getting around the city. Seattle offers numerous roadways with bicycle lanes as well as separate bike paths for those who wish to stay clear of automobile traffic. Because of the popularity with riding in and around the city as well as on mountain trails, I do tend to see numerous wrist and hand injuries during the warmer months from bicycle falls.

The natural reaction when one falls off of or is thrown from a bike is to break the fall with their arms, and is the most common mechanism of injury. The impact of falling on an outstretched hand can cause several different types of injury that we will discuss.

Fractures

The impact of falling on an outstretched hand can be several times an individual’s body weight, leading to broken bones. In fact, 20% of all upper extremity injuries caused by bicycle falls are fractures.

Wrist Fracture

One of the most common fractures is of the distal radius, the large bone of the forearm that articulates with the smaller carpal bones in the wrist. The break will often lead to pain in the forearm, approximately one inch away from the wrist.

More severe breaks could show some deformity if the bones are displaced, which will likely cause the rider to seek immediate medical attention; however, it is important to know that the blood vessels and nerves that supply the hand are funneled into a fairly compressed area in the wrist, and a fracture or the subsequent swelling that occurs could disrupt this neurovascular integrity.

These symptoms include numbness or tingling, discoloration, and temperature change in the hand. Most bike injuries happen over the weekend, when your doctor’s office is closed. If this is the case and you have any of the above symptoms, then you should go to the emergency room. Even without these symptoms, it is important to get evaluated by a hand surgeon soon after the injury occurs in order to initiate treatment.

Wrist fractures, if non-displaced, may be treated with immobilization in a cast; however, any misalignment may cause a loss of function in the wrist and is difficult to correct without surgical fixation. Screws and plates may be placed internally, or a device called an external fixator may be placed to hold the fracture in place.

Scaphoid Fracture

The scaphoid is a small bone located in the wrist, at the base of the thumb. When a bike rider falls on an outstretched hand, the scaphoid is compressed and could fracture. The primary symptoms are acute pain and tenderness on the thumb side of the wrist lasting longer than a few days, swelling, and limited thumb function. Diagnosis is usually confirmed with X-ray; however, this type of fracture often will not be visible on X-ray until a week after the injury. In this case, I will splint the patient’s hand and have them return in one week for a repeat exam.

If the fracture is located further toward the thumb, then the treatment may be immobilization in a short arm cast for several weeks. If the bone is fractured more toward the forearm, surgical treatment may be necessary as the scaphoid has poor blood supply in this area.

Surgical treatment consists of placing a small screw or wire through the bone fragments to create proper alignment. In some cases where the scaphoid has broken into several pieces, a bone graft taken from another part of the patient’s body may be used to stimulate healing. In all cases, there will be a period of immobilization and limited activity, followed by physical or occupational therapy by one of our therapists that specialize in hand rehabilitation.

Wrist and Finger Sprains

A sprain occurs when a ligament holding one bone to another bone at a joint is torn, either partially or completely. With a fall from a bike, the ligaments most likely to be torn are on the palm side of the wrist and where the fingers meet the hand. Again, this is due to the extreme backward bending (extension) of the wrist and fingers as one tries to break their fall with the arms. Pain and swelling in the affected joint are likely, but should start to subside after a few days. If pain is severe or persistent, you should see a doctor in order to rule out a fracture.

Treatment for wrist sprains could be as simple as careful observation over several weeks or splinting and activity modification to allow the ligament to heal. In severe cases, surgical reconstruction using tendon grafts may be necessary to restore optimal function.

Not all bike falls will be avoided, but there are a few things that we can do as riders to prevent injuring ourselves:

  • Being aware of your surroundings is paramount, which includes being able to hear approaching vehicles from the rear. Avoid listening to music when sharing the road with motorists.
  • When cycling with others, break up your party into groups of no more than 3 riders in line. This will help avoid a driver from squeezing you off the road in the presence of oncoming traffic.
  • Mountain bikers may want to reconnoiter a new obstacle or downhill challenge prior to attempting it at full speed.
  • Wear padded gloves to avoid skin abrasions on the hands if you fall. They also protect against nerve compression in the wrists.

Dr. Ruhlman Voted to Seattle Met’s Top Doctors

Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle is pleased to announce that Scott Ruhlman was named in Seattle Met magazine as “Top Doc” in its 2013 issue. OSS is proud to have six top docs this year reflecting the group’s commitment to providing World Class care in an individual manner.

Training in Orthopedics both locally at the University of Washington and in Hand Surgery at Harvard, Scott not only provides expertise in advanced hand and upper extremity surgical techniques, but also in Orthopedic Trauma and Sports injuries.  He sees both adults and children as he enjoys practicing orthopedics in his hometown.  Scott states, “I am humbled by the award and I am proud to be a part of this great practice and great community.”

Read more about this years Top Doc selections.

UFC: Johnson vs. Moraga July 27th at the KeyArena in Seattle

UFC Fight SeattleWe reported in May that UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson will be defending his title against Moraga after recovering from a previous injury and following shoulder surgery. “Demetrious Johnson will defend the flyweight title in front of his hometown fans in Seattle, as he battles 12-1 contender John Moraga on July 27 at KeyArena,” UFC President Dana White said.

This event will also be aired on Fox 8. Visit the UFC website for more information on the fight. See our last blog reporting Johnson’s injury and to watch his video interview with the Bleacher Report.

OSS offers sports medicine and treatment for acute sports related injuries. Our providers are highly trained in treating various orthopedic injuries. We encourage you to stay safe during sports and to make an appointment with Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle if you suspect that you have an orthopedic injury.


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Dr. Weil Voted to Seattle Met’s Top Doctors

Dr. Weil has been selected as a Seattle Met Magazine Top Doctor! Congratulations!

“I specialize in minimally invasive hand surgery techniques including, endoscopic carpal tunnel release for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, endoscopic cubital tunnel release for treatment of ulnar nerve compression, arthroscoic surgery, Xiaflex injections and needle aponeurotomy procedures for treatment of Dupuytren’s Disease.  It is very gratifying to be recognized by my peers for excellence in the field of hand surgery.  It is a sincere pleasure to be able to guide my patients through their individualized treatment and to restore function and relieve pain.”

Read the full post.

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