Knee Brace After Surgery?

Have a look at the above article on page 22 in today's Straits Times. Gino has written at length about knee braces previously back in 2016. It was one of our more popular posts  that year and continues to get lots of views now.

Do patients who have knee osteoarthritis surgery (usually a knee replacement) still need a knee brace after the knee replacement since they have a brand 'new' joint? They definitely need better rehabiliation then.

A 2012 published study of people with knee osteoarthritis found no significant improvements in balance with the use of a neoprene knee sleeve. Different from these fancy 3D printed plastic ones.

On a side note, it's really good that these knee braces targeted at the elderly were developed in a collaboration between a local oethopaedic surgeon, engineering firm and 3D printing specialists from National Technological University. More business, jobs and opportunites locally. Support our local businesses.

Reference

Collins AT, Blackburn JT et al (2012). The Assessment Of Postural Control With Stochastic Resonance Electrical Stimulation And A Neoprene Knee Sleeve In The Osteoarthritic Knee. Arch Phys Med Rehab. 93(7): 1123.1128. DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2011.12.006.

Avulsion Fracture Of The 5th Toe After Ankle Sprain

See the difference in size?

My patient had a avulsion fracture in the 5th toe and as a result wasn't weight bearing properly. See the difference in size? Just a few days of not weight bearing equally (she was favoring her R leg to try not to walk so much on her painful L foot) and you can see an obvious wasting in the leg muscles on the left side.

See the fracture at the base of the 5th toe.

She sprained her ankle and the force ripped off a piece of the bone on the 5th toe, otherwise known as an avulsion fracture.

Yes, some ankle sprains can cause that. Fortunately I got her to get an x-ray.

If your pain after an ankle sprain is on the foot instead of around your ankle, make sure you get it checked.