Primary care and sports medicine providers hear frequently from patients about hip and knee pain, especially among older adults. The threshold for referral to an orthopedic specialist for possible joint replacement focuses on pain and disability. Most hip and knee replacements are done between ages 50 and 80, but hip and knee replacements have been…
Stephanie A. Merimee, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon, has joined the team at Norton Louisville Arm & Hand. Dr. Merimee has a medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She completed her residency at the University of South Florida and Florida Orthopaedic Institute in Tampa, Florida. Prior to coming back to Louisville, Dr….
The shoulder joint is a complex combination of ligaments, muscles, bones and tendons. All these structures must function correctly to keep the joint in alignment, or the patient could experience pain, decreased range of motion, weakness and discomfort. Athletes in throwing sports must take special care to keep their shoulder healthy or risk developing conditions…
Patients who need a hip replacement often ask about anterior versus posterior hip replacement approaches. Both approaches work well over the long term, but the anterior approach has the advantage of a speedier recovery, according to Kevin J. Himschoot, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon and reconstructive surgery specialist with Norton Orthopedic Institute. Patients who have had a…
Carpal tunnel, the most common type of peripheral nerve compression, is primarily a clinical diagnosis and is usually confirmed with a combination of physical exam and history. A nerve test is also possible in cases where a diagnosis is not clear. Risk factors for carpal tunnel include diabetes, obesity, excessive alcohol use and hypothyroidism. Patients…
Referrals to Norton Louisville Arm & Hand typically can be seen by the next day, if necessary, for both simple and complex conditions, including fractures — from the humerus to the fingertip. Some of the most common referrals are for carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, sports injuries and congenital hand anomalies. Patients can be seen on…
The patient A 7-year-old male riding on a tractor with his father suffered a a crush injury to his left ring finger. The two were starting to ascend a hill when the boy’s finger became caught between the tractor and the trailing bushhog. The challenge All parts of the finger had been crushed, including the…
Norton Healthcare has been named the first Advanced Orthopedic & Spine Center of Excellence in the country by DNV, a national accrediting body. This designation is given to organizations that demonstrate excellence in diagnostic services, surgical services and therapies related to orthopedic and spine care. To receive the Advanced Orthopedic & Spine Center of Excellence…
When a fall off the monkey bars leaves a 10-year-old with a distal radius fracture that heals incorrectly, or a 12-year-old gymnast lands wrong and the bone remodeling results in limited range of motion, the bone needs to be surgically rebroken. Malunion osteotomy surgery, a technically challenging procedure, now can be more precise and predictable…
Most hip replacements performed by Norton Orthopedic Institute are now outpatient. The patients like it because they get to sleep in their own bed, and their recovery and outcomes are at least as good as when they spent a night in the hospital. The change has been the result of a lot of small tweaks…
The patient A 25-year-old woman presented with recurrent left second metacarpal giant cell tumor of bone. She previously was treated with extensive curettage, bone graft substitute placement and Kirschner wire fixation. Giant cell tumor of bone is a benign aggressive tumor with a high rate of local recurrence and development of lung metastases in approximately…
Black people are nearly 3 times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than white people, and the alarming rate of maternal mortality and the racial gap in pregnancy loss and pregnancy-related deaths are nationwide public health concerns. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on maternal mortality rates shows…