Traumatology is the branch of medicine that studies the skeletal system, muscles, and joints. The trauma specialist, after the family doctor, is one of the specialists most visited by patients. We will explain what you need to know about when to see a professional and what are the most common injuries and diagnostic tests.
When to go to the traumatologist?
Since trauma deals with a large area of the body, many injuries are diagnosed in this specialty. If a patient suffers a dislocation, a sprain, a dislocation, a twist, a fracture, a tear or any other damage to his bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles or joints, he should go to the orthopedic surgeon.
Many times, patients postpone the visit to the specialist doctor until the last moment. If an injury causes pain or discomfort preventing daily activities from being carried out, why not consult your orthopedic doctor? Inevitably, many of these injuries will require the intervention of this specialist.
What are the most common trauma injuries?
There are countless activities that put our musculoskeletal system at risk on a daily basis. For this reason, most people will see a trauma physician throughout their lives. Sports, recreational and work activities are some of those that expose us to accidents that result in a traumatic injury.
The five most common injuries, in addition to stress fracture and foot and ankle sprains, are as follows:
- Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament: they can be total or partial, everything will depend on the joint instability they cause. This injury consists of the tear or sprain of the ligament that connects the femur with the tibia. When you suffer this injury, you should go immediately to a knee specialist in Vadodara The knee joint is a complex structure and an early diagnosis will aid in better recovery.
- Lateral epicondylitis: better known as ” tennis elbow “, it is an injury caused by the continuous performance of movements that involve a prolongation of the elbow. Patients usually manifest pain on the outside of the elbow, in some cases it is pain that extends along the forearm and wrist. Pain can make everyday tasks like holding an object, turning the door handle, or shaking hands difficult.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: excessive pressure on the median nerve triggers this pathology. In some cases, this pressure is caused by a narrowing of the tunnel, which causes irritation to the nerve. Patients often experience a tingling sensation and numbness in both the hand and the arm.
- Rotator cuff tendon decompensation: the movement of the shoulder joint is produced thanks to a set of muscles and tendons which we call “the rotator cuff”. Generally, a repetitive stress on the joint, as well as tension or dislocation of the shoulder are the causes of decompensation of the tendons.
- Plantar fasciitis: consists of the inflammation of the plantar elastic band. It is located at the base of the foot and goes from the heel to the metatarsal area. This pathology usually occurs when the plantar fascia makes additional efforts to fulfill its functions. It usually manifests as a pain in the sole of the foot in the morning, which will increase with the passing of days.
What tests are done to treat the most common trauma injuries?
There is an abundance of diagnostic tests in the trauma specialty. The specialist will always begin with an interview in order to know in detail the patient’s medical history. After a conversation with the patient and a clinical examination, the orthopedic surgeon will often give a diagnosis which he will confirm through different diagnostic tests.
As we mentioned previously, there are many diagnostic tools that are currently within the range of options. For this reason, we will give a greater detail of the four most common diagnostic tests within this specialty:
X-rays to detect bone pathologies
It is a quick and painless test. This exploratory technique generates images of the internal area of the body. Through an x-ray it is possible to make a diagnosis of bone problems. X-rays pass through the body and depending on the density of the material they pass through; they are absorbed in different amounts. In this way, an image is created where the bones can be seen mainly.
CT scans
It is the combination of a series of X-rays around the body. This diagnostic method, being generated from different angles around it, facilitates through computer processing the creation of cross-sectional images of bones, blood vessels and soft tissues.
Computed tomography images provide more complex and detailed information than conventional radiographs and are essential for the diagnosis of internal bone lesions.
Ultrasound scan
Ultrasound scanning, better known as ultrasound, uses sound waves to help diagnose the body. Through this technique it is possible to generate two-dimensional or three-dimensional images of the area to be explored.
Magnetic resonance
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), like computed tomography, creates clear and detailed cross-sectional images of the body. But unlike the previous one, this diagnostic test uses a magnetic field and radio waves. In this way, magnetic resonance imaging allows the soft areas of the body to be visualized in detail, while computed tomography is used mainly to analyze the bone system and the lungs.
