What's a Jones Fracture? More on Longhorn QB David Ash's Injury

It's official... David Ash will be the starting quarterback for the University of Texas Longhorns, announced by new coach Charlie Strong last week. 

Just before the announcement, David Ash was given medical clearance for the broken foot injury he suffered during spring season training. The injury he suffered to his left foot is known as a Jones Fracture.

What is a Jones Fracture and how is it treated?

This foot fracture occurs near the base of the bone. It's a more serious injury because if often disrupts the blood supply to the bone which can slow down recovery. Because of this, more regimented therapy may be recommended. In Ash's case, treatment required surgery as well as therapy, however, not all Jones Fractures require surgery. In some cases, a physician may recommend a below knee fiberglass cast and may prescribe the patient to bear no weight on the injured foot. 

We're hoping QB David Ash is healed and ready to go in September. Hook 'em horns. 

Click here to learn more about foot fractures. 

How Old is Too Old for Hip, Knee Surgery?

 

Does age matter when it comes to hip and knee surgeries? 

According to a study published by the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) and reported by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, patients 80 years and older who need a total hip or knee replacement may have comparable results to younger patients. The outcomes were the best among patients with few or no comorbidities (chronic conditions).

The most recent U.S. Census data reported Americans who are at least 85 years old are the fastest-growing population. With such an increase, physicians are also reporting a surge of hip and knee replacements surgeries among this group.

 

"Based on the results of this study, I think very elderly patients, particularly those with few or no comorbidities, should strongly consider the benefits of these procedures," said lead study author Hiroyuki Yoshihara, MD, PhD, an orthopaedic surgeon at State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center and Nassau University Medical Center.

Click here to read more about the study.

No matter what age, all patients should undergo a pre-surgery evaluation to be sure they are good candidates for the procedure. And the healthier a patient is before surgery, the more likely he or she will have better outcomes and/or recover quicker. 

To learn more about Texas Orthopedics' pre-surgery process, visit us at txortho.com or call us at (877) 966-7846.

Best Part of Being Austin Aces' Sports Medicine Providers

Texas Orthopedics is the official sports medicine providers for the Austin Aces professional tennis team in their inaugural year in Austin, Texas. What's the best part?

The view.

Check out our Facebook page for more photos.

The Austin Aces just wrapped up their first home tournament and are now on the road. There were some wins, there were some losses - yet, all of it was exciting. We look forward to having them back.

Many Helping Hands for Habitat Humanity

There is no better way to end a week then helping families in the Austin community. Texas Orthopedics' staff members traded their scrubs, office attire and laptops for outdoor working clothes, paint brushes and hammers as volunteers for Habitat for Humanity.

More than 30 employees helped to build a home in East Austin for a grateful family. At the end of the day, everyone was sunburned, sweaty and sore... and with huge smiles on their face. What a fulfilling day! 

Thank you, Habitat for Humanity, for allowing us the opportunity to lend a helping hand.

Check out our Facebook page for more photos.

Beat the Heat, But Watch Where you Dive!

Central Texans love to beat the summer heat by hitting some of our beloved lakes, rivers and pools. From Hamilton Pool to Barton Springs to Lake Austin to our community pools, there are plenty of options.

We most often hear about swim safety tips from drowning prevention. But diving accidents can be just as devastating. And with our record-low lake levels, swimmers need to use proper diving safety as well. Experts see more cases of spinal cord injuries in summer months than any other time of year And the consequences can be life changing, including paralysis or even death.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, more than 1,700 spinal cord injuries result from diving accidents every year and about 6,000 young people under the age of 14 are hospitalized because of a diving injury.

Think before you jump. Five safety tips to follow. 

• Always jump in feet first
• Be aware of depths and sand bar locations
• Never dive in the shallow end of the pool
• Never dive into above-ground pools
• Never dive through water toys like inner tubes

Click here to read myths and facts about safe diving from the Foundation for Aquatic Injury Prevention.

Have a question? Ask us on Facebook or Twitter (@TexasOrthopedic). 

Calf, Ankle, Back, Oh My! 5 Common Tennis Injuries

As the official sports medicine providers of the Austin Aces, the new professional tennis team for Central Texas, well, we have a lot of tennis on our minds. Yet, it's not just because we're excited about Austin Aces' inaugural year or the recently finished Wimbledon Championship that puts tennis front and center.


Tennis is a sport that is played year-round in Central Texas and our specialists are constantly helping players get back on their feet. In fact, more than 21,000 tennis-related injuries occur each year.

Here are the Top 5 Tennis Injuries:

• Sprained Ankle
• Shoulder Pain
• Calf Strain
• Stress Fracture of the Back
• Tennis Elbow

How do you prevent an injury from ruining your next match? Check out these tips from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Have a question? Ask us on Facebook or Twitter (@TexasOrthopedic). 

Texas Orthopedics Physicians Get Big Kudos in Texas Monthly

A big kudos is in order for five Texas Orthopedics physicians who have been named to Super Doctor
2014 Rising Stars List in the July issue of Texas Monthly Magazine. Congratulations to:

Dr. Michael Loeb

Dr. Christopher Danney

Dr. Brian Hardy

Dr. Kenneth Bunch

Dr. Ai Mukai

The selection process entails identifying physicians who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Doctors is a selective and diverse listing of outstanding doctors, representing consumer-oriented medical specialties.


To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, candidates must be active physicians who have been fully-licensed to practice for approximately 10 years or less.

While approximately 5 percent of the physicians within the respective state or region are named to Super Doctors, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list. You can find that list at superdoctors.com.

Keep up with Texas Orthopedics news by following us on Facebook and Twitter (@Texas Orthopedic).

Bad Posture at Work Leads to Bad Posture All the Time

New research shows that bad posture at work can lead to bad standing posture all the time... And good posture isn't just about looking more confident. It translates to reduced back and joint pain and even helps boost our mood.

Here's how to have the best posture: Experts say it's more than simply standing with our shoulders back. It's about maintaining good alignment with ears over the shoulders, shoulders over hips, and hips over the knees and ankles. And your body weight should be distributed evenly between the feet.

With most of us sitting at computers for many hours a day, seated posture is very important because it can also affect your posture while standing and walking. Medical professionals say think about your posture while you're walking, getting up out of a chair or even when you're using a cellphone or tablet.

And what about good posture improving your mood? It's long been known that depression leads to slouching, but new research shows the reverse is also true - slumped posture can spark negative emotions and thoughts.

So avoid unnecessary pain and improve your mood by doing what mom has said all along - sit up straight!

Keep up with Texas Orthopedics news by following us on Facebook and Twitter (@Texas Orthopedic).

Why We're Excited About Austin Aces

Texas now has a professional team... the Austin Aces tennis team. New owner, Lorne Abony, purchased the Orange County team last year and brought them to Austin, Texas. We're grateful he did.

While you have not seen Andy Roddick at the US Open or Wimbledon for several years, he did not retire from tennis. Roddick has been playing for eight season with World Team Tennis (WTT). This year Roddick will be helping WTT Austin Aces win the championship in its inaugural year.

Here are three reasons why we're excited about Austin Aces and WTT.

1. Roddick is back. The former world #1 player and hometown favorite, Andy Roddick, will be leading the new Austin team. Enough said.

2. The tennis viewing will be tops. Cedar Park allows for a more intimate setting and promises to have up-close-and-personal access to the starts for the audience.

3. Because a bunch of other greats are part of WTT. Check out the Austin Aces team! Other WTT stars include Venus Williams playing for the Washington Kastles and James Blake playing for the Springfield Lasers. The Austin Aces schedule provides a listing of upcoming home and away games.

We're proud to be the Austin Aces official sports medicine physicians and hope to see you there.

Have a question? Ask us on Facebook or Twitter (@TexasOrthopedic).