Orthopedic Conditions and Treatments

Whether you have sustained a sports injury, have been diagnosed with degenerative joint disease or are suffering from a repetitive motion injury such as carpal tunnel, the skilled orthopedists at RWJBarnabas Health are here to help.

Our surgeons, physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses, physical therapists, care coordinators and medical professionals work together to ensure that you receive the care and follow-up you need.

As the largest academic health care system in New Jersey, RWJBarnabas Health has the resources to offer you state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging technologies and leading-edge orthopedic treatments close to home. Our insightful medical team is highly qualified to detect and identify a full range of orthopedic conditions and offer proven treatment options.

Common Orthopedic Conditions

• Arthritis. is an umbrella term for more than 100 different conditions involving the swelling of the joints — the places in the body where two bones meet. Symptoms can include pain and swelling in the joints, difficulty moving around, and sometimes breathing problems or a rash. Arthritis includes joint disease that is caused by wear and tear, and well as inflammatory or rheumatologic conditions such as:
  • Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint that most often affects the hands, knees, hips, neck and lower back
  • Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune and inflammatory disease affecting joints
  • Psoriatic arthritis, a progressive, chronic inflammatory condition of the joints and the places where the tendons and ligaments attach to bones
• Back and shoulder pain, neck pain and knee pain. Such issues can be caused by muscle strain, poor posture, trauma, degenerative diseases or abnormalities of the joints or bones. Problems in any of these areas can result in pain, stiffness, compromised range of motion and a restricted lifestyle.
• Broken bones and fractures. A partial or complete break in a bone can either be simple (closed) or compound (open) and can occur from sports injuries, trauma, repetitive force or weakened bones from osteoporosis. These can occur from sports injuries, trauma, repetitive force or weakened bones from osteoporosis. Symptoms can include pain, swelling and bruising with possible visible deformity in the injured area.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition occurs when the median nerve on the wrist is subjected to pressure or prolonged repetitive strain. Symptoms can range from a feeling of numbness, “pins and needles” to sharp pains.
• Foot and ankle pain. The complex structure of the foot combined with the frequent stress placed upon it can lead to a variety of conditions such as Achilles tendonitis, bursitis, gout, plantar fasciitis, bunions and other issues that result in symptoms ranging from numbness to soreness to sharp pains.
• Muscle tears. This can occur when a muscle becomes strained or overstretched, often due to improper use, overuse, exhaustion or excessive exercise.
• Osteoporosis. This disease is signified by the loss of bone mass and tissue and results in the weakening of the bones, which then makes them more susceptible to breaking. This condition largely affects older adults and can be accelerated by lifestyle habits such as smoking, alcohol use and inactivity.
• Scoliosis. This condition is characterized by the abnormal curvature of the spine that can range from mild to severe. Its origins can be hereditary or the result of disc degeneration, arthritis or other factors. Those with scoliosis may experience weakness, soreness, pain, difficulty walking or may be asymptomatic.
• Spinal pain. Spinal pain can be caused by a variety of sources, such as a herniated disc, pinched nerves, vertebral fractures, sprains and strains, or conditions such as scoliosis, spinal stenosis, osteoporosis or aging. As such, the symptoms can range from numbness, soreness and pain, to loss of mobility, weakness and bowel and bladder problems.
• Sports injuries. In addition to broken bones, common sports-related injuries can include sprains, strains, swollen muscles, dislocations, Achilles tendon injuries, rotator cuff injuries, meniscal and labral tears, and general pains from overuse.
• Sprains and strains. While sprains involve a stretched or torn ligament, strains involve a twisted, pulled or torn muscle or tendon. Sprains can range in severity, with the ankle being the most commonly impacted joint that is also susceptible to re-injury. Strains are caused by overuse or prolonged or repetitive movement. Symptoms of sprains can include pain, swelling, bruising and inflammation, while strains can include muscle weakness, swelling, inflammation and cramping.
• Tendonitis. Although the origins are not always known, tendonitis is often caused by strain, overuse, injury or excessive injury. It is often identified by a sensation of strain in the tendon, along with pain that gets worse with movement.
• Tennis elbow. Also known as lateral epicondylitis, this condition is generally caused by overuse of the forearm due to repetitive activity such as sports or typing. The symptoms include pain and tenderness anywhere from the outside of the elbow to the forearm to the back of the hand.

Common Orthopedic Treatments

RWJBarnabas Health hospitals and facilities offer beneficial orthopedic treatments and nonsurgical options. Our specially trained orthopedic specialists will guide you through your treatment process, including the scheduling of surgeries if needed.

Nonsurgical Orthopedic Treatments

In many cases, pain relief and recovery can be achieved with nonsurgical treatments such as physical therapy. Some of the nonsurgical treatments offered at our facilities throughout New Jersey include:

• Acupuncture. Many people achieve pain relief through this form of alternative medicine involving thin needles inserted into particular pressure points on the body.
• Therapeutic massage. An often-enjoyable muscle pain treatment, regular therapeutic massage may help by loosening up the muscles, increasing blood flow and aiding in relaxation.
• Orthopedic rehabilitation. Treatment may include balance training, water therapy, strength training and massage therapy.
• Osteoporosis treatment. May include medications, supplements and therapy.
• Pain medication. Prescription medication can provide valuable short-term pain relief for orthopedic pain when over-the-counter medication does not suffice and when used as prescribed.
• Spinal treatments. May include physical and occupational therapy, trigger point injections, epidural and facet joint injections, heat and cold therapy, therapeutic massage, pain medication and spinal traction.
• Trigger point injections. Trigger point injections are pain treatments that use a needle to apply a numbing medication and sometimes other medications directly to knots in your muscles. This injection can help the muscle relax, which aids in pain relief and recovery.

Orthopedic Surgery

Orthopedic surgery options may include procedures from a simple carpal tunnel release to complex joint reconstruction, replacement, or revision surgery. We address congenital malformations as well as conditions caused by wear and tear on joints such as the hip, ankle, knee, elbow, wrist and shoulder.

• Achilles tendon repair. A surgical procedure to repair the damaged tendon between the back of the calf and the heel bone.
• Carpal tunnel release. Provides relief from nerve pressure on the hand, wrist and arm caused by repetitive motion.
• Fracture fixation. This includes the setting of splints, casts, administration of medications, and surgery, if needed.
• Hip procedures and surgeries. May including hip resurfacing, hip arthroscopy, minimally invasive hip replacement, anterior and posterior approach total hip replacement.
• Knee surgery and knee replacement. Can include partial knee replacement, total knee replacement, patellofemoral replacement (the replacement of the joint where the thigh bone meets the shin bone).
• Ligament reconstruction (ACL, PCL, MCL). A surgical procedure that reconstructs a torn ligament in the body through the use of a graft or prosthesis.
• Pediatric orthopedic treatments. We address and correct specific orthopedic issues affecting children, such as scoliosis, spina bifida, foot and ankle disorders, limb length discrepancies and hereditary disorders.
• Revision joint replacement surgery. A surgeon replaces all of part or all of a person’s previous joint replacements.
• Shoulder pain treatments and surgeries. These include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication and trigger point injections; surgeries include partial shoulder replacement (hemiarthroplasty); total shoulder replacement (arthroplasty); rotator cuff repair and labar repairs; and reverse shoulder replacement surgery.
• Spinal surgery. Includes disc removal and disc replacement, spinal fusion, foraminotomy (removal of bone to alleviate pressure on the spine), laminectomy (a treatment to relieve spinal arthritis), and more.
• Tendon repair (bicep/tricep). A surgical procedure that removes the damaged or torn portion of the tendon and joins the surrounding healthy tendon together.
• Tennis elbow release. This surgical procedure provides relief from repetitive injury involving the removal of the damaged tendon portion and reattachment of the healthy portion back to the bone.

Our surgeons' experience is reflected in our outstanding success record and high volume of spine surgery, hip replacement, knee replacement and shoulder replacement procedures. our full-service orthopedic centers specialize in physical and occupational therapy to assist recovery and ensure better outcomes.

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