Traumatology is the branch of medicine that studies the bone system, muscles and joints. He traumatology specialistAfter the family doctor, he is one of the specialists most visited by patients. We'll explain what you need to know about when to see a professional and what the most common injuries and diagnostic tests are.
When to go to the traumatologist?
Since traumatology deals with a large area of the body, many injuries are diagnosed in this specialty. If a patient suffers a dislocation, sprain, dislocation, sprain, fracture, tear or any other damage to their bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles or joints, they should go to the traumatologist.
Many times patients postpone visiting the specialist doctor until the last minute. If an injury causes pain or discomfort that prevents you from carrying out daily activities, why not consult your doctor? traumatologist? Inevitably, many of these injuries will require the intervention of this specialist. Elgeadi Traumatology recommends going to your office whenever the pain remains present for more than 48 hours.
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 go to a trauma doctor throughout his life. Sports, recreational and work activities are some of those that expose us to accidents that lead to trauma injuries.
The five most common injuries, in addition to stress fractures and foot and ankle sprains, are the following:
- 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 a tear or sprain of the ligament that connects the femur to the tibia. When you suffer this injury you should immediately go to a knee specialist traumatologist. The knee joint is a complex structure and early diagnosis will help in better recovery.
- Lateral epicondylitis: better known as "tennis elbow", is an injury caused by the continued performance of movements that involve an extension of the elbow. Patients usually report pain on the outside of the elbow, in some cases the pain 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 and numb sensation in both the hand and 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, repetitive stress on the joint, as well as tension or dislocation of the shoulder, are the causes of tendon decompensation.
- plantar fasciitis: consists of 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 itself as pain in the sole of the foot in the morning, which will increase as the days go by.
What tests are performed to treat the most common trauma injuries?
There is an abundant amount of diagnostic tests in the specialty of traumatology. The specialist will always begin with an interview to learn in detail about the patient's clinical history. After a conversation with the patient and performing a clinical examination, the trauma doctor will frequently give a diagnosis which will be confirmed through different diagnostic tests.
As we mentioned previously, there are many diagnostic tools that today are within the range of options. For this reason, we will give 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 perform 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 you can mainly see the bones.
CT scans
It is the combination of a series of x-rays around the body. This diagnostic method, when generated from different angles around it, facilitates the creation of cross-sectional images of bones, blood vessels and soft tissues through computer processing.
CT images provide more complex and detailed information than conventional x-rays and are essential for the diagnosis of internal bone lesions.
Ultrasound examination
Ultrasound scanning, better known as sonography, uses sound waves to facilitate diagnosis of 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 CT scans, creates clear, 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, the MRI allows you to visualize the soft areas of the body in detail while computed tomography is mainly used to analyze the skeletal system and lungs.
If you think you may be suffering from any of these injuries, remember that an early medical diagnosis will help you have a quick and prosperous recovery. At Elgeadi Traumatology we have cutting-edge technology and the best specialist traumatologists to help you. Make an appointment at our Madrid trauma clinic.
