• Patient of the Month Trey Mattingly

    Posted by Orthopaedic Specialists

    Meet this month’s patient in the spotlight Trey Mattingly!

    Currently, Trey is a junior in High School and plays baseball for the South Spencer Rebels. However, in the fall he tore his ACL playing football.

    “During our second varsity game of the season, I ran down the field on kickoff and ran over a kid trying to get the receiver. I was reaching for the receiver when a kid grabbed me, and I twisted and heard a loud pop.”

    “Luckily, Dr. Grossfield was great. We were skeptical that I would not be ready for spring baseball season but I knew with hard work, dedication and a great surgeon I would be ready. And we did it! I recovered months earlier than predicted. I put on about 15 pounds of muscle, and am stronger, faster, and more determined than ever.”

    Trey has always been very athletic and was even in a T-ball league at the age of 2!

    “I was 2 years younger than most of the kids but I was tall and I knew how to hit and run better than all of them. I loved baseball so much I use to sleep with my glove.”
    “I’ve always been very competitive. I love some great competition though because that’s what makes you better. If someone is better than me I work harder than them to better myself. Playing baseball you make tons of friends and I think of my team like family.”

    Presently Trey plays left field, 3rd, as well as pitches from time to time.

    “I can play pretty much any position. But I like left field the most. I work hard and I’m determined to get to the next level.”

    What is a Growth Plate Fracture?

    Posted by Stacie Grossfeld

    How does a bone get longer? Growth plates. They are responsible for bone growth. Children can experience a growth plate fracture with a traumatic injury. Read along to learn more.

    Growth Plates

    Each long bone in the body has a growth plate. The growth plate is the area where bones get longer. After children reach skeletal maturity, their growth plates close and no more vertical growth occurs.

    The growth plate itself is made up of an area of cartilage with rapid turnover. This area turns cartilage into bone and allows the bone to elongate. Most long bones in the body have two growth plates. There’s one plate at the top of the bone and one at the bottom. Long bones like the femur (the thigh bone), the humerus (the upper bone in the arm), and the tibia (the shin bone) all have two growth plates.

    However, growth rates aren’t equal in all areas of the body. For instance, the greatest area of growth in the leg occurs through the the growth plate in the femur closest to the knee joint. Growth plates also close earlier or later in different parts of the body. For example, one of the last growth plates to close is in the collar bone, while the first to close is in the elbow.

    Additionally, girls’ growth plates tend to close around age 12-14 years of age while boys’ growth plates close between 16-17 years of age. The hormones that are primarily responsible for signalling growth plate closure differ here. Estrogen is the signal for girls, while testosterone is the signal for boys.

    A Growth Plate Fracture

    A growth plate can be injured from a traumatic event. Trauma can cause a fracture to go through the growth plate, causing it to partially or completely close prematurely. If part of the growth plate partially closes due to trauma, the remaining portion of the bone can grow crooked. If the growth plate completely closes early, the bone can actually end up being shorter than the corresponding bone on the other side of the body.

    It’s not just trauma that can impede a growth plate. Repetitive use injuries can also cause damage to growth plates. Typically, though, this type of injury does not cause permanent damage to a growth plate.

    If you experience a growth plate fracture, you should see a doctor. It is very important to make sure the growth plate is lined up in an anatomical position. This will improve the chances that the growth plate will not prematurely close from the fracture.

    If you are struggling with a growth plate injury, Orthopaedic Specialists can help! To schedule an appointment with Dr. Grossfeld and the other experts at Orthopaedic Specialists, call 502-212-2663 today.

    What is an AC Joint Dislocation?

    Posted by Stacie Grossfeld

    The AC joint is located in the shoulder where two bones meet. You can experience an AC joint dislocation with some traumatic injuries. Read on to learn more.

    AC Joint

    The AC joint is located between the clavicle and acromion in your shoulder. AC stands for acromioclavicular (acromion plus clavicle). The joint has a few main parts. First, there is a capsule that helps to hold the joint together. Additionally, there are several different ligaments.

    How Does the Joint Dislocate?

    The AC joint can dislocate if you experience a direct fall on your shoulder. This commonly occurs from crashing on a bike, falling while skiing, or falling while skateboarding.

    Immediately after the trauma, you feel pain over the AC joint. It becomes difficult to raise the arm after the injury occurs. The area may also show signs of bruising. There may be a slight or large elevation of the joint area after the injury as well.

    Treating a Dislocation

    The first line treatment is to apply ice to the affected area. Ice can be kept on your shoulder as long as you can tolerate it. Initially, a sling may help to immobilize the arm too. This will help to reduce the pain because it stabilizes the injured joint. You may also want to consider anti-inflammatory medications to help reduce pain. Of course, make sure your doctor approves any medications first.

    You may find that sleep is difficult with this injury. Sleeping in an upright position may be most comfortable, as it is very difficult to sleep on your injured side. In fact, it may take up to eight weeks before you can sleep comfortably in a normal position.

    How Your Doctors can Help

    When you visit your doctor for this injury, they will likely perform an X-ray on your shoulder first. Depending on your pain level, they may order a prescription NSAID for you to take as well. Once your pain and swelling is reduced, they may direct you to a physical therapist. Physical therapists can help restore your range of motion of the shoulder . They will also help you rebuild the muscles around your shoulder joint.

    Prognosis and Return to Activities

    Most people have symptoms for a minimum of six weeks after this injury. Some may experience symptoms for up to six months. It is also not uncommon for joint popping to occur after the injury. Fortunately, surgery is rarely needed for this injury. You can also return to any sports once the range of motion in your shoulder is restored and your pain has diminished.

    If you are struggling with knee arthritis, Orthopaedic Specialists can help! We offer various treatment options to help you manage your arthritis. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Grossfeld and the other experts at Orthopaedic Specialists, call 502-212-2663 today.

    Diagnosing and Treating Ankle Injuries

    Posted by Stacie Grossfeld

    If you have experienced a pop around your ankle, it can be pretty unsettling. Today we’re going to go over two common ankle injuries that can cause this: an Achille’s tendon tear and an ankle sprain. Read along to learn more about these two ankle injuries.

    Achilles Tendon Tear

    Achilles tendon tears are most likely to occur in men over age 35. The most common injury scenario for this injury involves playing basketball, tennis or another sport that requires significant pushing off with the ankle. At the time of the injury, a person with a tear will feel a large pop. Most people also describe a feeling like someone kicked them in the heel when the injury occurs. Immediately after the injury, there  is swelling and pain, and it becomes difficult to walk.

    Doctors can diagnose an Achilles tendon tear with a physical exam in which they feel for a defect in the tendon. They may also use an MRI scan to visualize the tear. Often times, though, the diagnosis can be made by a physical examination alone.

    Doctors will treat this injury with surgery unless the patient is morbidly obese or diabetic. This is because morbidly obese patients and diabetics are at a higher risk for an infection with surgical treatment. Nonsurgical treatments for this condition involve casting the ankle.

    The surgery is an outpatient procedure. After surgery, patients are non-weight bearing for several weeks. After that, they may be cleared for touch toe weight bearing (using toes for balance but not weight bearing). Full weight bearing is usually possible starting around six weeks after surgery. The speed of recovery is based on the repair quality, and recovery differs between patients.

    Ankle Sprain

    A pop felt on the outer side of the ankle after a twisting injury is often a sign of an ankle sprain. This injury may occur if your ankle rolls as you are putting weight on it. A ligament in the ankle is injured in an ankle sprain.

    Often, after an ankle sprain people experience swelling and the ankle turns black and blue. Sometimes the discoloration can travel down to the foot. Doctors typically recommend an X-ray to make sure there are no fractures around the ankle joint.

    To treat an ankle sprain, follow the acronym RICE. This stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation, which should be the first lines of treatment. You may also need to use anti-inflammatory medication to help reduce swelling and pain. Long-term, physical therapy is a key part of recovery to restore range of motion and help reduce swelling. Physical therapists can help you regain strength and stability around your sprained ankle.

    If you play sports, your return time frame depends on the severity of the sprain. It can be as quick as 2 weeks with a mild sprain that you treat properly. More severe sprains may take as long as 8 weeks for a full recovery. In all cases, you may experience intermittent swelling for up to three months after the injury.

    If you have experienced an ankle injury, you can trust the professionals at Orthopaedic Specialists to help you recover. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Grossfeld and the experts at Orthopaedic Specialists, call 502-212-2663 today.

    Three Common Knee Injuries

    Posted by Stacie Grossfeld

    Knee Injuries

    You’re planting your leg to make a quick turn and- pop! You hear a popping sound from your knee. This is an all too familiar of a situation for many people. There are three common injuries that cause a pop in the knee. These are an ACL tear, a meniscal tear, and a patella dislocation. Most often, for all of these knee injuries, you will experience pain and swelling. Here’s an overview of these three knee injuries.

    ACL Injury

    The ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) stabilizes the knee.  Planting and twistin, like while playing soccer or football, can cause an ACL tear.  Running and coming to a sudden stop can also tear the ACL. Regardless of the cause, with an ACL tear, a knee pop and swelling will occur. There’s a significant amount of pain right when the tear occurs as well. In sporting contexts, players with an ACL tear are unable to continue competing due to the severity of the injury. With the proper initial treatment of resting, icing, and compressing, the pain can resolve in a matter of days.

    Doctors diagnose an ACL tear with a physical examination. They check your injured knee for swelling and pain, comparing it to your healthy knee. They may also move your knee in a few positions to assess its range of motion. Doctors may also utilize diagnostic imaging like a MRI scan to assess the degree of tissue damage and the severity of the tear. In many cases, particularly for people with very active lifestyles, surgery is necessary to repair the ACL. During surgery, doctors reconstruct the torn ligament You will also need to pursue knee rehabilitation for a period of time to restore function and stability.

    Meniscal Tears

    Another common knee injury is a meniscal tear. Meniscal tears often occur due to trauma like aggressive pivoting in younger patients. In contrast, older patients can tear their meniscus with minimal force from day-to-day movement. In both cases, the tear causes a sharp pain along the joint line. This pain occurs with activity. A meniscal tear needs to be treated properly- the meniscus functions as a shock absorber in the knee.

    Doctors diagnose meniscal tears with a physical examination in which they move your knee in different positions to pinpoint the injury. They often use an MRI to visualize the injury as well. Meniscal tears, like ACL tears, should be treated with rest, ice, and compression initially. Longer-term, treatment includes physical therapy to improve motion and stability, and may also include surgery. In surgery, doctors can repair the tear with a low-risk outpatient procedure. Recovery from this surgery is quick.

    Patella Dislocations

    One final common knee injury that causes popping is a patella dislocation. The patella, also known as the knee cap, can dislocate when you plant and twist your let. Patella dislocations occur most commonly in younger females. People may feels something slip out of the joint if they experience a dislocation. Fortunately, most of the time, the dislocated knee cap spontaneously relocates on its own. However, on occasion it doesn’t. If this is the case, an ER physician will have to relocate the patella. Relocation is perform under a twilight type anesthetic.

    Treatment for this injury involves a patella stabilization brace. Physical therapy is also needed to strength the muscles around the knee cap. Typically, people are able to resume full activity within eight weeks of the initial injury. If the patella dislocates again, you may need surgery. During surgery, doctors can reconstruct the medial patellofemoral ligament, the ligament that stabilizes the patella.

    If you have experienced any knee injuries, you can trust the professionals at Orthopaedic Specialists to help you recover. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Grossfeld and the experts at Orthopaedic Specialists, call 502-212-2663 today.

    What is a Hyaluronic Acid Injection?

    Posted by Orthopaedic Specialists

    Hyaluronic acid can be used to help relieve joint pain. Here are 10 facts you should know about this substance:

    1. Hyaluronic acid occurs in your body.

    It’s a clear, viscous fluid that naturally occurs around joints. Your skin, eyes, and connective tissues all harbor hyaluronic acid too.

    2. It deteriorates when you have arthritis

    Normally, Hyaluronic acid is a great lubricant between your bones in joints. However, if you have arthritis, the acid can become thinner and water-like, reducing its effectiveness. This can lead to more inflammation around arthritic joints.

    3. Doctors can inject it into arthritic knees

    Doctors can inject a chemically similar Hyaluronic acid fluid into your knee. This substance is thick and viscous, and gives a cushion around the knee like naturally-occuring acid does.

    4. There are both single and multi-injection options

    You may receive either one or multiple injections of Hyaluronic acid. Doctors typically prefer doing a single shot, as this ensures you only need a single office visit. Each injection to a joint carries some risk of joint infection as well, so a single treatment is preferable to avoid undue risk.

    5. It’s made from rooster cone

    As weird as it sounds, Hyaluronic acid is actually made from that red thing on top of a rooster’s head. Well, not directly from it- it’s derived from bacteria found on rooster comb. This bacteria is grown from that source specifically to ferment and create this acid.

    6. It offers months of relief

    A single injection will typically give an arthritic joint six months of pain relief, sometimes a bit more or less. Over time, pain will return to the joint, so another injection will be necessary.

    7. It kicks in in a few days

    Once you have received an injection, you can expect to have some relief in 2-5 days.

    8.There are multiple brands

    The market for knee pain relief due to arthritis has led to a competitive market for these injections. There are many different brands available to you. Your insurance company may dictate which brand(s) they cover, and many insurance companies do not cover the injection cost at all.

    9. Typical insurance breakdown

    Often times, Medicare will cover 80% of the cost of these injections. If you have a secondary insurance, they may cover the cost of the remaining 20%.

    10. FDA approval

    Hyaluronic acid injections are FDA approved for the knee only, and not for any other joints like the hip joint.

    To schedule an appointment with Dr. Grossfeld and the experts at Orthopaedic Specialists for a Hyaluronic acid injection, call 502-212-2663 today.

    Avoid a New Year’s Resolution Fitness Injury

    Posted by Orthopaedic Specialists

    A new year’s resolution might be on your mind right now. Many of us find ourselves setting lofty health and fitness goals for the new year. Striving for better health and wellness is wonderful. However, you should be careful to avoid a few common pitfalls as you introduce new activities into your life. Here’s a look at some ways you can prevent an injury as you strive to hit your fitness goals in the new year.

    Over-Exercising

    There’s nothing wrong with setting goals for increased exercise. When approached properly, it can be a great way to improve your health. However, it is very easy to end up doing too much too fast and get injured. So, the first thing you should keep in mind is how fast you are increasing activity. Gradually increase your level of activity, with staggered days of rest in between ideally. This will give your body time to adjust. It can be helpful to switch up your kinds of exercise too. Instead of going right into 5 or 6 days per week of running on the road, try to mix in some hiking, cycling, core work,and other activities. This will prevent overuse injuries that can arise when you do a lot of repetitive activity before your body is ready for it.

    Knowing Your Body

    As you slowly increase your activity level, it’s important to notice how it feels. Get used to listening to your body. Notice if something causes pain, or if pain lingers long after exercise. Keep an eye out for more worrying symptoms like pain that does not fade after a few days, or increases to your resting heart rate. These can be warning signs of more serious injuries like stress fractures and overtraining syndrome. You should work with a doctor to assess your situation if you are experiencing any of these warning signs.

    Treat your body well after exercising as well. If you do experience pain, rest and ice any affected areas. You can spend some time doing targeted stretches for any tight muscle groups too. Plus, you might

    Nutrition to Fuel Your New Year’s Resolution

    As we increase our activity level, it’s important to adjust how we eat as well. More exercise means more calories burned, and the need for more calories so your body can stay healthy. In fact, cutting too many calories while increasing activity level can increase the risk for injury in some cases. You should also focus on healthier eating here as well. Incorporate whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and healthy fats and proteins into your diet as you build your activity level.

    Working With A Doctor

    If you do find yourself struggling with an injury, you should consider working with a medical professional. The experts at Orthopaedic Specialists use cutting-edge practices and research to help people from all walks of life heal and live healthy, active lives. From cortisone injections to surgery and innovative regenerative medicine, we can help you heal and get back to doing the activities you value.

    To schedule an appointment with Dr. Grossfeld and the other experts at Orthopaedic Specialists, call 502-212-2663 today.

    Pronation: What Runners Need to Know

    Posted by Orthopaedic Specialists

    Many runners have probably heard the word pronation thrown around. But what exactly is pronation? Follow along to learn more about pronation and what you need to know as a runner!

    Pronation

    In a running context, pronation simply refers to the inward rolling motion of the foot as it strikes the ground during walking or running. Pronation is a natural movement that allows feet to absorb shock and keep ankles and legs aligned during motion. The normal amount of pronation tends to be about 15 degrees. This means the foot rolls inward (towards the body center) about 15 degrees during activity.

    Here’s how it works normally. As you push off with your foot, all of your toes are involved in helping this happen. The biggest two toes do the majority of the work, while the other toes provide support. The sole of the foot is in a neutral, flat position during this motion (not tilted inward or outward). The foot begins to roll outward a bit as you push off, and the arch stiffens and rises to to give some stability. Then, as the heel strikes the ground, the foot arch begins to flatten again (rolling inward).

    However, many people may pronate (roll inward) more or less than normal. This can lead to issues for runners in particular, who are often repeating foot strikes thousands of times per run. Next, we will take a look at overpronation and underpronation.

    Overpronation

    Overpronation occurs when your feet roll inwards more than 15 degrees. The ankle continues to roll inward on push off (instead of starting to roll out), meaning the biggest two toes do all of the work and have no support from the other toes. People with flatter feet may be more likely to overpronate. Overpronation can cause issues with your knees, shin splints, and strain on the two big toes.

    Underpronation

    Underpronation (also called supination) is the opposite of overpronation. Here, the foot is not rolling in (pronating) enough during the toeing off part of motion. The outside edge of the foot and smaller toes end up doing a lot more work than normal. People with high arches may be more likely to underpronate. Some injuries associated with this include plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains, IT band syndrome, and achilles tendonitis.
    Avoiding Injury

    It’s crucial to get a professional opinion on your movement patterns if you believe you are not pronating correctly. While many people believe particular types of running shoes will help fix under or over pronation, this isn’t really shown consistently by studies. You should consult with a medical professional to get a diagnosis of your gait. They can help you with any therapeutic treatment or custom orthotics you may need to help treat and avoid injury.

    Knowing your gait and what adjustments you may need to make is important when you are a runner. Fortunately, Orthopaedic Specialists can help! You should seek diagnosis and treatment from a qualified medical professional like Dr. Stacie Grossfeld if you are injured and want to get back to the activities you love. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Grossfeld, call Orthopaedic Specialists at 502-212-2663 today.

    Patient of the Month Kelsey Evans

    Posted by Orthopaedic Specialists

    Meet this month’s patient in the spotlight, Kelsey Evans!

    kelsey evans

    Having recently suffered a fractured radial head, Kelsey is a brand new patient of Dr. Grossfeld’s. “Even with limited activity, I feel a sense of “freedom” simply due to not needing a cast and because Dr. Grossfeld encouraged movement for faster healing. I’m hopeful that I’ll have no long term issues or restrictions due to the positive outlook I was given since the start of my injury.”

    Kelsey and her family show cattle, specifically Chiangus. “We travel across the country competing and promoting our livestock. It’s a project that takes commitment and dedication every single day.”

    “Having grown up within the livestock and Agriculture industry, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else as I’ve gotten older and had a family of my own. As you can imagine, the physical demand to achieve this is somewhat large which is why the biggest fear I have is not making a full recovery with my arm.”

    So far, Kelsey has been able to maintain a somewhat normal life during recovery. Please join us in wishing her nothing but health and healing in 2021!

    Patient of the Month Sam Shaheen

    Posted by Orthopaedic Specialists

    Meet this month’s patient in the spotlight, Sam Shaheen!

    Sam owns and operates Shaheen’s, a 4th generation department store located in The Springs Store on Breckenridge Lane in Louisville, KY. Established in 1922, Shaheen’s has continued to serve the Louisville community with their clothing needs by offering custom in-house embroidery and work apparel. Throughout the pandemic, they have been deemed essential because of the work they do for area hospitals.

    sam shaheen

    Recently, Sam suffered from a large Achilles tendon tear. While he can’t point to the exact cause of the injury, Sam suspects it is due in part to the many years he used to compete in road races, (racking up 60 miles a week) as well as a fractured leg from his time in the Army.

    Luckily, Sam is recovering nicely after receiving treatment from Dr. Grossfeld. At the age of 68, Sam enjoys keeping up with his yard and playing a round of golf in his spare time.