Fun fact: operating rooms remain at a steady 60 degrees. To me, THAT'S FREEZING. It is kept so cold to keep everything sterile, and probably aids in keeping everyone alert, except the patient, of course.
Yet another exciting day in the clinic. We saw many many patients, so many that I only noted below the 'major' ones (writing all of them would bore both of us). I also managed to interview Dr. Butzen as well. Expect the interview notes to be up in a few days.
Today I saw...
-Fused pinky/hand follow-up
-An ulna too long for the arm
-Knee dislocation injury
-Hip surgery follow-up
-Cortisone shot for wrist arthritis
-Pinky de-fusion post-op
~I enjoyed seeing this patient because I got to see the majority of her journey with her injury. My first week I saw her because of her pinky fusion post-op, and then, over the next few weeks, the wound didn't heal and developed an infection, which was operated on yesterday. Her post-op today represented what a full cycle with a patient would look like- from observing the issue, to operating on it, then analyzing the aftermath.
-2 Rotator cuff problems
-2 Trigger fingers
-Carpal tunnel pre-op
-Cyst removal and nerve reconstruction pre-op
-2 casts applied
-Ankle hardware follow-up, fungus on wound
-Mystery wrist/hand pain caused by a heart attack
~This patient is in their 70's, and has a condition called osteopenia. Osteopenia refers to a lowered bone density, and if the density continues to degrade, it will be classified as osteoporosis.
This is shown below. On the left is the patient with osteopenia, on the right is a healthy patient. Notice how transparent the bone in the x-ray on the left appears versus the dark, white bone seen in the x-ray on the right.
This is especially evident in the radius and ulna (bones of the forearm).
Yet another exciting day in the clinic. We saw many many patients, so many that I only noted below the 'major' ones (writing all of them would bore both of us). I also managed to interview Dr. Butzen as well. Expect the interview notes to be up in a few days.
Today I saw...
-Fused pinky/hand follow-up
-An ulna too long for the arm
-Knee dislocation injury
-Hip surgery follow-up
-Cortisone shot for wrist arthritis
-Pinky de-fusion post-op
~I enjoyed seeing this patient because I got to see the majority of her journey with her injury. My first week I saw her because of her pinky fusion post-op, and then, over the next few weeks, the wound didn't heal and developed an infection, which was operated on yesterday. Her post-op today represented what a full cycle with a patient would look like- from observing the issue, to operating on it, then analyzing the aftermath.
-2 Rotator cuff problems
-2 Trigger fingers
-Carpal tunnel pre-op
-Cyst removal and nerve reconstruction pre-op
-2 casts applied
-Ankle hardware follow-up, fungus on wound
-Mystery wrist/hand pain caused by a heart attack
~This patient is in their 70's, and has a condition called osteopenia. Osteopenia refers to a lowered bone density, and if the density continues to degrade, it will be classified as osteoporosis.
This is shown below. On the left is the patient with osteopenia, on the right is a healthy patient. Notice how transparent the bone in the x-ray on the left appears versus the dark, white bone seen in the x-ray on the right.
This is especially evident in the radius and ulna (bones of the forearm).