What is a Meniscus Tear?  A meniscus tear is a common knee injury that occurs in the rubbery knee cartilage that cushions the shinbone from the thighbone. What are the Causes and Symptoms of a Meniscus Tear? In young patients, meniscus tears are usually a result of significant twisting in many cases, these injuries occur when the foot is …

  Robotic-assisted surgery is starting to become more widely sought after by patients and many joint replacement surgeons are quickly becoming trained in this innovative method of joint replacement surgery as a result. Many of the robotics-assisted surgeries being performed show outcomes that fare better than many of the open, traditional surgeries. Local hospitals in northern Arizona have already invested …

The Most Common Orthopedic Injuries in Football Since football season’s kicked off, our Sports Medicine Specialists at Northern Arizona Orthopaedics know that potential for injury emerges with every game and every practice. Whether you’re the athlete or a supportive spectator, here is what you should know about the most common orthopedic injuries resulting from high speeds and full contact. Shoulder …

What is Sciatica? The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that is formed in the lower back and runs down from the lower back and into the back of the leg where it divides into two nerves that then supply the lower leg. The term sciatica is often used to describe pain or discomfort in the lower back that radiates …

A fracture is another term for a broken bone. When we talk about fractures, we use certain terms to describe where the bone is broken, in what sort of pattern, open or closed and if it is displaced (shifted apart) or angulated. Fractures can be nondisplaced (a crack in the bone), spiral, segmented, or comminuted (multiple pieces). The more energy …

Arthritis is generally defined as deterioration of a joint with associated loss of the cartilage which lines the joint and acts as a cushion. As the arthritis progresses, the body’s natural processes kick in and the bone tries to reinforce itself with additional calcium.  This additional calcium can form bone spurs (osteophytes) which can become painful and cause many of …