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ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY MAY NOT BE THE BEST OPTION

A recent study found that one of the most frequent procedures performed by orthopaedic surgeons - arthroscopic surgery, used to repair and flush out damaged cartilage in the knee - is not effective for relieving pain associated with osteoarthritis.

Dr. Frank Gottschalk, professor of orthopaedic surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says he hopes the findings will make surgeons think twice about performing this procedure. “As baby boomers age, they are starting to develop osteoarthritis of the knee, a progressive degenerative disease that wears away articular cartilage,” Gottschalk says. “In these kinds of patients, arthroscopic surgery doesn’t improve long-term function and may require additional invasive surgeries within a few years.”

But, he says, people shouldn’t stop seeking medical attention for knee pain. “Depending on severity, nutritional supplements that repair cartilage cells, intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections - which increases elasticity in the joints - and physical therapy are alternatives to surgery that help restore function of the knee and minimize pain,” he says.

Media Contact: Ione Echeverria

ANNUAL BONE-DENSITY SCANS CAN HELP OSTEOPOROSIS PATIENTS

Several scientific studies and numerous news reports have questioned the necessity and effectiveness of some diagnostic-imaging techniques, but an osteoporosis expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas says bone-density scans are a vital tool for finding and monitoring that disease.

“Bone-mineral density measurement is the gold standard for diagnosis of osteoporosis before a fracture occurs,” says Dr. Khashayar Sakhaee, program director of the General Clinical Research Center at UT Southwestern. “In addition, it is a sensitive tool to assess the response to drugs used in the treatment of osteoporosis.”

Sakhaee says the correlation between bone-mineral density and bone strength allows doctors to use scans to assess bone quality. But other factors, including age, gender and race, must be factored in to accurately assess patients’ conditions. An annual bone-density scan should be part of routine care for osteoporosis patients, he says.

Media Contact: Wayne Carter

BEWARE THE SWEATY FOOTBALL JERSEY, AMONG OTHERS

A sweaty athletic jersey is a favorite hangout for some pretty unathletic - and unfriendly - bacteria and viruses that can grow quickly and possibly become a source of illness.

Dr. Luis Palacios, assistant professor of family practice at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, recommends athletes change and shower immediately after a game or workout.

“The moist, warm clothes you are wearing after a workout are a prime breeding ground for germs,” Palacios says. “Whenever athletes come in who are getting sick repeatedly, this is my first piece of advice. Exercise and working out are definitely part of a healthful lifestyle, so continue to exercise. Just change clothes when you’re done.”

Media Contact: Mindy Baxter

WOMEN CAN GAIN CONTROL OVER INCONTINENCE

If you’re a woman over age 50, you may be one of 16 million Americans who deal with incontinence. Women account for about 85 percent - 13.6 million - of reported cases.

“The explanation for why women are more vulnerable to incontinence is, unfortunately, that life isn’t fair,” says Dr. Philippe Zimmern, professor of urology at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. “A man’s urethra is longer than a woman’s, which is less than two inches long.”

The vaginal wall and other muscles support the urethra. Those muscles may weaken from trauma after pregnancy or childbirth, a hysterectomy or other pelvis surgery, hormonal changes that come with menopause and aging.

But women don’t have to accept incontinence, Zimmern stresses.

“With exercise, medication, surgery and other therapies, we can find the best option for treatment,” he says. “The goal is to find the optimal approach toward giving a woman control over her life.”

Media Contact: Mindy Baxter

KEEPING KIDS SAFE AROUND WATER

Kids and water - too often it’s a deadly combination. Each year, more than 300 children across the nation die from drowning - the second-leading cause of death among children in middle childhood, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition, at least 2,000 more youngsters will wind up in emergency rooms with tragic consequences - e.g., coma, paralysis - from water-submersion injuries.

“Statistics show that children who drown are most likely younger than 5 years old,’’ says Dr. Susan Scott, assistant professor of pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. “Many times, a simple water barrier could have made their pool safer and saved their lives.”

Scott advises:

• Children should be supervised at the pool at all times, and insist anyone at home who is older than 14, including babysitters, have current certification in human/child CPR.
• Never leave a child alone near a pool or spa, pond or any water deep enough to submerse his or her nose and mouth. Erect a barrier such as a fence that completely surrounds the pool and isolates it.
• If a child is missing, check the pool first.

“Don’t rely on swimming lessons or life preservers to make water safe for a child,” Scott says. “Keep a phone near the pool and teach everyone water safety and how to call 9-1-1.”

Media Contact: Barbara Bedrick