Causes and Treatments for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears
Image: orthoinfo.aaos.org

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Aaron Tragos most recently served at Munson Orthopaedic Clinic in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Over the course of his six years in this role, Dr. Aaron Tragos treated a number of anterior cruciate ligament tears.

The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, connects the femur of the thigh to the tibia in the lower leg. It serves a crucial role in knee stability, but is subject to tears resulting from force or stress. Most such tears occur during an intense physical action that forces the two bones apart. This often occurs during a sudden stop, abrupt change of direction, or improper landing from a jump.

When the ACL tears, the patient may notice an audible popping sensation and the onset of severe pain, which prevents the person from continuing the activity. Recommended first aid for individuals who notice these symptoms includes rest, elevation, and gentle compression to reduce swelling.

If the tear is incomplete, the patient may be able to recover by participating in a targeted rehabilitation program. Complete tears, however, typically require reconstruction surgery. This most often involves the harvesting of a graft that replaces the torn ligament, and it is over this graft that new tissue grows to strengthen the site.

The 2017 AOAO Annual Meeting

American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics
Image: aoao.org

Dr. Aaron Tragos possesses more than two decades of experience as a physician working in orthopedics and sports medicine. In order to network with other professionals and stay up to date on the latest trends and techniques in the field, Dr. Aaron Tragos maintains membership in the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics.

The American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics (AOAO) will hold its annual meeting this October in Chicago, Illinois, where attendees will be provided with three days packed full of lectures. These sessions will include expert panels, Q&A opportunities, and analysis of specific cases through group discussions. The opening night of the meeting will also feature the organization’s Annual Awards Ceremony.

In advance of the meeting, the Academy has opened up submission of abstracts for potential presentation at the conference. The deadline for submission is June 1, 2017. Upon receipt, the organization’s Residents and Fellows Committee will carefully consider each abstract and inform applicants whether or not they have been accepted by June 30, 2017. To learn more about the conference, or to register, visit www.aoao.org/meetings/annual.

AOA Publishes Study on the Benefits of the Spencer Technique

American Osteopathic Association
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Dr. Aaron Tragos, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician, has been practicing for more than 10 years. Holding a degree from Western University of Health Sciences, Dr. Aaron Tragos is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

The AOA recently published the results of a study done on the Spencer technique, which involves moving the shoulder joint through its range of motion (ROM), and the technique’s ability to prevent shoulder injuries among baseball pitchers. Published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, the study looked at pitchers from the men’s baseball team at Seton Hill University. Researchers found that using the Spencer technique just once improved players’ shoulder rotation dramatically.

Researchers began the study by establishing a baseline ROM for each player. The ROM was measured again after one week.

During that time, players’ internal rotation dropped by an average of 14 percent due to training. Once the Spencer technique was performed, shoulder rotation improved to around 85 percent of the initial baseline measurement. Based on these results, researchers believe that the Spencer technique could have major benefits for baseball pitchers.

What Does an Ornithologist Do?

 

Ornithology
Image: environmentalscience.org

Dr. Aaron Tragos is an orthopedic surgeon with nearly two decades of experience in the medical field. Most recently, Dr. Aaron Tragos served at the Munson Orthopedic Clinic at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was responsible for the care of 19,000 soldiers and their dependents. Outside of his professional work, Dr. Tragos enjoys several hobbies, including ornithology.

Ornithology, which is the study of birds, is a diverse field that includes many different areas of interest. For example, some ornithologists might study specific bird species or migration patterns, while others focus on avian biology or evolution. Still others might study changes in bird populations across continents or certain regions. In addition, many people enjoy ornithology as a hobby through birdwatching. Amateur ornithologists are able to make contributions to the field by recording where and when they have spotted specific species of birds.

Professional ornithologists can be found in government wildlife agencies at the federal and state level. Other places of employment include conservation organizations, zoos, universities, and research institutions.

Bones of the Hand

carpi ulnaris tendon

 

As a surgeon at the Munson Orthopedic Clinic in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Dr. Aaron Tragos has treated the musculoskeletal and joint injuries of thousands of soldiers and their families based there. Over the course of his career, Dr. Aaron Tragos has performed numerous hand surgeries.

The human hand is a complex structure. Networks of nerves and soft tissues surround a basic framework of 27 bones, eight of which make up the wrist. Seven of these carpal (wrist) bones play a role in wrist movement, while the eighth serves as a stable base and a channel for passage of the carpi ulnaris tendon.

The remaining 19 bones of the hand are categorized as metacarpals and phalanges. The metacarpals, which make up the palm, fit together at the base with the carpal bones. The first metacarpal, or thumb, interacts solely with the trapezium of the wrist, while the remaining four interact with the distal, or outward-facing, wrist bones, known as the trapezoid, capitate, and hamate.

The metacarpals interface in turn with the proximal, or closest, phalanges of the fingers. Each finger also contains a middle and outer phalanx, while the thumb has only two phalanges and is thus significantly shorter. This results in a total of 14 phalanges in the normal human hand.