Post Traumatic Arthritis is a common form of arthritis in which the foot or ankle joints get worn out. Any injury causing damage to the cartilage or bone can result in Post Traumatic Arthritis. Although this arthritis is mostly found in athletes but according to the joint doctors at OrthoTexas, McKinney, Texas, everyone is susceptible to Post Traumatic Arthritis.Other types of arthritis include:Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis
Causes: Listed below are a few common causes and risk factors of Post Traumatic Arthritis:
- Injury: As stated earlier, any direct trauma or injury affecting the foot can lead to this condition.
- Medical conditions: It has been medically proven that conditions like fracture or sprain may result in post-traumatic arthritis.
- Other: Sometimes, an improper healing of foot fracture can affect the cartilage or bone which may further lead to Post Traumatic Arthritis.
Symptoms: Some of the common early and late symptoms of Post Traumatic Arthritis include:
- Intense pain in the foot
- Tenderness and stiffness around the foot
- Limited range of motion
- Severe swelling around the affected joint Inability to perform any physical activity
- Deformity of the joint
- Redness or warm sensation in the affected joint
- Creaking or crunching sound when the foot is moved
- Formation of bone spurs and lumps around the joint
- Fluid accumulation in the joint
Diagnosis: It is important that you seek immediate medical help in McKinney if the aforementioned symptoms are observed.
- The orthopedic doctors in McKinney will perform a physical examination to study the exact cause of symptoms.
- They may also perform imaging tests such as X-Ray, MRI, and CT scan to rule out other orthopedic conditions.
- Blood tests may also be conducted by the doctors.
Treatment: The treatment for post-traumatic arthritis strictly depends on the diagnostic report. The most often recommended treatments, however, include:
- Medications: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) may be prescribed by the doctors to relieve pain and inflammation.
- Physical therapy: You may also be referred to a physical therapist to help you regain the lost strength and flexibility. A range of stretching, strengthening and motion exercises may be suggested by the physical therapist.
- Orthodics: Use of shoe inserts, arch supports or special footwear may be recommended by the doctor to offer comfort and support to the feet.
- Surgical procedure: In severe cases of post-traumatic arthritis, arthroscopy, arthrodesis or arthroplasty surgery may be suggested by the orthopedic surgeon.
