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About Orthopedic Specialists

Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle provides new and advanced procedures including endoscopic carpel tunnel release surgery for carpal tunnel syrome, complex joint restoration procedures, anterior approach hip replacement surgery, and more.

Broken Foot: Common Symptoms and Treatments

foot injuries

There are several medium and small bones that make up the three sections of the foot. The forefoot includes the slender bones that make up the 5 toes (phalanges) and the anterior portion of the arch of the foot (metatarsals).

The mid-foot is made up of more compact bones (navicular, cuboids, and cuneiforms) that make up the top of the arch of the foot. The hind-foot is made up of two bones, the talus that connects the foot to the lower leg and the calcaneus (the heel).

Foot injuries are common and can arise from a multitude of different mechanisms. Each of the bones of the foot are subject to fracture from externally applied forces. Fractures to the talus and calcaneus (hind foot) are typically caused by crushing forces, such as landing from a great height.

Fractures to the forefoot can be caused by crush, flexing, and twisting forces. In addition to trauma directly to the bone, there are ligaments and tendons attached to the bones of the foot. If enough force is applied to these ligaments and tendons, they can separate and take a small piece of bone with it.

In addition to fractures from a single traumatic blow, some fractures can result from repetitive impacts to a bone. This is called a stress fracture and commonly occurs in the metatarsals of the foot.

Common Symptoms

It can often be difficult to distinguish fractures from other types of injuries of the foot, such as sprains of the ligaments or bruises of the soft tissue. If a bone is fractured, there is typically pain localized to the fracture. There will also likely be soft tissue swelling around the affected area.

Treatment Options

To determine if there is a fracture radiology studies such as x-ray and CT may be necessary. Careful physical exam performed by an experienced surgeon can also help to elucidate whether or not a bone is fractured. Depending on the fracture type and location, there are multiple types of repair. These range from simple alignment and casting to surgical repair with hardware placement. Dr. Mark Reed of OSS is well versed in all of these repair techniques.

Seattle Open Water Swim

Swim Across America – Seattle

“Welcome to the Swim Across America – Seattle Open Water Swim.
Volunteer, swim a 1/2 mile, 1 mile or 2 mile distance in beautiful Lake Washington to raise money that funds clinical trials and cancer research at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Over the last 8 years we’ve raised nearly $2 million, which has been leveraged to obtain matching grants that would otherwise not have been obtained.”

Event Website

Come Say Hello! Our very own Dr. Wayne Weil will be coordinating the onsite medical & emergency coverage for this event.

Please feel free to participate in this neat event to raise money for clinical trials & cancer research.

King5 Health Link

Advances in Hip Surgery Lead to Shorter Hospital Stays

Want to get back to the activities you love?

Watch Dr. Phil Downer’s Hip Segment on King5’s Health Link

Dr. Downer discusses items to address before considering surgery, the Anterior Hip Approach and the best activities to help maintain the health of your joint.

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“Total hip replacement has become one of the most common and successful procedures in the U.S.

Medical advances even have some patients leaving the hospital within hours of surgery.

“We have also worked on the variables that have contributed to the length of stay, reducing pain, and improving function,” explains orthopedic surgeon Dr. Phillip Downer.

When Dr. Downer works with a patient, he makes sure they are ready for surgery by losing weight, managing diabetes or blood pressure – whatever the case may be for each patient – so that after surgery, their body can optimally heal.” (Read Article)

Learn more about Dr. Downer and the Anterior Approach, please call 206-784-8833 for more information.