now bones are fun

You know what is amazing?!  Having a real, live orthopedic surgeon in clinic!  Its like being a medical student again. As usual, patients arrive with orthopedic problems that I don't even know how to begin to solve. But this Friday, I was not alone in clinic struggling and trying to figure out what to do. Dr. J was there to help! After asking a some questions, examining the patient, and looking at the x-rays...KAZAM!!! within a few minutes Dr. J would deliver a diagnosis and a plan!

For example, check out this hip x-ray:

We saw many patients with hip pain and x-ray's like the one above. The right hip joint is in bad shape. Too destroyed for a hip replacement. 

But, did you know you could do this?

Same patient, but the head and neck of the right femur bone was removed by Dr. J a couple years ago when he came. Guess what?! She can still walk! She has a significant limp, but is very happy because she doesn't have pain.  Amazing.

Dr. J is here for a couple more weeks and I am looking forward to learning a lot more about bones so they aren't such a mystery when he leaves and I am the orthopedic surgeon again. :)