If you are plagued with chronic knee pain and impaired knee function to the point you can’t perform daily activities, such as walking or climbing the stairs, you may have considered total knee replacement. Furthermore if walking supports, medications, and physical therapy have not sufficiently managed pain and improved function, total knee replacement may be your next step. Although knee arthroplasty is referred to as knee replacement, it can be seen more as “knee resurfacing”, as only the surface of the bone is replaced. The first total knee replacement surgery was performed in 1968, and since then surgical techniques have vastly improved. Today, total knee replacement is considered one of the most successful procedures in medicine and is available at any of the MidAmerica locations, including Palos Hills & Mokena.

Author: Phil Ghuneim – Workers’ Compensation Coordinator/ Corporate Communication Manager

Another of the most common conditions which Dr. Svetlana Zats treats, is Hallux Valgus- or more commonly known as, Bunions. A Bunion refers to a deformity of the Metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP) that causes a visible protuberance to develop where the big toe meets the foot. This bump, in turn, forces the big toe to deviate inward toward the other toes. When the condition is on the side of the little toe, it’s referred to as Bunionette Deformity (or “Tailor’s Bunion”).

Author: Phil Ghuneim – Workers’ Compensation Coordinator/ Corporate Communication Manager

In Honor of Dr. Svetlana Zats joining the MidAmerica team, let’s take a look at one of the most common conditions that a Foot and Ankle Specialist, like herself, is able to treat.

Plantar Fasciitis

Colloquially known as ‘Policeman’s Heel,’ plantar fasciitis refers to an inflammation of the thick tissues extending from your heel to your toes. These tissues, known as the plantar fascia, play a crucial role in supporting the arc and extension of the foot. If the condition becomes chronic, fibers of the plantar fascia can start to degenerate. This can lead to partial or complete plantar fascia ruptures.

Author: Phil Ghuneim – Workers’ Compensation Coordinator/ Corporate Communication Manager

In 2015, Los Angeles Lakers star, Kobe Bryant, suffered an acute full-thickness rotator cuff tear in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. From the moment he approached the bench, Bryant was immediately tended to by the team’s head physician and orthopedic specialist. Just 7 days after he was definitively diagnosed, Bryant underwent surgery to repair the torn cuff.

Compare Bryant’s treatment to the timeline of one of our patients who sustained the same injury- we’ll call them “Patient X” for confidentiality’s sake. Patient X suffered an acute full-thickness rotator cuff tear while at work. After filing a claim, Patient X was sent to a series of healthcare providers over the course of 4 months before seeing a specialist (all while a definitive diagnosis had yet to be made). Finally, the patient was seen by an orthopedic specialist, who was able to definitively diagnose the injury and requested authorization for surgery.

Have you had difficulty going about your daily activities due to a bad hip? If you suffer from chronic pain, swelling, and reduced motion in your hip joints, you may be a candidate for hip replacement surgery. Hip arthroplasty, also known as total hip replacement surgery, involves replacing the hip joint with an implant ( or “prosthesis”) to alleviate pain and improve mobility. Hip replacement is a serious procedure, so while other, less invasive treatments should be considered initially, hip replacement surgery is a common and effective way to treat severe hip damage.

Do you suffer from lower back and leg pain? If so, you may have heard about a treatment called epidural steroid injection, or ESI, an outpatient procedure offered by MidAmerica Orthopaedics Clinic in Palos Hills used to treat pain caused by spinal stenosis or a herniated disc. ESI is generally used only when other forms of medication and physical therapy are ineffective at managing pain.

Wrist tendonitis, also known as “De Quervain’s tendinosis,” occurs when the tendons around the base of the thumb are irritated or constricted. Tendons are rope-like structures that attach muscle to bone and are covered by a slippery, soft-tissue layer called the “tendon sheath.” The term “tendinosis” specifically refers to a swelling of the tendons and tendon sheath, which can cause pain and tenderness along the thumb side of the wrist, particularly when forming a fist, grasping an object, or turning the wrist. (Ortho Info)

Patellar tendinitis, also known as “jumper’s knee,” is an injury to the tendon connecting the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone (tibia). The patellar tendon works with the muscles at the front of the thigh to enable running, kicking and jumping. This condition is most common in athletes whose sports involve frequent jumping (such as basketball and volleyball players) though it is possible for non-athletes to develop this condition as well. Patellar Tendinitis is common sports injury, and is treatable at MidAmerica’s Palos Hills and Mokena Sports Medicine Clinics. (Mayo Clinic)