Kennett Orthopaedic Center

Dr. Landry at Kennett Orthopaedic Center offers highly specialized services. With the latest equipment at their disposal, they are trained to diagnose and treat any injury, deformity or disease that interrupts the musculoskeletal system.

Understanding Your Body

Your musculoskeletal system, which is comprised of 206 bones connected by joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves, protects your internal organs, supportting your weight, and allowing youto move. It is a complex, interdependent system where even a minor disruption can result in discomfort and physical limitation.

Orthopaedic Surgery

Orthopaedic (also spelled orthopedic) surgery covers all kinds of common and complex conditions, such as:

• Sprains and strains
• Fractures and dislocations
• Cartilage and ligament tears
• Bursitis and tendonitis
• Arthritis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Congential defects and abnormalities
• Bone and soft tissue tumors

The Orthopaedic Evaluation

While every orthopaedic evaluation is different, there are many commonly used tests that an orthopaedic surgeon may consider in evaluating a patient's condition. In general, the orthopaedic evaluation consists of the following:

• Thorough medical history
• Physical examination
• X-rays
• Additional tests, as needed

You can expect the physician to do a gait analysis and examine your posture while standing, sitting down and lying down. The physical exam will help evaluate important aspects of your joints, including:

• Size and length
• Strength
• Range of motion
• Swelling
• Reflexes
• Skin condition

After the physical examination, the next step in making the diagnosis is X-ray evaluation. The X-rays help show the degree of damange, including:

• Narrowing of the joint space
• Areas of bony thickening called sclerosis
• Deformity or incorrect alignment

Occassionally, additional tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis, which may include laboratory testing, specialized X-rays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or bone scan.

In order to assist the orthopaedic surgeon in making the diagnosis, it may be helpful to write down your answers to the following questions before your appointment:

• Where and when do I have pain?
• How long have I had this pain?
• Do I have any redness or swelling around my joints?
• What daily tasks are hard to do now?
• Did I ever hurt the joint or overuse it?
• Does anyone in my family have similar problems?