GENERAL ORTHOPAEDIC CONDITIONS

Dr Pirjol treats the following conditions:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
  a painful condition of the hand due to pressure on the median nerve at the wrist. It manifests with numbness of the hand and pain, specifically night pain. The diagnosis is clinical and nerve conduction tests, and the treatment is surgical.
• Trigger fingers
  this is a painful condition of the fingers and thumb that prevent smooth movement of the digits. It is caused by build-up of scar tissue around the tendons of the fingers. This is primarily a clinical diagnosis, and the treatment of choice is surgery.
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
  this is due to pressure on the ulnar nerve at the elbow (funny bone) that cause numbness, weakness and pain in the hand. Once confirmed with nerve conduction tests the treatment is surgical.

Inflamatory Arthritic Conditions

• Rheumathoid arthritis
  rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune condition that affects the inner part of almost all the main joints of the body. It affects more women than man and can cause significant joint destruction but can also affect almost all the other organs in the body- kidneys, heart, vessels. An early diagnosis allows the treating doctors to commence disease modifying drugs that can control and prevent the progression of the joint destruction. If and when the disease progresses and becomes disabling, a total joint replacement is recommended. The softness of bones due to the disease process but also the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has to be taken into account when choosing the type of implant and performing the surgery.
• Gout arthritis
  gout is an accumulation of uric acid in the tissues and joints of patients that either consume aliments that lead to an increase in the uric acid in the body and/or are unable to get rid of the uric acid.
  The main aliments that have a high content in purines (that goes to become uric acid in the body) are red meats- beef, lamb, venison, organs and shellfish. Alcohol is increasing the intensity and frequency of gout attacks. Over time, repeated gout attacks led to joint destruction that will require a joint replacement. It is essential for these patients to change their life style and stay on a chronic medication to help them get rid of the excess uric acid.
• Psoritic arthritis
  psoriatic arthritis is another autoimmune condition better known for its skin manifestation. Up to 40 percent of the patients with the skin condition will have some degree of arthritis in one or more than one joint. Treatment consists of anti-inflammatories, biological medications and cortisone intraarticular injections. When the pain has become disabling a joint replacement is recommended.

Other types of inflammatory arthritis are systemic lupus, seronegative arthritis and calcium deposition disease.