Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

According to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), Dupuytren’s contracture occurs when the hand tissue beneath the skin becomes diseased and thickens, forming nodules. These nodules grab onto the skin above it and tether to it, creating pits from the skin pulling inward. Dupuytren’s contracture also can develop cords in the palm that may extend to the fingers. As the disease progresses, these cords can thicken and shorten causing the fingers or thumb to contract toward the palm. Symptoms of Dupuytren’s contracture include: Nodules (rarely painful or tender) Pits Cords which can cause finger/thumb contractures Thickened knuckle…

It’s one of the major bummers of summer: mosquitoes invading our barbeques, ticks looking to latch onto us during a hike or fleas jumping onto our beloved pets. With warm weather comes insect invasions – and there really are more insects trying to get a nibble. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of vector-borne disease (caused by mosquitos, ticks and fleas) have increased significantly since 2004, with more than 1 million cases reported between 2001 and 2023. Annual reported vector-borne disease cases more than doubled during this period. What’s a summer-loving Tri-State resident to do? Read…

Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is created using your own blood that is separated out to remove the red and white blood cells and retain the platelets which are rich in growth factors. This solution, when injected into damaged tissue, can help promote healing and stop degeneration. Today, PRP injections are used to help relieve pain caused by ligament and tendon injury and osteoarthritis. Dr. Michael Bertram, a board-certified Physician of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (also called Physiatry) says, “PRP injections are different than other injections used to relieve pain because it is a potentially longer-term more permanent solution compared…

When you think about how to relieve arthritic knee and hip pain the answer is often easy – joint replacement. But did you know that if you suffer from pain due to thumb arthritis you have options, including an innovative new joint replacement procedure. Dr. James Baker, an affiliated fellowship-trained hand surgeon with OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine who practices at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, provides this thumb replacement surgery for active patients looking to regain function of their thumb and relieve pain. The procedure uses a system called the Stablyx hemi-arthroplasty by Skeletal Dynamics. Dr. Baker describes the procedure, “When…

We’ve all heard the term “ACL injury” – but what exactly does that mean? Is there any way to prevent it? Chances are unless you or a loved one has first-hand experience with this type of injury, you might need a little refresher course on the ACL – especially as the fall sports season starts to gear up. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is located between the knee bones. It holds the shin bone and thigh bone from sliding out of place. The ACL can either over-stretch or completely tear when it’s injured, causing immediate pain and oftentimes, inability to…

Most people have five primary senses—sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste. But do you think about how to use each of these senses to choose fruits and vegetables and improve your nutrition? The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends eating at least five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Rebecca Jilek, MPH, RD, LD, CDE, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center, says the amount of vegetables you eat isn’t the only thing you should take into consideration. She recommends using all of your senses to get the most nutritional…

This summer, as you head out for a pickup basketball game or a fierce tennis match with your old high school friend, remember one thing—warm up properly before hitting the court. “The middle-aged athlete, between the ages of 30-50, are the most common people I see with Achilles tendon tears,” says Dr. Nicholas Gates, an affiliated orthopaedic foot and ankle specialist at OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. Dr. Gates specializes in the reconstruction of the foot and ankle and performs surgeries at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. He adds, “There is a combination of factors that make the middle-aged athlete more prone…

Did you know that one out of four women over the age of 20* struggle with a pelvic floor disorder? Often, women suffer in silence, dismissing their issues as normal or just part of aging. [* source: American Urogynecologic Society] The urogynecology specialists at St. Elizabeth Physicians want you to know that while it’s common to have these problems, it’s not normal – and in many cases, it can be easily fixed. What are Pelvic Floor Disorders? Pelvic floor disorders are an encompassing group of conditions that affect the pelvic floor. The most common pelvic floor disorders include: Urinary incontinence…

At-home genetic testing kits are at the height of popularity right now. But is the information valuable – or just for entertainment? From 23andMe to AncestryDNA, there is an abundance of at-home genetic testing kits that are available right now. You simply buy a kit, mail in a saliva sample and six weeks later, the company emails you a report. The at-home genetic kits can tell you an assortment of fun facts, such as sweet vs. salty or your likelihood of going bald. The at-home kits can also narrow down the origins of your ancestors, shedding light on if your…

When you Google artificial sweeteners, you get a display of conflicting information. There’s a ton of mixed information out there and many, many different options on artificial sweeteners. According to Amber Cranfield, a Registered Dietitian at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center, the key is to use them in moderation and not overconsume one particular kind of artificial sweetener. “There are sweeteners approved by the FDA as food additives that are generally recognized as safe in limited quantities. However, some more recent studies aren’t conclusive, and they show some possible negatives to using artificial sweeteners including impacting our sweet…