Osteoporosis of Hip (Fall Safe Device)

[Guest guest]

GOOD NEWS FOR THE ELDERLY

Hip Impact Protection Ltd is delighted to announce the launch of its innovative,

next generation aid in the protection of hips of the frail and elderly,

especially those with osteoporosis. Fall-Safe® protection has been developed by

using a new material - D3O® - that offers superior protection compared to other

materials of similar thickness. Uniquely, the Fall-Safe® protector is flexible

and specifically shaped to fit comfortably over the trochanter. With clever

internal contouring to minimise contact with the skin, it remains at a

comfortable temperature due to the air holes providing ventilation. With a

thickness of only 18mm, the protectors fit neatly into discreet, custom made

women's, men's and unisex, regular or incontinence pants. Read more....

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219165.php

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When patients need a bone graft for a foot or ankle surgery, bone often is taken

from another part of their body. Now surgeons are using new methods to get bone

material and even stem cells right " off the shelf, " according to Glenn M.

Weinraub, DPM, FACFAS, a California foot and ankle surgeon who is leading a

discussion among surgeons on the next decade of bone healing at the American

College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons' (ACFAS) Annual Scientific Conference in Fort

Lauderdale.

" Harvesting a patient's own bone has always been considered the gold standard,

but nowadays I think that concept should be thought of as the historical

standard, " said Dr. Weinraub, president of ACFAS. " The quality of the material

that is available in a prepackaged format has been shown to be just as effective

for bone healing and may yield fewer complications for the patient. "

Bone grafts are generally used for large open fractures with segmental bone

loss, broken bones that have not healed, bone tumors and reconstructive

procedures, among other conditions. According to Weinraub, grafts are

particularly helpful for patients who might not heal under normal conditions,

such as smokers, diabetics, people who are obese or patients with nutritional

deficits. " These are patients who may need a higher level of biologic activity

to enhance bone healing potential, " Dr. Weinraub said.

OK! This is what I've been waiting to see, stem cells being used to grow BONE

instead of organs. Would it be correct to think that perhaps one day soon, stem

cells may actually be used to fix/regrow (a) herniated disc(s) and/or the

vertebrae? Instead of the current procedure of harvesting bone from the patients

hip to make a " healing " paste to graft bone into the titanium cages now used in

most spinal fusions? If so, I wonder just how long it would be before any

" clinical trials” would happen? This could essentially transform spinal fusions

as we know it. To use wording from the article, harvesting bone from the hip for

fusions would become the " historical " standard and stem cell use would be the

" gold " standard. I find this article to be some of the best news for " failed

surgery syndrome " patients in a long, long time.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219001.php

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FYI,

Lottie