Dislocations are an injury to a joint in which the ends of your bones are forced from their normal
positions. This injury then deforms and immobilizes the joint. It is most common in shoulder and
finger joints (2021). When a dislocation occurs, the person feels pain and is unable to then move
the joint, this deviates from the definition of health in that the body can no longer perform as
intended.
Classifying dislocations is a bit of a process, according to the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, two
main identifiers are used, the exact joint involved and the direction of the distal bone relative to the
proximal bone. This classification system uses a number system, the first number represents the
body part, while the second number "0" is for dislocation. An example would be "30", which
represents a hip dislocation. There are then subtypes that have a designation 1-5, 1 = anterior, 2 =
posterior, 3 = lateral, 4 = medial, and 5 = other (2007). These designations help medical
professionals determine a diagnosis.
Signs and Symptoms associated with dislocations can be visibly deformed or out of place, swollen or
discoloured, intensely painful, and immovable. Some of these signs can overlap with fractures, so it
is important to visit a doctor if any signs or symptoms arise. Testing can be done to determine the
extent of the injury, such as an MRI or an X-Ray. An X-Ray helps to confirm a dislocation and look for
any signs of fracturing, while an MRI can determine if there is any tissue damage surrounding the
dislocation.
Osteoporosis
Concept/Etiology: Osteoporosis is a bone disorder that causes bones to become weak and brittle
due to progressive loss of calcium in the bone (Story, 2017). Bones can become so weak making a
person prone to fractures which most commonly occur in the hip, spine, or wrist. Osteoporosis
normally occurs when new bone development struggles to keep up with the loss of old bone. In
osteoporosis, spongy bone becomes porous and compact bone begins to thin. Osteoporosis is more
prevalent in Caucasian or Asian women with women in elderly years being at a higher risk.
Classification: Osteoporosis is classified as a metabolic bone disorder because of the abnormal
levels of calcium that exist in the bone.
Clinical Manifestations: Signs and symptoms of osteoporosis include lower back or neck pain,
decrease in height up to 6 inches over time, easy fracture from little to no trauma, osteopenia and
kyphosis of the back.
Diagnostic Tests: Some diagnostic tests done to verify osteoporosis include, X-rays, spinal CT,
physical examination history, bone mineral density scans and serum tests for thyroid hormones,
calcium, estrogen, and vitamin D.
Concept and Etiology: Herniated intervertebral disk is a spine condition that the annulus fibrosus of
the spinal disk is so damaged that it causes nucleus pulposus of the disk herniate, causing pressure
on the nerves and/or spinal cord. The most common cause comes with age, as humans age the
nucleus pulposus becomes less hydrated and weakens. The 2nd most cause is trauma (accidental
movements, falls, car accidents.) Another common cause is connective tissue disorders, congenital
disorders such as short pedicles (Ruben Ngnitewe Massa & Mesfin, 2018). The common areas in the
spinal cord are lumbar and cervical.
Classification: There are 4 stages of Herniated intervertebral disk at the Nucleus pulpiosus
(Lachman, 2015).:
Disk bulging
Protruded nucleus pulposus (protrusion).
Herniated nucleus pulposus (extrusion).
prolapse of the nucleus pulposus.
Clinical Manifestations (Symptoms and Signs): Leg pain, Leg weakness, arm and/or leg pain and
numbness and tingling (Mayo Clinic for Medical Education and Research, 2018).
Diagnostic Tests: The physician may perform a neurological exam. The following imaging usual
confirms diagnosis: MRI, CT scan, Myelogram. Electromyography (EMG and nerve conduction
studies can detect the extent of nerve damage (Mayo Clinic for Medical Education and Research,
2018).
References:
Lachman, D. (2015). Analysis of the clinical picture in patients with osteoarthritis of the spine
depending on the type and severity of lesions on magnetic resonance imaging.
Reumatologia/Rheumatology, 53(4), 186–191. https://doi.org/10.5114/reum.2015.53995
Mayo Clinic for Medical Education and Research. (2018). Herniated disk - Symptoms and causes.
Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/herniated-disk/symptoms-causes/syc-
20354095
Ruben Ngnitewe Massa, & Mesfin, F. B. (2018, October 27). Herniation, Disc. Nih.gov; Stat Pearls
Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/
Story, L. (2017). Pathophysiology: A Practical Approach, (3rd ed).
https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781284142983
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021, October 16). Dislocation. Mayo Clinic.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dislocation/symptoms-causes/syc-
20354113#:~:text=A%20dislocation%20is%20an%20injury,common%20in%20shoulders%20and%20f
ingers.
Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins S103. (2007). OTA Dislocations.
https://ota.org/media/23187/97042.17Dislocatn-S103-S128.pdf
