Orthopedic Conditions We Treat
Contact UsAt Trinity Health Of New England, you have access to care for all types of conditions and injuries that affect bones, joints and muscles. Our orthopedic surgeons coordinate with community providers to offer comprehensive treatment options.
Orthopedic Conditions and Treatment Options
Orthopedic conditions and injuries affect bones, joints and connective tissue, which includes:
- Muscles
- Tendons, tough cords of tissue that attach bones to muscles
- Ligaments, tough cords that connect bones and hold joints together
- Cartilage, tissue that protects the ends of bones and cushions joints where bones come together
We deliver the care you need. We may coordinate your care with your primary care provider or another provider in your community.
Orthopedic Conditions and Injuries We Treat at Trinity Health Of New England
We treat orthopedic conditions and injuries that affect bones, joints or connective tissue throughout the body. Find out more about the upper body and lower body conditions we treat.
Orthopedic injuries and conditions that can develop anywhere include:
- Arthritis: Osteoarthritis, which develops in joints, is the most common type of arthritis. It affects articular cartilage, the smooth, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones, reducing friction as bones in the joint move together. Wear and tear or an injury can cause this cartilage to break down, resulting in pain, inflammation (swelling) and stiffness.
- Bone fractures: High-impact trauma, such as falls, sports injuries or vehicle accidents, can cause broken bones. A stress fracture is microscopic bone damage caused by repetitive movement and overuse.
- Bursitis: Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion and reduce friction between bones and connective tissue such as tendons or ligaments. Bursitis is inflammation that can occur due to an injury or repetitive movement, such as running.
- Dislocations: A dislocation occurs when bones in a joint move partially or completely out of place. Dislocations can happen to any joint but most commonly occur in the shoulder, usually as a result of high-impact trauma.
- Joint instability: Instability can develop after repeated dislocations or other injuries that damage and weaken ligaments, tendons and muscles around a joint. Joint instability most commonly affects the shoulder, elbow, knee and ankle and increases the chances of further injury and arthritis.
- Sprains and strains: A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. Sprains and strains can result from overuse, falls, sudden twists or forceful impacts during contact sports.
- Tendonitis: Tendons can become painful, swollen and inflamed, usually due to overuse from repetitive movements in work or sports. Tendonitis most commonly affects tendons in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, knee, calf or ankle.
- Trauma: Forceful impacts that occur in vehicle or workplace accidents, sports injuries and falls can cause life-threatening injuries. Traumatic injuries are medical emergencies that require immediate treatment.
Spine, back and neck injuries and conditions
- Compression fracture: Osteoporosis (progressive bone loss due to aging) can weaken bones, including the vertebrae (bones in the spine). If a weakened vertebra receives a blow or too much pressure, it can crack.
- Radiculopathy: This condition, also known a pinched nerve, happens when the nerve is compressed where it branches off the spinal cord. The compression causes pain, numbness or tingling in the body, depending on the location of the pinched nerve.
- Spinal disc problems: Discs are flat, circular, rubbery pads between the vertebrae. They act as shock absorbers. A sudden twist, fall or direct impact to the back or neck may result in a herniated disc, which is also called a torn, ruptured, bulging or slipped disc. Normal wear and tear due to aging (degenerative disc disease) is another cause of disc problems.
Services vary at Orthopedic Care locations.