Tonsillectomy is a surgery recommended to remove the tonsils when they interfere with general health, hearing, or breathing.
There is some concern in the medical community that this procedure is performed more often than necessary, so a second opinion is encouraged
when a tonsillectomy is not specifically called for. Guidelines for surgical action include:
- 7 or more episodes of tonsillitis in 1 year
- 5 or more episodes per year over a 2-year period
- Enlarged tonsils that interfere with breathing
- An abscess in the tonsils
- Grossly asymmetric tonsils
Tympanoplasty is a reconstructive surgery to repair a damaged eardrum (tympanic membrane). The damage may be described as a rupture or a
perforation, and can be accidentally self-inflicted or caused by infection, head trauma, or traveling by air with a severe cold. Most cases of
eardrum perforation will heal naturally, but a physician can determine whether surgery will produce a better result.
Spinal fusion is a process to eliminate motion between selected vertebrae and is generally reserved for cases threatened by permanent weakness
or pain. Stabilizing the spine by artificially connecting vertebrae can relieve pain caused by back injury, infection, a displacement or weakening of
the cushion between vertebrae, or abnormal spinal curvature. Most spinal fusions will use bone grafts or metal rods to connect small segments in the
vertebral column and will not greatly affect spinal flexibility.
The rotator cuff is a group of four tendons, or stringy tissues, that connect shoulder muscles to the upper arm bone. When these tendons are weakened
by the aging process, torn by repetitive strenuous motion, or by abrupt heavy lifting, the rotator cuff must be surgically reattached. Many people are
affected by rotator cuff problems, and are able to restore shoulder functionality completely following surgery.
ACL is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament, one of the ligaments in the knee that secures the thigh bone to the shin and enables flexibility and movement
between the bones. It is very commonly damaged by athletes, or anyone pivoting suddenly after a high-impact landing. Surgery will repair a detached,
overextended, or torn ligament and restore pre-surgery health usually within 6-9 months.
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Orthopedic