• Nuts and seeds. Our skeletons are largely composed of calcium, but other minerals are essential for strong bones too. Research links low magnesium levels to fragile bones and calcium loss. All seeds are good magnesium sources, and an ounce of most varieties of nuts contains 10-20% of the recommended daily intake of magnesium.

• Leafy greens. Dark green vegetables are packed with bone-building nutrients, most notably calcium, magnesium and vitamin K. Research shows that hip fractures increase with too little vitamin K intake, since it’s essential to form bone proteins and cut calcium loss.

• Dairy. Fortified milk is a great source of vitamin D (opt for nonfat or 1% milk as they contain less saturated fat and cholesterol), an element which slows the loss of bone mass. Cheese, yogurt and ice cream also contain vitamin D in lesser amounts.

Remember, your body is able to absorb more nutrients from food than from supplements, so a diet rich in the above foods is always preferable to a less healthy, supplemented diet. For related health information from our Florida orthopaedic specialists, please visit the Patient Education section of our website.

At Shrock Orthopedic Research, we engage in two main types of clinical research:

• Observational. Observational research follows orthopedic patients over a certain period of time to collect samples and look for patterns in their health. These studies tend to require little involvement by the patient.

• Interventional. Interventional research evaluates specific medications, procedures or devices to determine if they more effectively treat a disease or medical condition. This requires an intervention of some type, such as a new treatment, test or surgery.

Located in the same facilities as Ft. Lauderdale Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Shrock Research draws study participants from all over South Florida who wish to participate in FDA-approved, cutting-edge orthopedic research. We are currently recruiting patients for several studies. For more information about our current studies or to become a research hero, please call (954) 400-5544 or email us at info@shrockresearch.com.

Simply put, orthopaedics is the branch of medicine that deals with the musculoskeletal system. “Orthopaedics” is the correct medical spelling for our specialty, though “orthopedics” is also an acceptable spelling. Florida orthopaedic specialists focus on the diagnosis and treatment of all types of disorders, conditions and injuries of the skeletal system and its associated muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments and nerves.

Over the years, the field of orthopaedics has expanded to include many subspecialties and the treatment of a wide variety of musculoskeletal disorders in patients of all ages. At Fort Lauderdale Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, our wide range of expertise helps us serve our patients in the following ways:

• Accurately diagnose a multitude of orthopaedic problems, including arthritis, sprains and strains, fractures, dislocations, sports injuries, and numerous causes of musculoskeletal pain.
• Create individualized treatment plans using the very latest skills and techniques.
• When possible, treat patients with conservative measures such as physical therapy, judicious use of anti-inflammatories and injections, and casting or bracing.
• Perform the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques, including arthroscopy of the shoulder, knee, hip, elbow and ankle.
• Utilize the latest available implants for partial or total joint replacement.

To learn more about how our leading orthopaedic specialists can help improve your quality of life, call Fort Lauderdale Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine today at (954) 400-5544. Our entire team is committed to providing top-quality orthopaedic care that is compassionate, understanding and respectful.

Ask your doctor about participating in the TRUST Study: A trial to evaluate ultrasound in the treatment of tibial fractures.

EXOGEN°

Ultrasound Bone Healing System

You are not alone:

Tibial fractures are the most common long bone fractures. In fact, nearly 500,000 occur every year in the United States.

The goal of using anintramedullary (IIM) nail during surgery is to stabilize the fracture to better allow the bone to heal.

Unfortunately, not all patients heal properly or at the same rate post surgery, so there is a need to investigate additional therapies.

What is EXOGEN° Ultrasound?

• Low intensity pulsed ultrasound is sent through a small transducer that is placed on your skin at your fracture site for only 20 minutes a day

• Ultrasound waves activate cells at the fracture site to increase natural growth factors that are essential to bone healing.

• Patients do not feel or hear the ultrasound waves.

• EXOGEN Ultrasound has been FDA approved to accelerate healing in certain fresh bone fractures and fractures that will not heal on their own.

The primary objective of the TRUST Study is to determine if EXOGEN Ultrasound is an effective treatment to accelerate the healing and return to function in patients who have received an IM nail during surgery for a fractured tibia. The FDA has not yet approved EXOGEN Ultrasound for the treatment of surgically treated fresh tibial fractures. This noninvasive device is considered investigational (experimental) for this purpose.

If you think you may be eligible for study participation or want more information about becoming a research hero, please call us at 954-400-5544 or email us at info@shrockresearch.com.