Summary Knee replacement surgery, also known as arthroplasty, is usually necessary when the knee joint is worn or damaged, leaving mobility reduced and the patient in pain even while resting. Knee replacement surgery is considered when all other forms of conservative treatment have been exhausted. The procedure involves removing all or part of the knee […]
Overview One in every five Australians suffer from chronic pain. Whether it is the slice of a paper cut, the crack of a broken bone, the throb of a headache or an ache that niggles in your back, pain serves an important purpose. It warns us when we are injured or when something is not […]
Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs. The lungs are made up of small sacs called alveoli, which fill with air when a healthy person breathes. When an individual has pneumonia, the alveoli are filled with pus and fluid, which makes breathing painful and limits oxygen intake. Pneumonia is the […]
This week in LexiMed Educates we are looking at a potentially fatal condition that is of an increasing danger to the westernised society; the heart attack. There were 22,983 deaths in 2006 due to coronary heart disease. This was 17% of total deaths of that year. It is also worth knowing that women may have […]
Overview We all realise when we have a bit too much fat around the midriff, it is plain for all to see. What about having too much fat in your liver? You cannot see it or feel it, so most people do not even know it is present. Fatty liver disease is common in westernised […]
Introduction The liver is a large, meaty organ that sits on the right side of the upper abdomen. It is the second largest organ in the body, after the skin. Weighing one and a half kilograms on average, the liver is reddish brown in colour and feels rubbery to the touch. It is protected by […]
Medical Condition of the Elbow Lateral epicondylitis is a painful condition of the elbow. It is also known as tennis elbow because it is common in tennis players. It is generally an overuse phenomenon resulting in inflammation of the epicondyle. Anatomy The elbow joint is made up of three bones, the humerus, radius and ulna. […]
Overview An embolus is something that travels through the bloodstream and lodges in a place where it would not ordinarily be. A fat embolism has nothing to do with being overweight. It occurs when a fat particle or droplet travels through the circulation and eventually blocks a blood vessel. Fat emboli tend to be small […]
Overview The word jaundice comes from the French word jaune which means yellow, describing the colour of the skin, conjunctiva, mucous membranes, sclera and whites of the eyes, of a patient who is suffering from jaundice. Jaundice is a symptom as opposed to a condition. If jaundice is present it means there is an excessive […]
Overview When irreversible liver failure occurs, the only option for treatment is for the patient to have a liver transplant. A liver transplant is when a patient undergoes surgery to remove a diseased or malfunctioning liver to be replaced with a complete or portion of a healthy liver that has been donated by another person. […]
