When you get a winter injury…

True winter has finally arrived, much to the delight of winter sports enthusiasts. However, whether on the ski slope or on an icy or snowy sidewalk, accidents are easy to happen – at this time of year, sprains and various types of joint or ligament injuries are unfortunately common. In such cases, the team at Wilmed Medical Clinic, specializing in orthopedic diagnostics and treatment, is here to help.

One of the most common winter injuries is an ankle sprain. It can occur in various, sometimes very trivial situations. In many patients – alongside the sprain – damage to the joint capsule and ligaments also occurs. The foot becomes bruised and swollen, and walking causes pain. If there is a complete ligament tear, the recommended procedure is ligament reconstruction surgery. This can be done through anatomical restoration or grafting. At Wilmed Medical Clinic, the orthopedic specialist decides on the surgical method after conducting a series of diagnostic tests and interviewing the patient. The patient is also supported throughout the entire recovery and rehabilitation period – after surgery, the leg usually needs to remain in a cast for about 6 weeks, and for the following 8 weeks, mobility is maintained with a special ankle stabilizer.

Another fairly common winter injury is damage to the Achilles tendon. Contrary to appearances, this injury is not limited to professional athletes. It can occur even in mundane situations, such as a sudden fall or quickly rising from a chair. It does not always involve a complete tendon rupture – sometimes it is stretched or partially torn, but each time it causes pain, tendon stiffness, or clicking during movement. Depending on the severity of the injury, specialists at Wilmed Medical Clinic select the most appropriate conservative treatment methods (immobilization of the limb in an orthosis, physiotherapy, walking with crutches) or surgical treatment.

Hands are just as often exposed to various conditions as the lower limbs. These are not always the result of injuries or accidents but can be due to lifestyle or genetic predispositions. A common condition among people working at computers or playing instruments is carpal tunnel syndrome, which manifests as pain and numbness in the fingers, as well as reduced manual dexterity. At Wilmed Medical Clinic, we offer treatment for this condition through surgical procedures, which have the highest effectiveness among all available therapy methods.

Another hand condition is so-called Dupuytren\’s contracture, which presents as a flexion contracture of the fingers, most often the ring and little fingers. This condition usually affects men over 40 years old. In such cases – instead of the previously most common surgical procedures – we offer patients treatment using the innovative Xiapex preparation. Under ultrasound guidance, it is injected directly into the hand, where it dissolves the contracted bands of connective tissue.

Treatment of any musculoskeletal injury can also be supplemented with platelet-rich plasma therapy. This substance is obtained directly from the patient’s blood, so it does not cause allergies or any adverse effects. Contrary to appearances, obtaining platelet-rich plasma is not particularly complicated. Blood drawn from the patient (in an amount similar to that taken for laboratory tests) is placed in a special centrifuge. Within minutes, red and white blood cells are separated from the plasma containing platelets, which are rich in growth factors that stimulate regenerative processes.

The obtained plasma is then injected into the area of the injured joint or tendon. Its application immediately stimulates the body\’s natural repair processes, speeding up wound healing as well as muscle and joint reconstruction.