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Some short men really struggle with their lack of height, feeling that they are both literally and figuratively looked down upon by others. That's why an increasing number of height-challenged men are turning to limb-lengthening surgery - an expensive, potentially painful, months-long procedure that will add a few extra inches to their frame. Limb-lengthening procedures have been around for decades, and have been typically used to correct illnesses and birth defects that cause one leg to be shorter than the other, said Dr. David Frumberg, co-director of the Yale Limb Restoration and Lengthening Program.

A 22-year-old woman from Darien was severely injured in a shark attack while snorkeling in the Turks and Caicos this week. Yale Orthopaedic trauma surgeon, Brianna Fram, MD, said, “Depending on the level of amputation, she could potentially return to a high level of function. My hope for her is that she has an amputation that functions well she can wear advanced prosthesis and return to any sporting activities that she desires and hopefully live a relatively normal life.”

The orthopedic industry is ever-changing, with new robots and surgical techniques seemingly always around the corner. But one aspect of this vibrant industry hasn't changed much since its conception — the lack of women in the operating rooms. Orthopedics has the least amount of female physicians when compared to other specialties, with just 10 percent of women making up the orthopedic workforce, according to Medscape's "Physician Compensation Report 2023," and that number shrinks when examining the number of women of color in the field. Five orthopedic surgeons from the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society, a networking organization for female orthopedic surgeons, connected with Becker's to discuss why there are so few women in orthopedics.

Chronic tendon issues are a frequent source of pain and can limit activity. They become more common with age, weight and certain activities, and early and appropriate diagnosis by a doctor is critical to get the best outcomes. The Achilles tendon is the biggest tendon in the human body. It connects the calf to the foot, and it is responsible for push-off power. The tendon is critical for stability during standing, walking, running and other activities. During muscle contraction, the tendon functions as a rope. It has elasticity to generate the tension required to handle the force of six times a person’s body weight.

It can feel intimidating to commit to an ongoing fitness plan, especially one that meets recommended guidelines in the U.S. The CDC recommends 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. While a single burst of short exercise — in this case, a 10-minute walk — won’t meet these moderate physical activity recommendations, you could still reach the goal by taking three 10-minute brisk walks each day.

Each year, Connecticut Magazine recognizes exceptional physicians in its annual “Top Doctors” issue. The 2023 list features more than 250 Yale Medicine physicians who were selected by their peers as the best in their fields, which includes 12 members of the Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation faculty.

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and with the summer season on the way, more motorcyclists will be heading out on the Connecticut roads and highways. These safety reminders are for everyone on the road. Whether you’re driving in a vehicle or a motorcycle, everyone needs to be cautious and share the road.

About 10% of people in the U.S. per year experience sciatica, which refers to pain caused by a compressed nerve in the lower spine that typically radiates from the low back down the leg(s), according to the CDC. Sciatica usually develops in people between the ages 30 and 50, but it can also affect younger people who may have nerve damage from an incident, such as a sports injury or a car accident, and older adults with conditions like arthritis. Although sciatica is common, various treatments may provide relief for sciatica pain and discomfort, according to experts.

Wolfgang Grosek is a visiting Marshall Plan Scholar from the Management Center Innsbruck (MCI) Entrepreneurial School in Austria who is conducting research at Yale thanks to a collaborative project between the School of Engineering & Applied Science (SEAS) and the School of Medicine. Grosek’s research project, which is entitled “Digitalization of the Physical Performance Test and Training,” will serve as the foundation for his master’s thesis in the field of mechatronics and smart technologies with a focus on electrical engineering at MCI. The research also has the potential to dramatically impact physical medicine and rehabilitation in orthopaedics.