Orthopaedic surgeons wake up to complementary medicine

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Orthopaedic surgeons wake up to complementary medicine

Orthopaedic experts in the US see benefits - and risks - in complementary

medicine, and have launched a website to inform their patients.

More and more people use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as part of

their health routine. It's especially popular with those who have bone, muscle

and joint (orthopaedic) problems. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

has been looking into CAM to assess how it can affect their patients.

CAM has a lot to offer, they conclude. For instance, glucosamine appears to be

an effective treatment for the pain and inflammation of arthritis. However,

doctors and patients also need to be aware of the potential drawbacks of certain

herbal remedies when surgery is scheduled. Dong quai, ginger, garlic, gingko

biloba, ginseng and St 's Wort can increase bleeding arising from surgery,

while the sedative kava kava may interact with anaesthetics.

The Academy has launched a website to share its work on CAM. To access this, go

to the Academy's website on http://www.aaos.org, highlight the Public and Media

Relations section, click on Newsroom and select the CAM icon.

Source

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons November 13 2001