Can I Still Grow Taller? Understanding Growth Potential at Age 13
Is there still a chance for me to grow taller? 1) I am 13 years old, 163 cm tall, and weigh 50 kg. I started developing at the age of 11, and over the past two years, I have only grown an average of 3-4 cm per year. Do I still have a chance to grow taller? My goal is to reach 175...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello Joe: The closure of the growth plates in bones needs to be determined by X-ray. Once they are closed, that part of the bone will no longer grow unless surgery is performed. However, you may still have a chance to grow taller, but it will not be a rapid increase in height. O...[Read More] Can I Still Grow Taller? Understanding Growth Potential at Age 13
Neck Injury After Fall: When to Seek Medical Attention
Neck issues I accidentally fell during class yesterday and hit my neck on the corner of the desk. Could there be any issues? Do I need to get any tests done?
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: If you experience severe pain, limited mobility, numbness, or weakness, please seek medical attention for an examination. Changhua Hospital Orthopedics, Dr. Li Wen-Hong.[Read More] Neck Injury After Fall: When to Seek Medical Attention
Understanding Growth Plate Injuries in Young Athletes: Risks and Treatments
Growth plate injury Hello Dr. Lee, Today I took my 13-year-old son for a knee examination due to recurring pain for the past two to three months. The X-ray revealed some bone growth on the growth plate of his right knee, which is quite noticeable to the touch. Since my son loves...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello Mr. Li: The bony prominence you are feeling is likely the tibial tuberosity. In adolescents aged 13 to 15, excessive physical activity can lead to prominence and pain in this area, but it typically does not hurt when not engaging in strenuous activities. Therefore, it is im...[Read More] Understanding Growth Plate Injuries in Young Athletes: Risks and Treatments
Is Elevated Temperature Normal After Bone Surgery Recovery?
After wound healing, the temperature at the surgical site is elevated? At the end of March, I suffered a distal tibial fracture in my left lower leg due to a car accident. I underwent intramedullary nailing surgery, and it has been about 40 days since the procedure. The wound had...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: During the healing process, increased local blood flow is normal, resulting in higher local temperatures. Please discuss the details with your attending physician during your follow-up visit. If you experience a systemic fever along with noticeable redness, swelling, heat,...[Read More] Is Elevated Temperature Normal After Bone Surgery Recovery?
Understanding Patellar Fractures: Recovery Tips and Exercise Guidance
Patellar fracture issues? Hello, doctor. Over two weeks ago, I fell and fractured my left patella. The X-ray showed a transverse crack, approximately 2/3 deep, but it is not a complete fracture. Therefore, my attending physician advised me to use a brace to keep it immobilized at...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: Each person's condition before the injury is different, but generally, a fracture requires immobilization for at least 6 weeks. Since your fracture is an incomplete fracture, the immobilization period may be slightly shorter; please follow your attending physician...[Read More] Understanding Patellar Fractures: Recovery Tips and Exercise Guidance
Can Long Legs Predict Height Growth in Adolescents?
Can leg length contribute to height increase? Hello, doctor. My height is currently 147 cm, making me the shortest boy. Although I am short, I have long legs. I am in the first year of junior high school, and I know I still have a lot of time to grow taller. However, people aroun...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello, Jie! Having long legs (lower limbs) does not necessarily mean that one will be very tall. During the growth process, the growth plates in the lower limbs develop first, which is why it may seem like the upper and lower limbs grow longer initially. However, they may also st...[Read More] Can Long Legs Predict Height Growth in Adolescents?
Understanding Growth Guidance Surgery for Limb Length Discrepancy in Children
Treatment for leg length discrepancy? Hello Doctor, my daughter has congenital clubfoot on her left foot, and she has been receiving treatment since birth. She is currently 8 years old. Aside from a noticeable size difference in the soles of her feet, she also has a leg length di...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: 1. The risks associated with reverse growth guidance surgery are similar to those of general orthopedic surgeries; however, children tend to have faster healing times and lower risks of nonunion or infection. Side effects may include excessive growth suppression or uneven ...[Read More] Understanding Growth Guidance Surgery for Limb Length Discrepancy in Children
Can I Still Grow Taller? Understanding Height Concerns in Adolescents
Could you please provide more details about the height issue? I am a third-year junior high school student, and my height is only 165 cm. I had a bone age assessment, and the doctor said that my height is almost at its maximum and that I cannot receive growth hormone injections o...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: Your height is normal, and there is no need for further injection treatment. Just let it be, thank you! Changhua Hospital Orthopedics Dr. Li Wen-Hong[Read More] Can I Still Grow Taller? Understanding Height Concerns in Adolescents
Understanding Patellar Dislocation: Recovery, Prevention, and Support Gear
Patellar dislocation On November 7th, I injured my left knee by colliding with a chair, resulting in a patellar dislocation. That same day, the school promptly took me to Cheng Hsin General Hospital, where the dislocated bone was manually reduced. The next day (November 8th), I v...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: Removing the cast early and starting to move is to prevent knee joint fibrosis and stiffness. For more details, please consult the attending physician. Generally, after an acute injury, immobilization is required for 2 to 3 weeks, but if there is no obvious instability, ac...[Read More] Understanding Patellar Dislocation: Recovery, Prevention, and Support Gear
Can I Still Grow Taller at 16? Understanding Growth Plates and Height
Height does not increase? At 16 years old, you sometimes engage in masturbation and have a smoking habit. Currently, your height is 167 cm, while your brother's height is 178 cm. You are unsure if your growth plates have closed and if you still have a chance to grow taller. ...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: An X-ray of the knee joint can determine whether the growth plates have closed, but it cannot accurately predict how much taller you will grow. Your height is already 167 cm, so just let it happen naturally. Changhua Hospital, Orthopedics, Dr. Li Wen-Hong.[Read More] Can I Still Grow Taller at 16? Understanding Growth Plates and Height
Understanding Growth Plate Issues: Can You Still Grow Taller?
Growth plate issues I am currently 173 cm tall. A few days ago, I went to the hospital for an X-ray of my knee, and the doctor told me that the growth plate at 3764 has a height increase ratio. He then mentioned that the growth plate below the knee is nearly fused and that the sm...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: It is no longer possible to significantly increase height; only a little more growth is possible. Thank you! Wishing you good health! Orthopedics, Changhua Hospital, Dr. Li Wen-Hong.[Read More] Understanding Growth Plate Issues: Can You Still Grow Taller?
Understanding Open Fractures: Complications and Recovery After Surgery
Open fracture I suffered a comminuted fracture in my hand due to a car accident, and after surgery on July 13, the doctor used steel pins and plates, as well as an external pin (inserted through the skin). About a week after the surgery, I noticed some discharge that resembled pu...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: Based on your description, the so-called "external fixation pins (that are placed on the skin)" refer to percutaneous pins that are partially exposed through the skin. Due to friction between the pins and the skin, there may often be serous fluid leakage, which c...[Read More] Understanding Open Fractures: Complications and Recovery After Surgery
Understanding Growth Plates and Height: A Guide for Parents
Growth plate height Hello, doctor. My son is currently a freshman in high school and just turned 16 years old, with a height of 167 cm. He injured his ankle in April and had an X-ray taken. The doctor indicated that the growth plate in his ankle has already healed, and suggested ...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: (1) You may consult your Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physician regarding the prescription of Chinese herbal medicine. Personally, I suggest that it may be best not to take it, but I have no evidence to support or refute TCM treatments. (2) During puberty, long bones...[Read More] Understanding Growth Plates and Height: A Guide for Parents
Post-Surgery Rehabilitation for Congenital Foot Deformity Correction
Postoperative issues I have congenital bilateral clubfoot deformity and underwent bilateral osteotomy correction surgery one and a half months ago. I have recently had my cast removed and the screws taken out. I would like to know what kind of rehabilitation and walking practice ...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: Please consult the original surgeon at the orthopedic outpatient clinic or visit the rehabilitation department for an evaluation before deciding how to bear weight while walking. Changhua Hospital, Orthopedics, Dr. Li Wen-Hong.[Read More] Post-Surgery Rehabilitation for Congenital Foot Deformity Correction
Understanding Shoulder Dislocation and Fracture Recovery: Common Concerns
Humeral head dislocation fracture I fell on April 4th and may have hit the wall, resulting in only a knee abrasion. However, my entire right shoulder is painful and has shifted forward. I went to the emergency room at China Medical University Hospital. After the doctor examined m...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: You have symptoms of swelling, pain, and numbness. If these symptoms persist for a long time and it has been 3 months since your surgery, please return to the outpatient clinic for further evaluation. Changhua Hospital Orthopedics Dr. Li Wen-Hong.[Read More] Understanding Shoulder Dislocation and Fracture Recovery: Common Concerns
Understanding Bone Friction and Pain After Wrist Fracture Surgery
Bone friction and pain upon exposure to cold? It has been a year and a half since I suffered a distal radius fracture, and the titanium alloy plate and screws inside have not yet been removed. I often feel a friction sensation at the protruding area of the bone when I rotate my p...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: If discomfort occurs only during the transition between hot and cold weather, physical therapy (such as heat therapy) may be sufficient. However, if there is a persistent foreign body sensation and inflammation and pain in the tendons around the wrist due to friction, a fo...[Read More] Understanding Bone Friction and Pain After Wrist Fracture Surgery
Understanding Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis in Children: Treatment Options Explained
Growth plate slippage I would like to inquire about a fourth-grade child. If the growth plate at the connection between the femur and the pelvis has slipped, what treatment options are recommended? Is surgery necessary?
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: The growth plate slippage at the upper end of the femur should be surgically fixed with steel pins to prevent further displacement. Other treatment methods such as non-weight bearing, bed rest, using a wheelchair, or crutches are unlikely to prevent further slippage and sh...[Read More] Understanding Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis in Children: Treatment Options Explained
Alternatives for MRI Scans When Unable to Lie Flat: A Guide
If lying flat is not possible, how to perform a spinal MRI? Hello Dr. Lee, My mother is 74 years old and just underwent a vertebroplasty on her 12th thoracic vertebra two weeks ago. She is still experiencing pain in her chest and abdomen post-surgery, although it is less severe ...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Change to computed tomography (CT scan).[Read More] Alternatives for MRI Scans When Unable to Lie Flat: A Guide
Can Non-Surgical Treatment of Fibula Fracture Lead to Full Recovery?
Will a non-surgical treatment for a displaced fibula fracture allow for complete recovery in the future? Hello, Doctor: This year, before the Lunar New Year, I fell while playing basketball and fractured the fibula in my left leg (approximately 8 cm above the ankle). The X-ray sh...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: Based on your description, conservative treatment (non-surgical) for the fibula fracture is feasible. As for whether complete recovery is possible, it depends on your definition of "complete recovery." With a 4mm displacement, is it considered incomplete if it is...[Read More] Can Non-Surgical Treatment of Fibula Fracture Lead to Full Recovery?
Understanding Pediatric Finger Pain: When to Seek Further Evaluation
Hand issues Hello doctor, my child's third phalanx of the middle finger swells and hurts after physical activity. It improves with rest or warm compresses. An ultrasound has been done, and there are no issues with the bones or ligaments. The doctor advised observation and wa...
Dr. Li Wenhong reply Orthopedics
Hello: Please follow the physician's instructions and return for regular follow-up appointments. Whether further examinations are necessary will be determined by the attending physician. Wishing you safety! Orthopedics, Changhua Hospital, Dr. Li Wen-Hong.[Read More] Understanding Pediatric Finger Pain: When to Seek Further Evaluation