Common Orthopedic Issues in Men

Men and women can experience the majority of musculoskeletal problems, including bones, joints, and muscles, almost equally. However, based on gender, some distinctions do stand out. Males are more likely to sustain hand fractures and high-impact sports injuries, while females are significantly more likely to get the common ACL knee injury.

Males are more likely than females to suffer from several orthopedic issues. They differ structurally, especially in the knees and pelvis, and they each have a different pain tolerance.

Orthopedic Conditions Commonly Seen in Men

Below are some of the many conditions commonly seen in men:

Scheuermann’s Kyphosis

Often referred to as a “hunchback,” this is excessive forward-leaning rounding of the upper back. The vertebrae become wedged, and the spine’s growth is asymmetrical. While some people with this illness have extremely rounded backs and no pain, others have crippling agony that needs to be treated surgically. 

Malignant Hyperthermia

When the patient has undergone anesthesia before surgery, this potentially lethal syndrome causes a dangerously high body temperature, severe muscle spasms, and an excessively raised heart rate. The majority of people do not realize they have it until they are under anesthesia before surgery and start exhibiting these symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, if someone has this ailment, their first-degree relatives, a parent, sibling, or kid, are 50% more likely to also have it. The problem may not necessarily result in symptoms following initial anesthetic exposure; symptoms could surface at a later surgical procedure.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Males experience this childhood hip disease far more than females do. It happens when the blood supply to the femur head of the hip joint is cut off, causing the bone tissue to start to deteriorate and eventually die. 

A limp is the first symptom of this illness where one limb is typically affected, and rarely both. Degeneration of the femoral head results in a regenerated femoral head that may be irregular and painful for the patient because the “ball” portion does not fit properly into the hip joint. As a result of their tendency to bone deterioration, people with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease are more likely than the general population to develop osteoarthritis later in life.

Achilles Tears

Achilles tears occur three times more frequently in men than in women. Naturally, an Achilles tear happens when the tendon that connects your calf to your ankle is ruptured, and even though it is very powerful, the tendon is almost always at risk.

Men are more likely to damage their Achilles tendon due to the heavy amount of tension put on the tendon, which might result from playing sports like football and basketball that need a lot of cutting-foot action. The contact aspect of the sport makes it more likely that tendon injuries are common in these sports.

Finger Fractures

Men are much more likely to have fractures in their hands and fingers, where sports may play a large role. There may be other factors, too, like the slightest slip with a drill, lawnmower, screwdriver, or hammer that can result in significant damage. Men are more likely than women to use these tools.

Distal Bicep Tears

Your distal bicep tendon, which links your bicep to your forearm, can probably be felt as you move your arm. A distal tear is recognized by a loud pop that is followed by immediate, extreme pain, and may include arm bruising that occurs right away. This injury generally happens with heavy lifting, and smokers and other people with weaker muscles are more prone to it.

Trauma and Sepsis

Male survivors of significant trauma that includes severe blood loss following the injury had a much greater mortality risk than female survivors. Males are far more prone than females to experience organ failure, infection, and post-traumatic shock.

Treating Common Orthopedic Conditions in Men

Many orthopedic doctors prefer to take a conservative approach when treating these kinds of conditions above by using a combination of cold, heat, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Ice should be applied 24 to 48 hours after an injury to minimize inflammation, while heat therapy should be applied for more severe problems to help with blood flow and relax the muscles.

No matter the activities men participate in, or the job they hold, there are many easy precautions men can take to help prevent orthopedic injuries. These include keeping a healthy weight and engaging in a lot of physical exercise and a healthy diet. 

Takeaway

Both men and women can adjust their habits to lessen their risk of injury, even though it is not always clear why some of these orthopedic concerns are more common in one gender than the other. With senior patients, in particular, hazardous activities like climbing tall ladders should be avoided. Furthermore, both men’s and women’s overall health are greatly improved by keeping a reasonable weight and an active lifestyle.