Jessica Hannigan has done plenty of exploring since establishing herself in Lewis and Thurston counties last year. Originally from South Carolina, and having done her physician assistant schooling in Tennessee, exploring the new and unique environments of the PNW was only natural for her. The new opportunities allow her to express her interest in finding new challenges outdoors, and in the clinic, and speak to her active disposition. If you know Jessica, you know she likes to keep moving. Her coworkers may know that best. What you do not see as a patient while waiting to be seen in our orthopedic clinic is the hustle and bustle through the hallways. No matter the reason to be hurrying through the halls, it is up to each individual provider team to stay on time and have all the necessary documents for each of the day’s patients. Jessica is among the quickest in the clinic; she always seems to be everywhere at once. Jessica says it seems this way because she enjoys the challenge. Joining a new practice means encountering many new challenges, and for many, the best way to combat the challenges is by allowing more time to spend on them by getting from [...]

A Dupuytren’s contracture is the result of thickening fascia beneath the skin of the palm most often near the pinky and ring fingers. Over time the skin at the base of an affected finger will become thicker before finally creating a knot and dimple appearance. A knot formation is indicative of the fascia thickening aspect of Dupuytren’s. Fascia is a layer of tissue between the skin and muscle layers that help anchor down your skin. Otherwise, the skin on your palm could be manipulated much like the skin on the back of your hand. As the fascia tightens into a knot like structure, the tightened skin and fascia cause the fingers to become progressively flexed, making extending the fingers difficult. Unlike a similarly presenting problem, trigger finger, Dupuytren’s does not involve any tendons. Although there is no known cause of Dupuytren’s, there are several risk factors:• Gender: The prevalence is greater in men than women• Ancestral Descent: People from Northern European or Scandinavian descent are most likely to develop the condition• Age: Likelihood increase with age• Alcohol & Tobacco Use: People who smoke and drink more regularly are more likely to present with the condition• Medical Conditions: People with diabetes [...]

#1: “Total joint replacements are only for the elderly.” There is no age prerequisite to total joint replacements. While the rate of receiving a total joint replacement is great for ages 64-85, younger adults are more frequently receiving total joint replacements every year. In fact, one study analyzed the trend of knee replacements done in adults aged 45-64 over a ten year period ending in 2014 and saw a 188% increase in total knee replacements in that population over ten years. However, it’s best to keep in mind that the younger one is and the longer that person lives, the more likely they are to need a revision or replacement of their prosthetic. Studies show that 85% of total knee replacements last 20 years and that around 10% of patients will need a revision at some point. #2: “Cracking knuckles causes arthritis.” No one can definitively say that cracking knuckles causes arthritis. In fact, studies have shown no difference in the prevalence of arthritis between those who crack and do not crack their knuckles. On the contrary, some anecdotal accounts have stated that cracking their knuckles has resulted in some cartilage damage and one study looking at the side effects of knuckle [...]

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