This article is sponsored by UConn Health. It does not reflect the work or opinions of NBC Connecticut’s editorial staff. To learn more about UConn Health, visit health.uconn.edu.
Each year approximately 6.3 million fractures occur in the United States. Certain fractures require multiple, complex surgeries to bring patients back to full recovery.
Joyce became one out of 6.3 million after falling while enjoying one of her favorite activities - gardening. She tripped over her water hose and fell onto her porch, fracturing her elbow.
After surgery for a fractured albow failed elsewhere, Joyce was led to UConn Health's Dr. Joel Ferreira, a hand, wrist and elbow orthopedic surgeon with expertise in fracture care of the upper extremities, carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndromes, arthiritis, and arthroscopy of the wrist and elbow. Dr. Ferreira performed revision surgery on her elbow.
Fortunately, the experts at UConn Health are using prosthetic metal implants to allow patients who've experienced fractures to regain their range of motion. Fractures like Joyce's are fairly common, but Dr. Ferreira says that Joyce's case "was much more complex as she had already had two surgeries done on the elbow." Using a prosthetic metal implant of the right length and size, and removing her prior implant, Dr. Ferreira was able to give Joyce her range of motion back.
The physical therapy department at UConn Health worked with Joyce to help her return to the normalcy of using her arm for everyday activities, including eating, combing her hair and writing. "I'm very thankful for Dr. Ferreira and UConn for giving me this life back," she says.
To learn more about orthopedic care and sports medicine at UConn Health, click here.
