JEDDAH: Dr. Tamer Abu Hamila, a consultant orthopedic surgeon, has said that spinal column injuries top the list of traffic accident injuries and represent the “vast majority” of persons hospitalized in the Kingdom. “This is due to tarmac roads and the failure to watch speeds on open highways, but the Saher traffic cameras have helped to reduce the number of spinal injuries by at least 50 percent,” he said. “There are other reasons for spinal injuries such as slipped discs which can result from poor posture and sitting in front of the computer for long periods, or because of weight increase.” He said that scientific advancements have helped doctors carry out spinal column operations without the need for surgery while other advances have been made in treatment through muscular exercise and rehabilitation. He also advised footballers to ensure that they warm up properly before playing to avoid injury to cartilage and persons with joint complaints and brittle bones to take early preventive measures, saying that the “ideal solution to brittle bones is prevention and early detection”. On the use of titanium in joint surgery, Abu Hamila said: “Doctors use it because it is a strong and lightweight substance that does not react with the human body. It is also very resistant to germs, and patients can be safely examined with magnetic resonance.”
