Doctor-Reviewed Health Guides: Conditions, Procedures & Health News

Using a walker safely starts with adjusting it so the handles are at hip height and your elbows bend at a 15- to 25-degree angle. Push the walker forward one step, then step with your weaker leg, followed by your stronger leg. Look forward, not at your feet, and push off a stable surface when standing to prevent tipping.

Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) is a precise cancer treatment that uses imaging scans, such as X-rays or CT scans, to track a tumor's exact location immediately before and during radiation. Radiation oncologists can adjust the beam in real time for breathing or organ movement. Keeping radiation focused on the tumor protects surrounding healthy tissue and improves treatment outcomes.

An ileocecectomy is a bowel resection surgery that removes the terminal ileum, the end of the small intestine, and the cecum, the start of the large intestine. Because they share a blood supply, both are usually removed together when one is damaged by disease such as Crohn's or cancer. The surgeon then joins the healthy ends, called anastomosis.

A heminephrectomy is the surgical removal of part of a kidney, typically for people with a duplex kidney who have complications such as reflux or a ureterocele. It is done under general anesthesia, laparoscopically, robotically or as open surgery. Most people resume typical activities four to six weeks after minimally invasive surgery. Complications are not common.

Hand transplant surgery replaces a missing hand or part of the upper limb with tissue from a deceased donor, connecting bone, tendons, blood vessels, nerves and skin. The operation can take up to 24 hours or more, followed by intensive hand therapy and lifelong anti-rejection medication. It usually improves function, sensation and quality of life.

Genioplasty is a surgical procedure that augments or reshapes the chin for better facial harmony. The two main types are silicone chin implants and sliding genioplasty, which repositions the chin bone. It is typically done under general anesthesia through incisions inside the mouth. Recovery involves about a week of restricted activity and soft foods, with swelling fading over several weeks.

Gamma Knife surgery is a painless, noninvasive, computer-guided form of radiation therapy that delivers highly focused beams to tumors or lesions in the brain and upper spine; it uses no knives. It treats small brain tumors, arteriovenous malformations and trigeminal neuralgia. Most people go home the same day, though full effects can take weeks, months or longer.

A frenotomy is a quick surgical procedure that releases the tissue under a baby's tongue to treat tongue-tie, which can make breastfeeding painful or difficult. It is usually done in a doctor's office without anesthesia and takes about one minute. It is recommended when other methods fail to resolve latching problems, and most babies can breastfeed immediately afterward.

A fasciotomy is an emergency surgery that treats compartment syndrome by cutting the fascia around muscles to relieve pressure, which can otherwise cut off blood flow and cause permanent tissue death. Done under general anesthesia, it usually takes one to two hours. The wound is often left open until swelling settles, and physical therapy is essential during recovery.

An epidural blood patch (EBP) is a procedure in which a provider injects a small amount of your own blood into the epidural space around the spinal cord to seal a tear causing a cerebrospinal fluid leak. Such leaks cause intense spinal headaches. It is often recommended when rest or medication fails, and most people feel relief right away.

An esophagectomy is a major operation that removes all or part of the esophagus and rebuilds the digestive path so you can eat. It is most often used to treat esophageal cancer. The operation usually takes three to six hours, and recovery includes intensive care, up to two weeks in hospital and gradual progression from tube feeding to small meals.

Debulking surgery is a surgical intervention that removes the majority of a cancerous mass when surgery alone cannot cure it. It is most commonly performed for epithelial ovarian cancer and peritoneal mesothelioma, ideally aiming to leave no visible tumor at all, or at least none larger than one centimeter. It is typically combined with chemotherapy to target remaining cancer cells.

Cosmetic surgery is a wide range of procedures designed to enhance physical appearance, divided into surgical methods involving incisions and longer recovery and nonsurgical methods using lasers, chemicals or needles. Common options include liposuction, breast augmentation, Botox and dermal fillers. Procedures are generally safe when performed by board-certified specialists.

A cone biopsy is a surgical procedure that removes a cone-shaped piece of cervical tissue containing abnormal or precancerous cells for laboratory analysis. It is usually recommended after an abnormal Pap smear or colposcopy. Most patients recover within a week, though full healing takes longer. It is highly effective at treating cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and preventing cervical cancer.

Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) is a procedure in which a person inserts a thin, hollow tube into the bladder through the urethra to drain urine at regular intervals. It helps people with neurogenic bladder, spinal cord injuries or post-surgical retention. Emptying the bladder every four to six hours prevents urinary tract infections, bladder distension and permanent kidney damage.

A colostomy is an operation that connects part of the colon to a new opening in the abdomen, called a stoma, so stool bypasses damaged sections of the intestine and collects in an external bag. It treats conditions like colorectal cancer, diverticulitis and bowel obstructions. A colostomy can be temporary or permanent, and many people live active lives afterward.

A cholecystostomy is a minor surgical procedure that creates an opening in the gallbladder to insert a drainage catheter, letting infected bile and fluids drain out. It is primarily used for patients too ill for gallbladder removal surgery. Guided by imaging, it typically takes 30 minutes to an hour and provides temporary relief while the patient's condition stabilizes.

A cheek lift is a cosmetic surgery that lifts and smooths the upper cheeks and lower eyelid areas by repositioning the malar fat pads and securing them with internal sutures. Unlike a traditional facelift, it focuses solely on the midface. Most people who choose it are in their 40s and 50s, and the procedure typically takes about two hours.

Cheek implants are solid artificial materials surgically added to the cheek area to improve fullness and definition. They are commonly made of silicone or porous polyethylene and secured to the cheekbone. The procedure suits healthy non-smokers seeking a permanent alternative to fillers. Surgery takes up to an hour under general anesthesia, and most patients return to work within a week.

A cervical check is a manual exam in which a provider inserts gloved fingers into the vagina to assess the cervix's dilation, effacement and the baby's station. Some providers offer checks from around 38 weeks of pregnancy, while others wait until labor. They help monitor progress but do not predict labor length, and you can decline them.

A caudal epidural steroid injection (CESI) is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure for lower back and leg pain caused by inflamed spinal nerves. Using X-ray guidance, a provider injects steroid medicine into the epidural space just above the tailbone. Many people feel relief within two to three days, but a CESI usually provides temporary relief rather than a cure.

Bladder surgery is a procedure performed by urologists to treat conditions affecting the bladder, such as cancer, prolapse or incontinence. Bladder cancer is the most common reason and may require removing part or all of the bladder (cystectomy). Robotic surgery is the most common approach and can reduce scarring and healing time. Hospital stays can last up to one week.

Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) is a non-surgical procedure that improves breathing in people with severe emphysema or COPD. Tiny endobronchial valves placed in the most damaged lung areas let trapped air escape, easing shortness of breath. It typically takes 30 to 60 minutes and can relieve symptoms for two to five years, though it is not a permanent cure.

Bladder reconstruction surgery, specifically neobladder reconstruction, replaces a bladder lost to cancer, trauma or severe dysfunction. During the two-to-six-hour operation, a urologist removes the bladder and builds a new reservoir from a segment of small intestine, attached to the ureters and urethra for natural urination. In a 2016 study, more than 90% of patients achieved daytime continence within 18 months.