Orthopedic Trauma Surgery

After you’ve gotten injured and are suffering from broken bones, fractures, or other wounds, you may require orthopedic surgery to help you recover. Orthopedic physicians prefer non-surgical methods but can apply surgical methods to make sure the trauma is completely fixed. Surgery can restore the function of your injured body parts and provide a solution for more complex injuries. Simpler injuries, such as hairline fractures and swollen joints, won’t require surgery and often just need rest. You may be guided to a physical therapist depending on the extent of the type of wounds you have. 

If your injuries are more severe or complicated in nature, it can be a good idea to speak to an orthopedic surgeon. For example, amputations, dislocations, and other traumatic injuries that involve high-impact damage to muscles and joints are good reasons to receive orthopedic trauma surgery. A reliable team can provide valuable knowledge and advice on different surgery strategies that can be used. You can speak with an orthopedic doctor to learn whether surgery is the right approach for your medical disorder and also explore other options. Contact Ceda Orthopedic Group to schedule a consultation. 

What Is Orthopedic Trauma Surgery Used For?

Most injuries to the musculoskeletal system can be treated with orthopedic trauma surgery to help reduce pain and restore function in the limbs, joints, and appendages. Broken bones and soft tissues can be treated to help repair blunt-force injuries. Here are some of the most common wounds that can be treated with orthopedic trauma surgery.

Spiral Fractures

This is a form of bone fracture that occurs when a long bone twists hard enough that it splits. These injuries are especially painful, and in addition to surgery, you will also need physical therapy and rest to help you recover. 

Comminuted Fractures

When your bone breaks into three or more portions, this is called a comminuted fracture. These are closed fractures that don’t cause the skin to break open after an injury has occurred. The skin remains closed in a comminuted closed fracture, which is simpler compared to compound fractures. 

Compound Fractures

When you receive a compound fracture your bone breaks into three or more pieces and pierces the skin.

Compression Fractures

Compression fractures happen when there is a loss of bone mass due to osteoporosis. This is caused by aging but can also be due to trauma that causes fracturing of the bones. 

Displaced Fractures

The ends of your bones can become misaligned when the fracture is displaced. When this occurs, bones have to be reset so they can be realigned. Without realignment, the bones can’t heal properly and may become malformed. 

Is Orthopedic Trauma Surgery For Me?

Not all fractures require surgery and can heal on their own. For less severe fractures, you can consider alternative treatment such as physical therapy, splints, casts, and pain medication. In the case that injuries are not healing or are not forming properly, such as malunion, pseudoarthrosis, and large muscle injuries, you can consider orthopedic trauma surgery. Some of the more severe conditions that can be treated with surgery include a broken leg, arm, hip, pelvis, shoulder, elbow, or collar bone. 

What Are The Most Common Types of Orthopedic Trauma Surgery Approaches?

After an injury, orthopedic trauma surgery can improve recovery time and reduce pain. When wounds don’t heal, you can consider one of the following treatments:

Bone Transplantation 

Bone transplantation is a type of reconstructive therapy that helps to accelerate the healing of bone defects and injuries. Bones can be replaced with a prosthetic to repair bones that can’t be recovered after a hard impact.

Bone Grafts

This is a surgical procedure that repairs diseased or damaged bones using bone from your ribs, legs, or hips to form a graft. It is useful for complex bone fractures that require delicate surgery. 

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Orthopedic surgeons can perform surgery through tiny incisions for procedures such as knee osteotomy, arthroscopies, joint replacements, and more. This can help you recover quickly without requiring the same length of time as open surgery. 

Joint Transplantation

When your joint is injured beyond repair and unable to heal, you can consider a total transplant of the joint. Joint transplantations can be used to fix a limb, hip, shoulder, appendage, and more. 

Nonunion Fractures

These are broken bones that have not healed and may require surgery to repair. Generally, broken bones and fractures will heal in six to twelve weeks. 

Soft Tissue Reconstruction

Soft tissues that are damaged can be reconstructed via surgery. This is commonly used in special cases, such as defects of tissues and degenerative diseases. 

Hip and Pelvis Surgery 

Hip and pelvis surgery can address disorders in muscles, tendons, joints, ligaments, and bones in the hip and pelvis region.

Should I Try Orthopedic Trauma Surgery?

If you are struggling with musculoskeletal injuries that won’t heal and have tried various approaches that don’t work for you, it might be prudent to speak to an orthopedic doctor. Pain medication, physical therapy, and other methods can be used for joint, muscle, tendon, ligament, and soft tissue injuries. Many of your wounds can be healed with rest and refraining from straining the area. However, sometimes this isn’t enough when you have a severe injury.

If your wounds are more complicated or deeply debilitating, an orthopedic surgeon can guide you on what type of intervention can help. They will screen you and perform a physical exam to understand your injury. You may undergo imaging scans and laboratory tests to diagnose the medical disorder. With these results, your surgeon can make an informed decision on what is the best approach for your health. To get started, contact Ceda Orthopedic Group to schedule a consultation.