Orthopedic trauma is a serious injury to any part of your musculoskeletal system following a traumatic incident involving a collision or crushing force. This is especially common among car accident victims, athletes, and patients who are weak or have brittle bones.
Orthopedic trauma medicine is a subspecialty that deals with injuries of this nature. Orthopedic doctors who specialize in trauma medicine are able to treat severe bone, joint, and muscle injuries that require urgent medical attention.
These injuries may or may not be life-threatening, but they always need highly specialized medical care. For instance, patients with multiple broken bones or compound fractures will benefit from the unique capabilities of orthopedic trauma medicine practitioners and orthopedic trauma surgeons.
Trauma surgeons are found in hospital emergency rooms and trauma centers all over the country, providing emergency care to patients with traumatic musculoskeletal emergencies.
Causes of Orthopedic Trauma
Orthopedic trauma medicine involves the treatment of bone fractures, dislocations, amputations, or traumatic injuries to one or more muscles or joints. The most common causes of orthopedic trauma are vehicular accidents, pedestrian accidents, home or workplace falls and slips, sports injuries, assault and gunshot wounds, and natural disasters.
For prior fractures that have not healed properly and are now misaligned, surgery is usually recommended to repair the bone and realign it – this involves the orthopedist essentially cutting the bone again and repositioning it via rods, screws, plates, or other materials to fix it into place for proper re-healing.
Orthopedic trauma surgeons follow their patients’ recovery and are there to oversee or track every phase of care. A patient who has experienced orthopedic trauma is at risk of infection, blood loss, permanent injury, disability, or even death, so continuity of care is imperative.
Treatment for Orthopedic Traumatic Injuries
Unlike urgent care centers which do not treat life-threatening conditions, trauma centers are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, just like hospital emergency rooms. Orthopedic trauma clinics are staffed by physicians who have specifically studied and trained in trauma medicine, and they are ready to treat severe injuries of all kinds.
Emergencies can happen anytime, which is why there are orthopedic trauma doctors available at any time in an emergency. They evaluate and make a careful decision as to what the patient needs, and the physician directs treatment according to the assessment.
Orthopedic Trauma Surgeons in Northeast Ohio
An orthopedic trauma can happen to anyone. Any severe injury due to a traumatic sports event, work injury, or car accident is considered a traumatic injury and requires prompt medical attention.
If this happens to you, you need to see a board-certified orthopedic trauma surgeon for the best outcome, not just a general surgeon. If you are in the Westlake or Avon area, you can trust our orthopedic team here at Orthopaedic Associates to give you the best care available anywhere.
At Orthopaedic Associates, our highly experienced orthopedic surgeons will provide you superior healthcare. To find out more or to schedule an appointment, call our team today at (440) 892-1440. We look forward to taking care of you and your family.