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Trauma care

Overview

What is Orthopaedic Trauma Care?

Orthopaedic trauma is a surgical subspecialty and is dedicated to the immediate and comprehensive management of acute injuries to the musculoskeletal system, made up of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. These injuries are often the result of high-impact events such as road traffic accidents, falls from height, or significant sports collisions.

Unlike elective orthopaedic conditions, trauma presents suddenly, frequently requiring urgent intervention to stabilise the patient, preserve limb viability and restore function. Run by orthopaedic surgeons, everything from simple fractures to life-threatening and complex poly-trauma involving multiple body systems falls under orthopaedic trauma care. Expert response during a critical moment makes all the difference.

Types of Orthopaedic Trauma Injuries

Trauma injuries are varying in their complexity and severity. Simple, closed fractures, such as instances where the bone breaks but does not pierce the skin, are quite common. In essence, however, orthopaedic trauma specialists in particular are specifically trained to manage high-energy, complex injuries. This also covers open fractures, where the broken bone protrudes through the skin and poses a significant risk of infection. Severe fractures, where the bone shatters into multiple pieces, and fractures damaging the surrounding joints, also fall under orthopaedic care.

Injuries sometimes extend beyond the bone itself. We manage complex dislocations of major joints at NMC like the shoulder, hip or knee. These can compromise blood vessels and nerves. The most orthopaedic trauma cases are experienced when a patient sustains multiple injuries alongside damage to the head, chest, or abdomen. This is known as polytrauma and requires coordinated care with other surgical specialties, in a true emergency trauma care setting.

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By its nature, orthopaedic trauma is not usually a matter of planned consultation. It’s the need for immediate medical attention following an accident. Physical symptoms like a visible deformity or unnatural angle of a limb, an open wound with a visible bone, or an inability to bear weight or move an injured area, require immediate attention. If patients see severe and immediate swelling, experience a loss of sensation or a "pins and needles" feeling in the limb, or notice pale, cool skin distal to the injury, they should visit a trauma specialist. Even an injury may seem manageable, patients should always be evaluated at a trauma clinic.

In a trauma setting, diagnosis is a rapid and systematic process. Patient stability is always the priority. All admissions begin with a primary survey (ABCDE approach), which addresses any immediate threats to life. A focused examination of the injured area to assess neurovascular status, soft tissue integrity, and stability takes place once the patient is stabilised.

We use X-rays to review bone alignment and fracture patterns. For more complex injuries, particularly those involving joints or the spine, we perform CT scans to offer detailed cross-sectional images. To evaluate associated damage to ligaments, tendons or cartilage, we use MRIs.

  • Complex fractures of the upper and lower limbs
  • Open fractures and high-energy poly-trauma
  • Peri-articular and intra-articular fractures
  • Pelvic and acetabular (hip socket) fractures
  • Complex dislocations and fracture-dislocations
  • Spinal fractures
  • Post-traumatic complications like non-unions (bones that fail to heal) and malunions (bones that heal in incorrect alignment)
  • Sports-related traumatic injuries

At NMC orthopaedic trauma departments across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain, we provide intervention at the right time with optimising long-term outcomes as our priority. For stable and minor fractures, we provide non-surgical management options such as casting or bracing. For the majority of trauma injuries, surgery may be the first line of treatment. Our trauma specialists are proficient in advanced surgical techniques. Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) are performed, where bones are realigned and secured with plates and screws. They also specialise in intramedullary nailing for long bone fractures.

We prioritise minimally invasive techniques and surgery where appropriate, to promote early mobility and preserve soft tissues. We follow established protocols for severe open fractures, like thorough wound debridement and staged reconstruction. At NMC hospital and clinic, our care is integrated. From the moment a patient enters our emergency trauma care system, they are supported by a team of orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthetists, specialist trauma nurses and physiotherapists. This collaborative approach ensures seamless care from resuscitation through to rehabilitation, whether patients are seeking a trauma specialist near them across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain.

Our consultant orthopaedic trauma specialists bring global expertise coupled with extensive experience in managing high-acuity cases. They lead a dedicated multi-disciplinary team that understands the physical and psychological challenges of recovering from a major injury.

Our consultations take patients through a recovery roadmap with clarity and compassion. This includes when surgical procedures are required. Nurses who specialise in trauma care and physiotherapists who design personalised rehab programmes are among our orthopaedic care teams. Our specialists provide guidance and reassurance beyond surgical expertise, extending to both patients and families navigating the distress of sudden injury.

FAQs

Find the Answer to Your Medical Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the principles of first aid. Protect the injured area from movement, apply ice packs wrapped in a cloth to reduce swelling, and elevate the limb if possible. Do not attempt to realign the bone. Seek immediate attention at the nearest hospital emergency department or trauma clinic.
Recovery is phased. For initial bone healing, it typically takes 6-12 weeks. It can take up to 6 months to a year or more for full recovery of strength, range of motion, and function. It all depends on the severity of the injury and the individual's commitment to physiotherapy.
Yes. Our specialists manage post-traumatic complications like malunions and non-unions. Correctional surgeries to improve alignment, reduce pain, and restore function are performed by our surgeons.
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