What Are Orthopaedic Trauma and Fracture Services?
Orthopaedic trauma and fracture services provide treatment for injuries to the joints, bones, tendons, muscles, and ligaments in your body.
What are the most common forms of orthopaedic trauma?
Common forms of orthopaedic trauma include broken or crushed bones, dislocated joints, sprains, and strains. Broken bones can occur from high-energy trauma, such as a car or motorcycle accident, or low-energy trauma, such as a fall from standing height or less.
What Orthopaedic Trauma and Fracture Conditions Do You Treat?
The surgeons at UPMC treat a broad range of traumatic conditions, fractures, and injuries, including:
- Acute injuries of the musculoskeletal system — We treat fractures, sprains, and strains, including those that occur during sports
- Dislocations — We treat dislocations of lower and upper limbs.
- Fractures — We treat acute broken bones, including periprosthetic fractures (those near joint replacements).
- Injuries to the pelvis and hip socket — We treat fractures, dislocations, and more.
- Post-traumatic conditions — We treat nonunion (previously broken bones that didn’t heal) and malunion (bones that didn’t heal properly). We also treat infections and damage to muscles, tendons, and nerves that may occur after injury.
Fractures we treat include:
- Ankle
- Clavicle
- Distal radius
- Elbow
- Femur and hip
- Foot
- Forearm
- Heel (calcaneus)
- Humerus
- Patella
- Pelvis and hip socket (acetabulum)
- Tibia
What Orthopaedic Trauma and Fracture Services Do You Offer?
The experts at UPMC offer leading-edge treatments and procedures for traumatic injuries to the bones and surrounding tissues.
Surgical fracture treatment
Our surgeons perform surgical procedures to repair broken bones using internal fixation (rods, plates, and screws placed under the skin), as well as external fixation (devices placed outside the skin to hold your bones in place during healing).
Minimally invasive surgery
Our surgeons use innovative methods and computer-navigated tools to treat broken bones and other orthopaedic injuries. When possible, surgery is done through small incisions for less damage to surrounding tissues and a faster recovery.
Joint replacement
Our orthopaedic trauma team offers joint replacement surgery for acute and post-traumatic orthopaedic injuries.
To ensure you receive complete trauma care, we also work with other UPMC specialists, such as:
Specialized orthopaedic trauma procedures
UPMC surgeons have treated thousands of broken bones and other orthopaedic injuries, performing complex surgical procedures, including:
- Arthroplasty — A surgical replacement of joints.
- Limb salvage— Working with vascular and plastic surgeons to save injured limbs that may otherwise require amputation.
- Living tissue transplant and reconstruction — Using autograft (bone or tissue transplanted from one part of your body to another, or an allograft (bone or tissue transplanted from another person’s body to your body.
Specialized fracture treatment at UPMC
Our team performs specialized fracture procedures, including:
- External fixation — A procedure to stabilize and realign a broken bone using devices placed outside your skin.
- Intramedullary nailing — A procedure to stabilize a broken bone using a metal rod.
- Open reduction and internal fixation — A procedure to stabilize and realign a broken bone using metal plates, rods, or screws placed under your skin.
What Can I Expect from Orthopaedic Trauma and Fracture Services?
Our team of orthopaedic experts will create a personalized and comprehensive plan to manage your condition and reduce your risk of complications.
When Should I See an Orthopaedic Trauma Specialist?
If you have multiple injuries from a car crash or other trauma, you may be taken straight to the emergency department (ED). When you get there, if you have a fracture where the bone is visible, severe bleeding, or loss of consciousness, ED doctors will treat you immediately.
If your injuries involve bones or connective tissue, you'll see an orthopaedic trauma specialist as soon as possible. They may come straight to the emergency department.
Other reasons to see an orthopaedic trauma specialist include:
- You have an acute (sudden) injury that’s not responding to at-home treatments like icing or over-the-counter pain medicine.
- You have pain from an injury (constant or occasional) that’s lasted more than three months.
- You have trouble standing or moving around.
- Your range of motion is limited.
- Your symptoms are affecting your daily life.
Before your visit
To prepare for your visit, you will be asked to provide:
- A referral, if required by your health insurance company.
- Insurance information.
- Relevant medical records and test results.
If you get a referral from your primary care doctor or another physician, they may be able to provide your test results and medical records to our team.
During your visit
You'll meet with a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant when you arrive for your first appointment. They will ask about your medical history and perform an exam.
Your care team may order tests to learn more about your condition and provide a diagnosis.
After you receive a diagnosis, your health care provider will explain your treatment options based on how long you've had symptoms, your condition, and your health history.
Together, you will design and agree on a care plan.
If necessary, your provider may:
- Order additional tests.
- Recommend nonsurgical treatment.
- Refer you to another provider.
- Schedule a procedure in the office, a surgery center, or the hospital.
After your treatment
Our team will schedule follow-up appointments as needed.
You should contact our office if:
- You have questions about your treatment plan or medications.
- Your symptoms get worse or do not improve as expected.
- You have any other concerns about your condition.
Why Choose UPMC for Orthopaedic Trauma and Fracture Services?
When you choose UPMC for your orthopaedic trauma and fracture services, you will receive:
- Access to world-class orthopaedic expertise — Our world-renowned experts treat the full spectrum of traumatic orthopaedic injuries using the latest surgical techniques.
- Advanced diagnostic care — We’ll diagnose your injury and work with you to develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
- A full range of treatment options — We offer nonsurgical care, as well as minimally invasive and traditional surgical approaches and rehabilitation, depending on your individual care needs.