What is Orthopaedic Trauma?

Orthopaedic trauma refers to any injury to the musculoskeletal system caused by external force. This may include:

• Fractures (broken bones)
• Dislocations
• Ligament or tendon injuries
• Open (compound) fractures
• Polytrauma – where multiple injuries occur simultaneously

Prompt and expert treatment is vital to restore function, reduce pain, prevent complications, and support long-term recovery.

Common Causes of Trauma

Orthopaedic trauma can result from a variety of incidents, including:

• Road traffic accidents (RTAs)
• Sports injuries
• Workplace accidents
• Falls from height
• Assault or blunt force trauma

The severity of injury can vary significantly—from relatively minor fractures to complex injuries requiring multidisciplinary care and staged surgeries.

How is Orthopaedic Trauma Treated?

Treatment depends on the type and severity of injury, but typically includes:

• Initial assessment and stabilisation
• X-rays, CT, or MRI scans to determine injury extent
• Non-operative management (e.g. splinting, casting) for minor injuries
• Surgical fixation for complex or displaced fractures
• Follow-up care and rehabilitation to restore function and mobility

Professor Ghoz uses the latest techniques in trauma surgery, including minimally invasive fixation, biological reconstruction, and advanced trauma implants, to achieve optimal outcomes for patients.

Why Choose Specialist Trauma Care?

Choosing an experienced orthopaedic trauma surgeon ensures:

• Rapid and accurate diagnosis
• Expertise in managing both simple and complex injuries
• Tailored treatment plans for optimal recovery
• Minimised risk of long-term complications, such as stiffness, deformity or arthritis

Professor Ali Ghoz is highly experienced in managing acute trauma cases, often treating patients with high-energy injuries or complex fractures that require specialist care.

When Should You Seek Help?

You should seek urgent orthopaedic advice if you experience:

• Severe pain or deformity following an injury
• Inability to bear weight or move the limb
• Open wounds or exposed bone
• Signs of infection after injury or surgery
• Delayed healing or persistent pain after initial treatment elsewhere

Early, expert care improves the chances of a successful recovery and can prevent complications.

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Soft tissue injuries involve damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons, often resulting from trauma, overuse, or sudden movements.

Symptoms

• Pain and tenderness
• Swelling and bruising
• Limited range of motion
• Muscle spasms or weakness

Treatment

• Rest and immobilisation
• Ice therapy
• Medications: Pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs
• Physical therapy: Strengthening and flexibility exercises
• Surgery: For severe injuries like complete tendon tears

Recovery

Recovery time varies but generally ranges from a few days to several months, depending on the severity of the injury.

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Dislocations occur when bones are forced out of their normal positions, often due to trauma or accidents.

Symptoms

• Severe pain
• Swelling and bruising
• Inability to move the joint
• Deformity or visibly out-of-place joint

Treatment

• Reduction: Manually repositioning the bone back into place.
• Immobilisation: Using splints or braces to keep the joint stable during healing.
• Medications: Pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Surgery: In cases of severe or recurrent dislocations.

Recovery

Recovery time varies but generally ranges from a few weeks to several months, depending on the severity of the dislocation.

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PCL tears involve damage to the posterior cruciate ligament, another key ligament for knee stability, often resulting from direct impact or trauma.

Symptoms

• Knee pain and swelling
• Instability or feeling of the knee giving way
• Difficulty walking or bearing weight

Treatment

• Rest and ice therapy
• Medications: Pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs
• Physical therapy: Strengthening and stabilising exercises
• Surgery: PCL reconstruction for severe cases

Recovery

Recovery from PCL surgery typically takes several months, with physical therapy playing a crucial role.

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Post-traumatic arthritis is a form of osteoarthritis that develops after an injury to the knee, such as a fracture or ligament tear.

Symptoms

• Pain and swelling in the knee
• Stiffness and reduced range of motion
• Difficulty performing daily activities

Treatment

• Medications: Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs
• Physical therapy: Exercises to strengthen the knee
• Lifestyle changes: Weight management and activity modification
• Surgery: Knee replacement for severe cases

Recovery

Non-surgical treatments can provide relief within weeks to months. Surgical recovery typically takes 3-6 months.

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Fractures are breaks in the bones that can occur in various parts of the body, including the foot, ankle, hip, and around joint replacements. Fractures can result from trauma, falls, or excessive stress on the bones.

Symptoms

• Severe pain at the site of the fracture
• Swelling and bruising
• Inability to bear weight or move the affected area
• Deformity or visible misalignment of the bone

Treatment

• Immobilisation: Using casts, splints, or braces to keep the bone in place during healing.
• Medications: Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs to manage pain and reduce swelling.
• Surgery: In cases of displaced or complex fractures, surgical intervention may be necessary to realign and stabilise the bones using screws, plates, or rods.
• Physical Therapy: Rehabilitation exercises to restore strength and mobility after immobilisation or surgery.

Recovery

Recovery time varies depending on the location and severity of the fracture. Generally, it takes several weeks to a few months for fractures to heal. Physical therapy is often required to restore full function and strength to the affected area.

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Avascular necrosis, also known as osteonecrosis, is the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. This condition commonly affects the hip and knee, leading to joint pain and dysfunction. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent severe joint damage.

Symptoms

• Gradual onset of pain in the affected joint
• Limited range of motion
• Joint stiffness and swelling
• Pain that worsens with weight-bearing activities

Treatment

• Medications: Pain management and anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Physical Therapy: Exercises to improve joint function and reduce pain.
• Lifestyle Changes: Reducing weight-bearing activities and avoiding alcohol and corticosteroids, which can exacerbate the condition.
• Surgery: Options include core decompression, bone grafts, or joint replacement surgery (hip or knee replacement) to restore joint function and alleviate pain.

Recovery

Recovery depends on the severity of the condition and the treatment approach. Early interventions can lead to a quicker recovery, while surgical treatments may require several months of rehabilitation and physical therapy to achieve full recovery.

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Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints, including the hip and knee. The body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium (lining of the joints), leading to pain, swelling, and joint damage.

Symptoms

• Persistent joint pain and swelling
• Morning stiffness
• Fatigue and general malaise
• Deformed joints in advanced stages

Treatment

• Medications: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics to slow disease progression and manage symptoms.
• Physical Therapy: Exercises to maintain joint flexibility and muscle strength.
• Lifestyle Modifications: Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and quitting smoking.
• Injections: Corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation.
• Surgery: Joint replacement surgery (hip or knee replacement) for severe cases with significant joint damage.

Recovery

Management focuses on controlling symptoms and preventing joint damage. Surgical recovery involves several months of physical therapy and rehabilitation to restore joint function and mobility.

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Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects the cartilage within joints, including the hip and knee. Over time, the cartilage wears away, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. This condition is common in older adults and can significantly impact daily activities.

Symptoms

• Joint pain, especially during movement
• Stiffness after periods of inactivity
• Reduced range of motion
• Swelling and tenderness
• Clicking or popping sounds

Treatment

• Medications: Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation.
• Physical Therapy: Exercises to strengthen muscles around the joint and improve flexibility.
• Lifestyle Changes: Weight management, low-impact exercises, and avoiding activities that exacerbate symptoms.
• Orthotics: Custom shoe inserts or knee braces to support and stabilise the joint.
• Injections: Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections to reduce pain and inflammation.
• Surgery: In severe cases, joint replacement surgery (hip or knee replacement) may be necessary to replace the damaged joint with a prosthesis.

Recovery

Non-surgical treatments can provide relief within weeks to months. Surgical recovery, such as from hip or knee replacement, typically takes 3-6 months. Physical therapy is essential for regaining strength and mobility after surgery.

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A meniscal tear is an injury which typically occurs when playing sports. It is a painful injury which can happen when playing a variety of games including football, basketball, volleyball and rugby. A meniscal tear involves damage to the meniscus; a piece of cartilage which plays the vital role of providing both cushioning and stabilisation in the knee joint. The tear can lead to the ‘catching’ of a piece of cartilage in the knee joint.

Symptoms of a meniscal tear

The most common meniscal tear symptoms include; a popping sensation when the injury happens; severe pain in the knee; the knee becoming stuck or ‘locked’; and the inability to bend or straighten the leg.

While some sports players might be able to continue competing or training in the aftermath of a meniscal tear, this is usually only possible in the period prior to the inflammation setting in.

Causes of a meniscal tear

A meniscal tear can happen when sports players change direction at high speed, or jump. The injury can occur concurrently with other knee injuries like an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear.

Treatment options for meniscal tear

The treatment path which is chosen for a meniscal tear will come down to the nature of the individual’s condition; considering factors such as the location of the tear, and its size.

In the immediate aftermath of the injury occurring, the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) model can be effective in reducing inflammation and pain. In the weeks following a meniscal tear, physical therapy can focus on strengthening the muscles which support the knee joint. Stability can be improved by wearing a brace during this time. Medication such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) can also be prescribed.

For cases in which non-surgical treatment methods have proven ineffective, and typically when a large tear has caused the ‘catching’ of a piece of cartilage, surgery can be advised.

Arthroscopic surgery is one of the most common procedures used to address a meniscal tear. In many cases, it can offer the best solution to the problems of frequent pain and the instability of the knee, as well as the development of conditions such as arthritis. The surgeon will typically begin by viewing the tear using an arthroscope, before determining if damage is repairable, or whether the meniscus needs to be removed. If the meniscus is able to be repaired, an incision is made to allow surgical instruments to be inserted, and the torn edges of the meniscus can be sutured back into place.

An alternative type of procedure is a partial meniscectomy, which removes part of the meniscus, leaving the healthy section of tissue in place. The type of procedure which is chosen will depend on the location and size of the tear.

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