Severe injury to one or more organs or tissues in the musculoskeletal system is considered orthopedic trauma. It is an injury affecting the joints, bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, or any of the related tissues and vessels. Car accidents and sports injuries are two of the most common causes of orthopedic trauma.
Regardless of the cause, orthopedic trauma requires immediate medical attention. Whether you’ve been in a car accident, a sports-related accident, or suffered a bad fall, it’s best to see a doctor immediately for injury assessment. The doctor will likely order a scan of the injured area to make sure that there are no undetected internal injuries or to verify any suspected injury.
Doctors who specialize in the treatment of traumatic musculoskeletal injuries are orthopedic surgeons. They do not only perform surgery – they will evaluate your injury and recommend the least-invasive treatment possible, depending on the type and severity of the injury.
Common Causes of Orthopedic Trauma
Orthopedic trauma may be a result of many things, such as:
- Slipping and falling
- Sudden twisting motions
- Sports accidents
- Car accidents
- In-home accidents
- Work accidents
- A direct blow to the body
You may be more prone to orthopedic traumatic injuries if you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis, severe arthritis, or weakening eyesight, because these can lead to a fall. A very active lifestyle can also raise your risk of suffering this type of physical trauma.
Types of Orthopedic Traumatic Injury
Orthopedic traumatic injuries are often accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms:
- Pain
- Redness
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Numbness
- Limited range of motion
- Inability to bear weight
- Bleeding
Call for emergency medical help if you think you may have an injury of any kind. Do not try to self-diagnose, because internal injuries can be life-threatening but often do not cause any obvious symptoms.
If it feels like you have a joint that’s out of place, do not attempt to realign the bone or to pop the joint back into place. Do not allow a nonmedical person to attempt this, either, because they could actually cause further damage. See an orthopedic physician as soon as possible.
Orthopedic Trauma Center in South Texas
Here at the Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, our experienced medical team provides comprehensive orthopedic services to patients who have traumatic orthopedic injuries. Using only the latest orthopedic techniques and state-of-the-art equipment, our skilled orthopedic surgeons will restore function back to your joints so you can get back to the active lifestyle you enjoy.
In addition to traumatic injury, we also serve patients who have various types of arthritis, osteoporosis, and minor musculoskeletal injuries. Orthopedists specialize in healing the causes of pain and injury to the entire musculoskeletal system and ancillary tissues and organs, and we are here to help you feel great again.
If you would like to schedule a consultation, contact us today by calling our friendly team at (210) 692-7400 or fill out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to serving you.
