The Orthopaedic Trauma surgical team provides the following services:
Our surgeons also have extensive expertise in the long-term treatment of debilitating post-traumatic sequelae including:
Fractures of the Upper Extremity
Figure 2. Upper Arm (humerus shaft)
Figure 3. Proximal Humerus
Hip—the ball-and-socket joint formed by the head of the femur and the cup-shaped cavity of the acetabulum, sometimes used to refer specifically to the proximal femur.
Fracture right acetabulum
As with all fractures, we prioritise the patient's ability to return comfortably to normal daily activities. Acetabular fractures, injuring the joint bone and cartilage, occur through the socket of the hip joint. These fractures are often dislocated and require treatment to minimize the fracture. If joints heal with displaced bones, the surfaces will have irregularities, causing excessive wear and resulting in severe joint arthritis, reduced motion and function, along with pain. Proper alignment of the bones during healing is essential.
Stable pelvic fracture (no displacement or dislocation) may usually be treated without surgery. Displaced fractures usually require bone. This may be done by either open (surgical) or closed means (non-surgical). Once the bones are realigned with metallic devices including wires, pins, screws, and plates, the surgeon treats the bones internally or externally during healing.
Patients with pelvic fractures may require one or more surgical procedures. After reducing the fracture, the surgeon may use an External Fixation (Ex-Fix) frame to hole the bones in place. Application of an external fixator is done by inserting threated pins into the bone on either side of the fracture. These pins are then connected to rods outside the skin to form a frame.
While the Ex-Fix technique is sometimes the only procedure needed to repair a fractured pelvis, some patients require additional surgery in which plates and screws are used internally to hold the bones in place. Depending on the site and complexity of the fracture, the surgeon may have to fix the front or back of the pelvis, or both. Separate operations may be needed for each area needing treatment.
Patients with acetabular fractures often require Open Reduction with Internal Fixation (ORIF), especially those patients with joint displacement. The surgeon realigns the bones precisely to minimize the risk of developing post-injuring related problems, especially arthritis. Plates and screws prevent future displacement and facilitate early rehabilitation.
Treatment for acetabular fractures typically commences 5-10 days after the injury to mitigate the risk of intraoperative bleeding. During this period, patients may be placed in traction as part of an injury prevention program to avoid additional harm.
Osteoporosis-related fractures have become a serious problem, particularly in our region, where there has been a substantial rise in patients requiring treatment for such fractures. Our goal is to achieve secondary fracture prevention in osteoporotic patients through comprehensive investigations, literature review, education, drug treatments and regular monitoring.
Osteoporotic knee fracture in an elderly patient
Our musculoskeletal trauma surgeons approach each patient case as conservatively as possible. However, when surgical treatment is required, we advise the most minimally invasive solution for the speediest recovery.
Some of the techniques we employ when treating various fractures include the following:
Individuals with shortened extremities or abnormal extremity alignment from a prior injury can opt for corrective surgery.
Limb lengthening and reconstruction techniques, utilising intramedullary nails and possibly plates and external fixing, are applied to replace missing bone and to lengthen or straighten deformed bone segments of legs and arms. Deformities, secondary to osteoarthritis, can also be corrected to achieve pain relief and delay arthritis.
A circular external fixator applied for correction of deformity
