There are plenty of ways in which traumas can affect our bodies. These physical injuries involve bone fractures, lacerations, dislocation and subluxation of joints, etc. Trauma can be of varying severity and intensity based on the location and the patient’s existing condition. One of the most prevalent forms of traumatic injuries is an orthopedic trauma that affects bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments.
In this blog, we shall be talking in detail about how this type of trauma can impact an individual’s life. And, also have a rundown through some trauma management tips using the best quality orthopedic implants and instruments.
What is Orthopedic Trauma?
As the name suggests, orthopedic trauma is a musculoskeletal injury caused by an external source to the bony structures, ligaments, joints, tendons, and blood vessels. Some of the most common reasons for this injury are, road traffic accidents, aging, bone-related disorders, falls, violent attacks, and sports mishaps
If you are suffering from vision impairment, then you are more vulnerable to orthopedic injuries due to fall accidents. A highly active lifestyle can also increase your chances of experiencing this form of physical harm.
Orthopedic trauma can hamper anybody’s lifestyle, be it of any age group or gender. So, to ensure that there is proper healing after the injury, it is of great importance to pay attention to getting treated by an orthopedic specialist immediately. Their knowledge of bones and their integration with the trauma implants helps patients restore their normal lives.
Common Risk Factors That Can Lead to Orthopedic Trauma or Injuries
A few of the factors that increase the risk of orthopedic injuries are:
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Old age
- Weaker bone density
- Not using helmets or wearing seat belts while driving a bike or car
- Avoiding wearing protective equipment while performing sports
- An imbalanced diet that lacks calcium and vitamin D
- Incorrect methods used during physical activities or sports
What are some of the Common Types of Orthopedic Trauma?
There are various types of orthopedic injuries that one can get affected by. In this section, we shall discuss a few of them.
Fractures
One of the common cases of orthopedic injuries that you will come across is a fractured bone. As per a finding from 2019, there were 178 million new fractures reported globally, which is an increase of 33.4% from the previous year.
Sprains
The tearing or over-extension of ligaments causes sprains. These ligaments are thick bands that keep the bony structures intact with each other, especially the joints.
Bone Infections
Osteomyelitis is a severe bone infection that occurs when bone marrow is exposed to bacteria or fungi. This infection begins on the skin surface and then enters the bones through the bloodstream. It can weaken the bone strength and lead to fragility which can make them susceptible to permanent damage.
Dislocated Joints
Dislocation means misplaced bones in a joint. This orthopedic injury can cause severe discomfort and eventually immobilize the joint. Dislocations are most commonly seen in the shoulder joint, knee joint, and fingers, although they are also possible in the knees and hips
Meniscus Tears
The meniscus is a small c-shaped cartilaginous pad that acts as the shock absorber for the knee. Any activity that leads to sudden twisting or over-extending of the knee joint while there is a complete weight on it causes meniscus tears.
Role of Trauma Implants in Treating Orthopedic Injuries
The usage of trauma implants for treating orthopedic injuries has been in the scenario since olden times. It is because of their ability to adapt and restore the physiology of an original bony structure.
These medical devices are engineered with precision and accuracy by orthopedic products manufacturers to ensure much-needed support to damaged joints and surrounding tissues. The surgeons ensure to choose them for a patient after a proper assessment and evaluation to avoid any future complications.
Moving on further, we will have a look at how these replicas of bony structures, joints and muscles can fasten the recovery of patients from any type of orthopedic trauma.
Orthopedic Prostheses
Replacement prostheses are artificial devices created to replace a completely missing or damaged joint to restore its function. These prostheses can act as a joint, bony structure, ligament, muscles, or tendons that have been damaged due to any external factor.
Knee, hip, ankles, elbow, and shoulder implants are the most used trauma implants. These devices imitate the anatomy and function of the joint they replace. An orthopedic prosthesis such as a total knee replacement plays a huge role in improving a patient’s quality of life by helping them recover from osteoarthritis, degenerated joints, or any other severe trauma.
Internal Orthopedic Implants
Few of the internal fixation devices manufactured by the top orthopedic products manufacturers are as follows:
- Bone Plates – These plates hold the long fractured bones together to resist any longitudinal or rotational forces. The bridging plates provide alignment and length to the stabilized bone during the secondary phase of healing
- Screws – An orthopedic screw resembles the shape of an original screw that you find at stores. The main function of these components is to induce compression in the affected area. They tighten the weak fractured bones to keep them from moving
- Nails – The intramedullary nails are inserted into the medullary canal of the long bones such as the femur to provide internal strength for bearing weight during the healing process.
- Pins & Wires – Orthopedic pins and wires stabilize smaller bones or more complex fractures
External Orthopedic Implants
The external orthopedic implants are used to secure the fractured bones from outside the body. They are a frequently used temporary solution before internal fixation or when internal fixation is not possible.
Conclusion
Trauma implants can help patients with pain management, bone injury healing, and restoration of movement. All-in-all, this is a medical device that promises improvement in a patient's well-being and quality of life.
Advancement in technology is helping this facet of the healthcare sector come up with new ideas of innovation at the hands of orthopedic product manufacturers. Thus, the patients now have access to plenty of trustworthy instruments and implants that can ease and fasten their recovery process.