Trauma - Orthopedic Specialists of SW Florida

When you experience a traumatic musculoskeletal injury, such as a fracture or severe soft tissue damage, the impact on your life can be significant. Not only can the injury itself be painful and debilitating, but the recovery process may also feel overwhelming. Having the right medical team by your side is crucial to ensure a successful outcome.

At Orthopedic Specialists of SW Florida, we understand the complexities involved in treating traumatic injuries. Our board-certified trauma surgeons have undergone extensive, specialized training in the management of complex fractures and other severe musculoskeletal injuries. Our team’s expertise allows us to provide comprehensive, individualized care, ensuring that every aspect of your injury is addressed.

Why Specialized Trauma Care Matters
Traumatic injuries, especially those involving the bones, joints, and soft tissues, require precise treatment to avoid long-term complications. A mismanaged injury can lead to chronic pain, loss of function, and even permanent disability. Our trauma specialists at OSSWF have the skills and experience necessary to not only treat the injury but also to help patients regain mobility, strength, and independence.

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When it comes to healing a fracture, two critical factors must be in place:

Stability of the fracture during the healing process
The body’s biological ability to repair the fracture

At Orthopedic Specialists of SW Florida, our orthopedic surgeons focus on ensuring that your fracture is properly stabilized, allowing your bone to heal not only effectively but also correctly. We take into account several factors that can impact the success of fracture healing, and tailor treatment plans to each patient’s specific needs.

Key Factors That Influence Fracture Stability and Healing:

Fracture Anatomy:
The type and location of the fracture can affect its stability. Complex fractures with significant fragmentation (comminution) can be more challenging to stabilize, requiring advanced techniques and sometimes surgical intervention to ensure proper alignment and healing.
Bone Quality:
Strong, healthy bones are easier to stabilize, while weakened bones—due to conditions like osteoporosis—pose greater challenges. Patients with weakened bone quality often require more specialized care and sometimes additional treatments to strengthen bones before or during the healing process.
Pre-existing Biological Factors:
Several health conditions can hinder the body’s ability to heal a fracture. These include diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, immune system deficiencies, and malnutrition. Lifestyle factors like smoking and obesity also slow down the healing process by affecting circulation and the body’s natural repair mechanisms.
Local Soft Tissue Injury:
Fractures often involve surrounding soft tissue damage. If there is significant muscle or ligament damage around the fracture site, this can delay healing and increase the complexity of treatment. Proper soft tissue recovery is essential for overall healing and restoring function.

Patient outcomes following a traumatic injury can vary. While the severity of a patient’s injury, as well as a number of other factors, significantly affect the final outcome for any patient, the most important element in recovery is the patient’s contribution and attitude towards healing. We frequently see patients that, while having severe injuries, have remarkable recoveries, which are largely due to the patient’s own determination and hard work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a trauma surgeon vs orthopedic surgeon?

An orthopedic surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of problems with the bones, joints, muscles, and tendons. A trauma surgeon is an orthopedic surgeon who has completed additional training in caring for patients who have sustained serious injuries. Both types of surgeons are trained in performing surgery, but trauma surgeons typically have more experience in performing complex surgeries and caring for patients who are critically ill or injured.

Why is physical therapy so important to my recovery?

Physical therapy plays an important role on the road to recovery from a traumatic injury. It can take many forms including home physical therapy, outpatient physical therapy, and home exercise programs. Time with a physical therapist is designed to educate the patient about exercises and techniques to recover from their injury.

Visits to physical therapy are very important, but the most important form of physical therapy is daily exercise done on the patient’s own time. We encourage patients to be dedicated as much as possible in their physical therapy to achieve the best outcome.

What are the most common types of traumatic injuries treated by orthopedic surgeons?

Common traumatic injuries include fractures, joint dislocations, ligament tears, and soft tissue damage. Orthopedic trauma surgeons also treat complex fractures (such as comminuted or open fractures), nonunion (when a bone doesn’t heal), and malunion (when a bone heals improperly).

What should I do if I think I have a fracture or severe injury?

If you suspect a fracture or severe injury, seek immediate medical attention. You can visit an urgent care facility, emergency room, or schedule an appointment with an orthopedic specialist. Avoid putting weight on the injured area, and try to keep the limb elevated and immobilized until you receive professional care.

Our Trauma Specialists

Jonathan Anthony, DO
Orthopedic Trauma

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Jeffrey Engorn, DO
Orthopedic Trauma

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Patrick Leach, MD
Orthopedic Trauma

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Orthopedic Trauma Specialists

Key Factors in Fracture Healing: Ensuring Optimal Recovery