Types of trauma

Dr Oosthuysen treats an array of traumatic incidents, including:

• Lower limb fractures- Lower limb fractures are breaks in the bones of the legs, including the femur, tibia, fibula, and ankle bones.
• Upper limb fractures - Fractures of the humerus, radius, and ulna in the arms and those of the hand and wrist are referred to as upper limb fractures.
• Complex fractures with bone loss - Complex fractures with bone loss are more difficult to treat than simple fractures because there is either a missing or damaged bone.
• Dislocations occur when bones move from their natural position within a joint.
• Penetrating trauma - A damage known as penetrating trauma happens when an item, like a knife or bullet, pierces the skin and enters the body. Orthopaedic surgeons are called if an object pierces a joint, injures a bone or severs a nerve or tendon. If not treated correctly, the injury may lead to functional impairment or permanent incapacity.
• Tendon and nerve injuries - Damage to the fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone is referred to as a tendon injury, whereas damage to the neurological system can impair the capacity to experience sensation or move the injured body part, which is referred to as a nerve injury.
• Sprains - Injuries to ligaments, the tissue that connects bones at joints, are called sprains. Sprains happen when a ligament is stretched or ripped due to an abrupt or excessive force, including a fall, a body blow, or an unnatural twist or turn.

How does trauma surgery work?

Trauma surgery stabilises the patient's state, stops additional damage, and encourages healing. Depending on the kind and extent of the damage, the techniques of trauma surgery can change, but generally speaking, the following processes are involved:

• Assessment - Assessing the patient's status, including their vital signs, the severity of their injuries, and any underlying medical conditions, is the first stage in trauma surgery.
• Stabilisation - Dr Oosthuysen will take action to stabilise the patient's condition if it is unstable, such as stopping bleeding, giving them oxygen, or prescribing medication.
• Surgery - Dr Oosthuysen may operate to reconstruct the injured area, depending on the nature and extent of the injury. This may entail treating internal injuries, removing damaged tissue, sewing up wounds, or fixing fractures.
• Recovery - The patient will be constantly watched following surgery to ensure they are healing correctly. To help patients restore their strength and mobility, they might need further therapies like physical therapy or rehabilitation.