At Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, we are focused on a better you. Our specialty-trained orthopedic trauma doctors and staff are dedicated to providing specialized orthopedic trauma care to patients in Truckee, Incline Village, and the surrounding communities.

Orthopedic trauma is a term used to describe a traumatic injury that causes damage to the joints, bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, or other soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system. An orthopedic trauma doctor is a medical specialist who works within the medical field of orthopedic trauma and specializes in treating patients who have experienced trauma and injury.

Orthopedic trauma doctors often treat trauma patients with complex injuries and fractures that happen as result of a car accident. However, they also often treat people who have simply fallen while at home, resulting in a single fracture or multiple broken bones and damaged soft tissues, such as ligaments.

Many times a patient will have an X-ray or another imaging test as part of the assessment by the trauma specialist. This will help the doctor better understand the injury and how to offer treatment. Sometimes, the patient will need to undergo orthopedic trauma surgery. Other times, treatments besides surgery are recommended. The orthopedic trauma specialist will be able to assess the patient and determine the care that’s needed.

Trauma doctors are often focused on repairing fractures as well as joint reconstruction. If the joint does not heal properly or becomes misaligned, the trauma patient could have problems using that joint normally and might experience pain, stiffness, and arthritis. Therefore, it is always important to work with a surgeon who has experience performing these procedures.

What your Doctor needs to know

Here are some issues that you may be experiencing that you will want to share with your orthopedic trauma surgeon or doctor:

  • Broken bone piercing through the skin
  • Extreme pain
  • Joint feels as if it has moved out of its socket
  • Popping sound in knee during activity
  • Severe bruising and swelling
  • Unable to bend knee or straighten leg

Common traumatic orthopedic injuries

Your doctor may diagnose you with one of the following trauma conditions or musculoskeletal injuries:

  • Acetabular fracture: A hip joint fracture. 
  • Dislocation: When the head of the bone is pushed out of its socket.
  • Fractures of the pelvis: When bones in the pelvis have broken.
  • Malunion fracture: When fractured bones have been set but are now healing into a deformity.
  • Nonunion fracture: When fractures have been set but are not healing.
  • Tendon tear: When the flexible, band-like tissues that connect muscles to bone tear either partially or completely.

Once you are diagnosed, your doctor will first consider all nonsurgical treatment options, such as casting or bracing, before recommending surgery. However, if these treatments are ineffective, they will explain why and develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs. If surgery is required, our surgeons have extensive training in the latest surgical procedures. 

When you experience a traumatic accident, it can dramatically affect your whole life. Our orthopedic trauma specialists are not only medical experts, but they’re also knowledgeable professionals who want to do more than just treat your injury; they offer comprehensive trauma care that supports you as you heal and recover, helping you return to a better quality of life. To schedule an appointment, call (530) 587-7461 or make an appointment request.

Exceptional care begins at Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

At Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, our team of dedicated orthopedic experts is here for you. As specialty-trained and knowledgeable trauma doctors and surgeons, Dr. Jeffrey Dodd, Dr. Jonathan Hagen, Dr. Michael Jernick, Dr. Andrew Ringnes, and Dr. Nina Winans are backed by the latest state-of-the-art technology and have extensive experience to bring you the very best in orthopedic care. Our orthopedic trauma doctors have the surgical and nonsurgical expertise you need to reach your goals.

If you have a traumatic orthopedic injury, call (530) 587-7461 to schedule an appointment with one of our expert trauma doctors or surgeons or make an appointment request. We offer three convenient locations in Truckee, California, and Incline Village, Nevada: Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Tahoe Forest Sports Medicine & Therapy Services, and the Incline Village Community Hospital.