The Penn Orthopaedic Trauma and Fracture program is the largest and most complete program in the Philadelphia region, with extensive capabilities for treating all musculoskeletal fractures, traumatic injuries and related complications.
In collaboration with the Penn Trauma Center, a Level 1 regional resource trauma center, our patients benefit from a multidisciplinary approach where more than one expert is involved in developing personalized care plans.
Our goal is to help patients return to normal activities as quickly as possible with the most appropriate treatment and rehabilitation for their particular orthopaedic injury or fracture.
Regardless of the severity or complexity of the condition, patients throughout the Philadelphia region receive the highest level of trauma and fracture care. If you or a loved one need expert fracture care, please contact us. If you are at another facility, please know you can ask to be transferred to Penn Medicine.
Conditions We Treat
We treat injuries ranging from simple accidents that occur during work, recreational and sports activities to the most severe cases of multiple trauma. These include:
- Complex pelvic and acetabular fractures
- Distal radius fractures of the hand and wrist
- Complex non-union fractures
- Long-term rehabilitation for debilitating post-traumatic issues or complications that may arise, including fracture nonunion, malunion and chronic osteomyelitis
- Primary repair of simple fractures
- Reconstruction for periarticular fractures (fractures around or in joints)
- Sudden and severe musculoskeletal trauma
Treatments and Services
Our surgeons specialize in surgery for musculoskeletal trauma, reconstruction for fractures, the treatment of complex fractures and long-term rehabilitation. Subspecialties provide a comprehensive array of surgical and rehabilitative services for the hand, wrist, foot, ankle, spine and joints.
Patients are treated based on the type of fracture they have and also what their goals of care are. This could be through non-surgical approaches such as a cast, boot, splint or sling. While some bones can heal with conservative treatment, others may require more invasive treatments, such as surgery for fracture repair.
- Surgery: Surgeons often turn to surgery to fix a broken bone to re-align it to allow it to heal properly or to fix a bone that is not healing properly. We may implant metal screws, pins, rods or plates to hold the bone in place as it heals. In many cases, plastic surgeons also participate in the surgery to provide microvascular surgical techniques and reconstructive surgery. We are able to perform complex surgical procedures at the same time including reconstruction of damaged soft tissues that may accompany a fracture, such as torn tendons, ligaments and muscles.
- Non-Surgical Treatments: There are some fractures that do not require surgery. Once we review your X-rays, we may choose to immobilize the joint or bone with a splint, cast or brace. This is done to prevent an injured area from moving while it heals.
Why Penn Orthopaedic Trauma and Fracture Program Is Different
Trusted Leader in Complex Fracture Care
We see patients referred for complex fracture care. These conditions may include:
The Right Team at the Right Time
When you come to Penn Medicine, you'll find a team that is ready to focus on more than just your fracture. We take a whole-body approach, then surround you with your own dedicated team that will work seamlessly to understand who you are, how you want to live and exactly what kind of care will get you there.
Penn is home to some of the best specialists across many fields. If you have a complex wound or foot fracture, you'll see orthopaedic and plastic surgeons from our Orthoplastic Limb Salvage Center. If you have nerve damage with your fracture, you'll see a neuro-orthopedist. If you're a female athlete who fractured her fibula, you'll see a physician from our unique Center for the Female Athlete.
Our individualized treatment plans include an advanced pain management protocol that reduces narcotic usage and the risk of dependence by combining physical therapy, non-addictive pain medication, and behavioral and cognitive therapy.
We have all the experts under one roof who can work with your personal case, personal wishes and personal preferences. After all, this is your body. This is your life. Make sure your care is in the right hands.
Advanced Orthopaedic Medicine and Surgery Research and Clinical Trials
Penn Medicine has an international reputation for groundbreaking work and innovations in treating orthopaedic trauma.
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The McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is a multi-faceted facility with programs focused on musculoskeletal research. The McKay Lab involves the participation of more than 100 research personnel including 13 faculty members.
The Lab is ranked third among Orthopaedic Departments nationally in terms of NIH funding. The faculty's mission is to conduct high-quality fundamental and translational research, and to train the next generation of leaders in the orthopaedic and musuloskeletal field.
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The Biedermann Lab for Orthopaedic Research is specifically designed to execute clinically relevant research projects focused on orthopaedic implant performance.
Ongoing projects have a wide scope of interests and employ a variety of techniques including:
- 3-D motion capture
- Cyclic testing of implants
- In silico modeling
- In vitro simulations of activities of daily living
- Measurement of articulating joint forces;
The Lab has developed several full-length manuscripts that have been accepted for publication at The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma.