Orthopaedic Trauma & Injuries

What is orthopaedic trauma care?

Orthopaedic trauma care involves the assessment and surgical management of injuries to the bones, joints, and soft tissues, including fractures, dislocations, and complex injuries resulting from accidents, falls, or sporting incidents.

Dr Varun Arora provides orthopaedic trauma care for children and adults with injuries to the upper or lower limbs. With extensive training experience at both the major trauma centres in Melbourne, working as the lead trauma surgeon at the Austin in 2023 and a major trauma fellowship at one of the busiest trauma centres in the United Kingdom in 2024, he is experienced in the full breadth and complexity of trauma injuries.

Types of injuries treated

Orthopaedic trauma care covers a broad range of injuries, including:

• Fractures of the hip, pelvis, femur, knee and ankle

• Dislocations of the hip or knee joint

• Ligament and soft tissue injuries associated with trauma including tendon ruptures

• Complex or high-energy injuries, such as those from motor vehicle accidents or falls from height

• Fractures around existing hip or knee replacements (periprosthetic fractures)

• Injuries requiring revision or further surgery following initial treatment elsewhere

• Fractures of the clavicle, forearm and wrist

• Acromioclavicular joint stabilizations

Accessing orthopaedic trauma surgical care

Patients with an acute injury are often first seen and stabilised through a hospital emergency department, from where a referral for orthopaedic surgical review can be arranged.

Dr Varun Arora provides orthopaedic trauma surgical care at St John of God Hospital Berwick and Mulgrave Private Hospital. Referrals can be made by a general practitioner, emergency department, or another treating specialist.

Second opinions

Patients who have already received treatment for an orthopaedic injury, or who have been given a management plan they would like reviewed, are welcome to seek a second opinion from Dr Arora.

This may be particularly relevant for complex fractures, injuries that are not progressing as expected, or cases where a patient would like to better understand their treatment options before proceeding.