Orthopaedic trauma is any severe injury to the bones, joints, and/or soft tissue that is caused by an external source. These injuries are often the result of a sudden incident, such as a car accident or fall, but not always. Trauma can also be caused by overuse – for example, running long distances is a common cause of tibial stress fractures, small hairline cracks in the lower leg.
The term "orthopaedic trauma" covers a wide range of wounds, from minor injuries like hairline fractures to serious ones like car accidents. The aim of surgeons who specialise in this field is to swiftly and successfully restore the function of the injured body part(s) despite the fact that there are several varieties of traumatic orthopaedic injuries.