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Orthopaedic Trauma

Fellowship-Trained Fracture Care

When a serious accident sends you to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care, a specific type of orthopaedic surgeon is needed for what may often be complex fractures and injuries. Our Orthopaedic Trauma team is Fellowship-Trained specializing in making diagnoses, surgical planning, and treatment of severe injuries to bones, joints, and soft tissue. These surgeons have a critical understanding of the musculoskeletal system and can provide care for life-threatening or life-altering traumas.

What is a Traumatic Injury? A traumatic injury can be due to anything from a car accident to a simple fall. The resulting injuries may disrupt many aspects of your life, including your ability to work and the simple activities you enjoy.  Common signs and symptoms include:

  • Severe pain in bones or joints
  • Deformity of bones or joints
  • Swelling and bruising
  • Inability to move a portion of the extremity
  • Pain that worsens with movement or pressure

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, or have been in a traumatic accident, you may be suffering from a musculoskeletal injury. Our Orthopaedic Trauma team can provide rapid diagnosis and a personalized treatment solution. 

Common trauma-related injuries we treat include:

  • Fractures of the upper and lower extremity
  • Open fractures
  • Multiple fractures or dislocations
  • Fractures around total joint replacement implants
  • Complex fractures around joints
  • Osteoporosis-related or fragility fractures
  • Malunions – Bones healing in an improper position from a prior trauma
  • Nonunion – Bones not healing completely from a prior trauma
  • Bone infection from a prior trauma or surgery

Fracture Specialties

We are specially trained in the treatment of fractures. We treat all injuries, including the most complex fractures and dislocations that are outside the capabilities and comfort level of general orthopaedic surgeons. Our comfort level and expertise in the treatment of complex fractures means we have an even greater capability of treating more routine injuries.

Upper Extremity (Arm)

  • Clavicle (Collarbone)
  • Proximal humerus (Shoulder)
    • Depending on the type of fracture, treatment may require:
      • Fixation with plates and screws
      • Fixation with a rod on the inside of the bone
      • Total shoulder replacement
    • Fractures around a previous total shoulder replacement
    • Humerus (Upper arm bone)
    • Elbow
      • Complex joint made up of the distal humerus (upper arm bone just above the elbow), proximal radius (top part of the radius bone – forearm bone on the thumb side of your wrist), proximal ulna (top part of the ulna bone – forearm bone on the pinky side of your wrist)
        • Distal humerus (Upper arm bone just above the elbow)
        • Fracture dislocations involving the bones that make up the elbow joint
        • Olecranon (Point of the elbow)
        • Terrible triad (Fracture at the upper end of the radius with an associated elbow dislocation and ligament injury)
      • Forearm
        • Both bones (radius and ulna)
        • Isolated radius fractures in the shaft (midportion) or at the end (near the wrist)
        • Isolated ulna fractures
      • Wrist
        • Distal radius fractures (end of radius near the wrist)
      • Hand
        • Some fractures of the bones of the hand
        • Other injuries of the hand require a dedicated hand specialist. We will make referrals and get your injury to the correct specialist if outside of our abilities. 

Lower Extremity

  • Pelvis and Acetabulum (Hip socket)
    • These are complex injuries that are often associated with other injuries after a high energy trauma (Car accident, fall from height, etc.)
  • Hip
    • “Hip fractures” can constitute a variety of injuries that may require:
      • Fixation with a rod on the inside of the bone
      • Partial or total hip replacement
      • Each injury is carefully evaluated to determine the most optimal treatment method
    • Fractures around a previous total hip replacement
    • Femur (Thigh bone)
      • Mid-shaft (middle portion of the femur)
      • Distal femur (end of the thigh bone near the knee)
    • Fractures around a previous total knee replacement
    • Tibia (Shin bone)
      • Tibia plateau (top part of the shin bone that makes up the bottom of the knee joint)
      • Mid-shaft (middle portion of the tibia)
    • Ankle
      • Complex joint made up of the end of the tibia (shin bone), fibula (small bone on outside part of your leg), and talus (the bone in the foot that makes up the bottom of the ankle joint)
      • These injuries can include:
        • High energy crushing type injury (Pilon fracture)
        • Lower energy rotational injuries (Slip or twist and fall type injury)
      • Calcaneus (heel bone)
      • Midfoot
        • Complex series of bones between your ankles and your toes
      • Toe bones

Meet our Trauma Team

Traumatic injuries are especially challenging to treat.  Fellowship training beyond orthopaedic surgical residency ensures our surgeons manage all injuries, from the simplest to the most complex.  With seamless communication between ER, imaging centers, hospitals, and physicians within a single medical record system – Gulf Ortho and Infirmary Health offer the most optimal and efficient fracture care in the region.  

Miles Hulick, MD

Miles Hulick, MD
Orthopaedic Trauma Specialist/Joint Replacement

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