Orthopaedic Trauma Center

What to Expect

Patient care often begins in Mass General's Emergency Room. Here our staff works with a team of nurses, trauma coordinators and other specialists to direct the care of each patient.

After the trauma team has diagnosed and stabilized a patient's injuries, the patient may be admitted to the hospital. If orthopaedic surgery is required, one our attending physicians will serve as the patient's surgeon. When this happens, the patient is brought to an operating room for repair of his or her injuries. Our attending physician and trauma nurses keep the patient's family regularly informed and involved in decision-making throughout the patient's stay. Patients who are seen, treated and released from our Emergency Department are encouraged to follow up with us in our Outpatient Trauma Clinic.

In our Outpatient Trauma Clinic, we also see patients with older injuries referred to us for treatment and possible reconstruction. We evaluate each patient, run any necessary tests and develop a personalized treatment plan for each patient. If surgery is required, the patient’s procedure is scheduled as soon as possible, based on the severity of his or her symptoms. Scheduling appointments for emergency and post-traumatic consultations at our outpatient clinic is easy.

Individualized, Comprehensive Care

In addition to our orthopaedic trauma professionals, our team collaborates with specialists from other clinical departments at Mass General, such as the Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care. Our multidisciplinary approach ensures patients receive outstanding treatment for all their conditions. We provide compassionate care for the entire person—not just his or her injuries.

A registered nurse also helps patients and their families manage the next steps in their treatment, whether recovery takes place in the home or at a facility such as Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

To assist patients and their families, we offer a complete range of resources at Mass General for long-term care, including:

• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Social work
• Follow-up appointments
• Psychiatric services
• Nutritional counseling