Comprehensive Guide by Dr. Tanveer Bhutani

Fracture & Trauma Treatment in Ludhiana

A fracture can happen in an instant — a fall at home, a road traffic accident, a sports injury, or a fragility fracture in an older adult — and what happens in the first few hours often shapes the entire recovery. Dr. Tanveer Bhutani provides 24×7 emergency orthopaedic trauma care at Eva Hospital, Ludhiana, covering everything from a simple wrist fracture to complex, open, multi-fragment injuries requiring reconstruction.Every patient is assessed rapidly and thoroughly — checking circulation and nerve function, obtaining appropriate imaging, splinting or reducing the injury for comfort and safety, and then deciding, on clinical grounds, whether the fracture can heal with a cast or brace or whether it needs surgical fixation. That decision is never automatic; it is based on the fracture pattern, the joint involved, the patient’s age and health, and the demands they need their limb to meet.

Comprehensive Orthopaedic Trauma Care

Trauma care is rarely just about “fixing a broken bone.” It starts the moment a patient arrives — with a rapid assessment of the whole limb, not just the fracture visible on the X-ray — and continues through to the point where a patient has regained functional use of the injured limb.

At Eva Hospital, this means the same team manages emergency assessment, the decision between casting and surgery, the fixation itself when required, and the structured rehabilitation that follows — rather than a patient being passed between disconnected stages of care.

This continuity matters most in trauma, where early decisions — how a fracture is reduced, whether soft tissue is given time to settle before fixation, how a joint surface is reconstructed — have a lasting effect on the final result.

Fractures We Treat

Rather than an exhaustive list, here is the range of injuries regularly managed at Eva Hospital, grouped by region.

Upper Limb

Lower Limb

Simple to Complex

Sports & Osteoporotic Fractures

When Does a Fracture Need Surgery?

Many fractures heal well with a cast, brace or splint and careful monitoring. Surgery becomes the better option when one or more of the following apply:

The fracture is significantly displaced or unstable

The break extends into a joint surface

Multiple bone fragments make non-surgical alignment unreliable

The fracture is open (bone through the skin)

There is associated nerve or blood vessel injury

Non-surgical treatment would require prolonged immobilisation with a high risk of stiffness

The patient's activity or occupational demands favour a faster, more reliable return to function

Non-surgical treatment has already failed to maintain acceptable alignment

Fracture Fixation & Trauma Surgery

Plates and Screws (ORIF)

Open reduction and internal fixation directly realigns the fracture and holds it with a plate and screws — commonly used for fractures near joints and in the upper limb.

Intramedullary Nailing

A rod passed through the centre of the bone, well suited to fractures of the shaft of long bones such as the femur and tibia.

Percutaneous Fixation

Screws or wires placed through small incisions under imaging guidance, minimising soft-tissue disruption for suitable fracture patterns.

External Fixation

A frame stabilising the bone from outside the skin — used temporarily in severe soft-tissue injury, or definitively in selected complex or infected fractures.

Joint / Intra-Articular Reconstruction

Fractures that extend into a joint surface require particularly precise reduction to restore a smooth, congruent joint and reduce the long-term risk of post-traumatic arthritis.

Open & Complex Fractures

An open fracture — where the bone breaks through the skin, or the injury communicates with the fracture site — carries a materially higher risk of infection and requires urgent, structured management: thorough wound assessment, appropriate antibiotics, surgical debridement of contaminated or non-viable tissue, and stabilisation of the fracture.Complex fractures with significant soft-tissue injury, multiple fragments, or associated damage to nerves or blood vessels often require staged treatment — for example, temporary external fixation to stabilise the limb while swelling settles, followed by definitive fixation once the soft tissues are ready.Coordinated management of both the bone and the surrounding soft tissue is central to a good outcome in these injuries.

Nonunion, Malunion & Failed Previous Fracture Surgery

Nonunion

The fracture has failed to heal within the expected timeframe, sometimes requiring revision fixation, bone grafting, or biological augmentation to stimulate healing.

Malunion

The fracture has healed, but in a deformed or misaligned position, which may require a corrective osteotomy to restore alignment and function.

Implant Failure

Broken, loosened or migrated hardware from previous surgery, requiring assessment and often revision fixation.

Bone Loss

Segmental bone defects, whether from the original injury or subsequent debridement, may require staged reconstruction techniques.

Infection After Fracture Surgery

Requires a coordinated approach — control of infection, appropriate antibiotics, and often staged surgery to achieve both a healed, infection-free bone and a stable, functional limb.

Fractures in Older Adults

Hip fractures, wrist fractures and other osteoporotic (fragility) fractures in older adults are treated as a priority, not routine trauma.

Hip Fractures

Early surgery and early mobilisation are strongly associated with better outcomes and reduced complications in elderly patients, and are prioritised accordingly.

Wrist Fractures

Common after a fall onto an outstretched hand; treatment balances restoring function with the realities of osteoporotic bone quality.

Osteoporotic Bone

Weakened bone affects both the fracture pattern and the choice of fixation, often requiring specific implants or techniques suited to lower bone density.

Medical Optimisation

Coordinated peri-operative care addresses the medical conditions that commonly accompany fragility fractures in older patients.

When a Fracture Is an Emergency

Seek immediate emergency assessment if any of the following are present after an injury:

Compartment syndrome is a surgical emergency — increasing pressure within the muscle compartments of a limb can cut off blood supply if not treated promptly. Do not wait to see if these symptoms improve on their own.

Diagnosis & Imaging

Neurovascular Assessment

X-rays

CT (Where Required)

Temporary Splintage / Reduction

Decision: Cast or Surgery

Recovery & Rehabilitation

Pain and swelling control in the early phase

Protected movement of joints not directly involved in the fracture

Progressive weight-bearing or loading, guided by healing on X-ray

Strengthening of surrounding muscles

Restoration of joint range of motion

Sport- or occupation-specific rehabilitation for a return to prior activity

Your surgeon

Fracture & Trauma Care at Eva Hospital

Fracture and trauma care at Eva Hospital, Ludhiana is led by Dr. Tanveer Bhutani, Orthopaedic Surgeon, with more than 16 years of experience spanning acute trauma, joint reconstruction and complex fracture surgery. Dr. Bhutani’s practice covers the full spectrum of orthopaedic trauma — from a straightforward wrist fracture to complex open injuries, nonunion and revision reconstruction — supported by 24×7 emergency availability, modern imaging, and a structured rehabilitation pathway from the day of injury through to full recovery.

Explore further

Robotic Knee Replacement

Technology, indications and how it works.

Partial Knee Replacement

Resurfacing only the damaged compartment.

Revision Knee Replacement

Managing a worn or loosened implant.

Bilateral Knee Replacement

Both knees in a single admission.

Knee Arthritis

Understanding the underlying condition in depth.

Knee Replacement Recovery

The full week-by-week rehabilitation pathway.

Knee Replacement Cost

Understanding what influences the cost of surgery.

About Dr. Tanveer Bhutani

Qualifications, experience and approach to care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every fracture need surgery?

No. Many fractures heal well with a cast, brace or splint and monitored X-rays. Surgery is considered when the fracture is significantly displaced, unstable, involves a joint surface, is open, or is unlikely to heal well with non-operative treatment alone.

How is the decision made between a cast and surgery?

The decision is based on the fracture pattern, whether it involves a joint, the degree of displacement, associated soft-tissue or neurovascular injury, the patient’s age and health, and their functional demands — not a fixed rule for every fracture.

What is the difference between ORIF and intramedullary nailing?

ORIF (open reduction and internal fixation) uses a plate and screws to hold the fracture, commonly for fractures near joints. Intramedullary nailing passes a rod through the centre of the bone and is typically used for shaft fractures of long bones like the femur and tibia.

What makes an open fracture different?

An open fracture, where the bone breaks through the skin, carries a significantly higher risk of infection and requires urgent wound assessment, antibiotics, surgical debridement, and fracture stabilisation, often as an emergency.

What is compartment syndrome?

A surgical emergency where increasing pressure within a muscle compartment cuts off blood supply to the limb. Warning signs include pain that is disproportionate to the injury or worsening despite pain relief, and require immediate assessment.

What is a nonunion?

A fracture that has failed to heal within the expected timeframe. Treatment may involve revision fixation, bone grafting, or other measures to stimulate and support healing.

What is a malunion, and can it be corrected?

A malunion is a fracture that has healed in a deformed or misaligned position. It can often be corrected with a planned surgical procedure (osteotomy) to restore alignment and improve function.

Why are hip fractures in elderly patients treated urgently?

Early surgery and early mobilisation in elderly hip fracture patients are strongly associated with better outcomes and fewer complications, which is why these fractures are prioritised rather than treated as routine trauma.

Can osteoporotic (fragility) fractures be fixed the same way as fractures in younger patients?

Not always. Weakened, osteoporotic bone can affect both the fracture pattern and the choice of fixation, sometimes requiring specific implants or techniques suited to lower bone density.

How long does it take to recover from a fracture?

Recovery time varies enormously depending on the bone involved, the fracture pattern, the fixation used, and the patient’s age and health — recovery is guided by healing seen on X-ray and functional milestones, not a single fixed timeline.

When should I go to the emergency department instead of booking a routine consultation?

Go immediately for an open injury, obvious deformity, an absent or weak pulse, numbness, severe or rapidly increasing swelling, disproportionate or worsening pain, or a cold, pale limb below the injury.

Is CT scanning needed for every fracture?

No. CT is used selectively, particularly for fractures involving a joint surface or complex, multi-fragment patterns, to help plan surgical fixation precisely.

What happens if a previous fracture surgery has failed?

This is assessed individually — options may include revision fixation, bone grafting, treatment of infection if present, or staged reconstruction, depending on the specific problem (nonunion, malunion, implant failure, or infection).

Many can be assessed and treated promptly, though timing depends on swelling, the fracture pattern, and whether staged treatment is needed to allow soft tissue to settle before definitive fixation.

Will I need physiotherapy after a fracture?

Yes, for most fractures. Rehabilitation — protected movement, progressive loading, and strengthening — plays a major role in regaining full function, alongside the bone healing itself.

What is external fixation, and when is it used?

A frame that stabilises the bone from outside the skin using pins. It’s often used temporarily in severe soft-tissue injury before definitive fixation, and occasionally as the definitive treatment in selected complex or infected fractures.

Recently Injured, or Living With an Old Fracture Problem?

Whether this is a fresh injury requiring urgent assessment or a longstanding nonunion or malunion needing reconstruction, Dr. Tanveer Bhutani at Eva Hospital, Ludhiana provides 24×7 emergency orthopaedic trauma care and structured, individualised treatment.