Orthopaedic Trauma
Expert Orthopaedic Care by Dr Blake Fidock at Ortho Arc Brisbane
Accidents, falls, and unexpected impacts can lead to sudden injuries affecting the bones, joints, muscles, and soft tissues. These orthopaedic trauma injuries can range from simple fractures to complex, multi-site injuries requiring urgent and expert care. Left untreated or poorly managed, they can lead to long-term pain, loss of mobility, and reduced quality of life.
Dr Blake Fidock, an experienced orthopaedic trauma surgeon at Ortho ARC in Brisbane, specialises in the assessment and treatment of orthopaedic trauma injuries. Dr Fidock provides prompt, evidence-based care designed to support optimal healing and long-term recovery, whether you’ve recently been discharged from the emergency department or need a second opinion on a slow-healing injury.
What is Orthopaedic Trauma?
Orthopaedic trauma refers to sudden injuries affecting the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, or tendons—typically caused by accidents, falls, or high-impact events. These injuries can range from simple fractures to complex multi-limb trauma requiring surgical intervention.
Common examples of orthopaedic trauma include fractures (broken bones), joint dislocations, severe soft tissue injuries, sports-related injuries, and injuries from motor vehicle accidents or workplace incidents.
Prompt, accurate treatment is essential. Without proper care, these injuries can lead to long-term complications such as chronic pain, impaired mobility, or deformity. At Ortho ARC, our goal is to help you experience relief and regain mobility, ensuring you can get back to doing the things you love.
Common Injuries Treated
Dr Blake Fidock is a trusted bone fracture specialist in Brisbane, skilled in treating a wide range of traumatic orthopaedic conditions, including:
Hip Fractures
Hip fractures are particularly common in older adults following a fall, but they can occur at any age due to high-impact trauma such as car accidents. These injuries often require surgical fixation or hip replacement, depending on the type and severity of the fracture. Early treatment is critical to reduce complications and support a safe return to mobility.
Leg, Knee, and Ankle Injuries
Lower limb trauma includes fractures of the femur (thigh bone), tibia and fibula (shin bones), patella (kneecap), and ankle bones. These injuries may be associated with joint instability, ligament damage, or open (compound) wounds. Depending on the injury, Dr Fidock may recommend conservative treatment or broken bone surgery for optimal alignment and healing.
Joint Dislocations
Dislocations occur when a bone is forced out of its joint—commonly in the hip or knee. Some dislocations are isolated events, while others may involve associated fractures or ligament tears.
Complex and Compound Fractures
These are serious injuries where the bone is broken into multiple pieces or penetrates the skin (open fractures). They often require urgent surgical intervention to clean the wound, realign the bone, and prevent infection. Dr Fidock is experienced in treating high-energy trauma with advanced surgical techniques to restore function and reduce long-term complications.
Periprosthetic Fractures (Fractures Around Implants)
Fractures can sometimes occur around existing joint replacements, such as a hip or knee prosthesis. These injuries are technically challenging and require careful planning to preserve the integrity of the implant while stabilising the bone. As a bone fracture specialist in Brisbane, Dr Fidock has extensive experience in managing these complex situations.
Stress Fractures and Overuse Injuries
While not always the result of trauma, stress fractures are common in athletes and active individuals. They occur due to repetitive stress on the bone and often affect the feet, shins, or hips. If left untreated, they can progress to full fractures. Early diagnosis and management are key to preventing further damage.
About Dr Blake Fidock
MBBS (Hons. 1), MTrauma (Ortho), FRACS (Ortho), FAOrthA
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Why Specialist Trauma Care Matters
While emergency departments provide critical initial care, orthopaedic trauma often requires specialist follow-up. Poorly managed fractures and joint injuries can result in delayed or incomplete healing, long-term joint instability, chronic pain and stiffness, or a need for revision surgery.
As an experienced orthopaedic trauma surgeon, Dr Blake Fidock understands the nuances of orthopaedic trauma injuries and their potential complications. His approach combines careful diagnosis, precision surgery (if needed), and thoughtful rehabilitation to optimise outcomes.
Many trauma cases benefit from not just initial repair but ongoing care—such as additional surgery to stabilise fractures or procedures to revise earlier treatments that have failed.
What to Expect: From Injury to Recovery?
- Initial Consultation and Assessment: A thorough review of your injury history, symptoms, and current function.
- Imaging and Diagnosis: Access to high-quality imaging such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to guide diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Tailored Treatment Plan: Depending on the injury, this may include conservative management (e.g., immobilisation, physiotherapy) or broken bone surgery for more complex fractures.
- Rehabilitation and Follow-Up: We guide your rehabilitation process, ensuring proper healing and a safe return to activity.
How Dr Blake Fidock and Ortho ARC Can Help
Dr Blake Fidock is a highly trained orthopaedic surgeon with subspecialty expertise in trauma orthopaedics. Based in Brisbane, he has extensive experience managing both straightforward and complex trauma cases. At Ortho Arc, Dr Fidock and his team are committed to delivering expert care across all forms of orthopaedic trauma, offering both surgical and non-surgical treatment options tailored to each patient’s needs.
Dr Fidock works closely with physiotherapists and rehabilitation providers to ensure a seamless treatment journey, and he utilises the latest techniques in fracture fixation and reconstructive surgery to restore function, mobility, and comfort to his patients.
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