The Edinburgh Orthopaedic Trauma Unit

The Edinburgh Orthopaedic Trauma Unit was formed in the mid-1980’s from the old "Wards 5 and 6" in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The first consultants with a sub-specialty interest in trauma were appointed about 1984. It was the responsibility of earlier ‘trauma consultants’ to run the Accident and Emergency Department. The first full-time orthopaedic traumatologist was not appointed until 1994. This was followed by a redistribution of the clinical duties of existing consultants so that some of them could undertake full-time trauma management. However even by 1996 the Trauma Unit was handling about 4,000 operations annually with the equivalent of only 2.4 consultants. Fortunately the Lothian Health Board and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust management recognised the mismatch between the workload and the resources and appointed two further full-time orthopaedic traumatologists. At the same time the University of Edinburgh allowed one of their senior lecturers to become a full-time trauma surgeon and the result is that there are now six orthopaedic traumatologists responsible for the primary management and secondary reconstruction of all adult orthopaedic trauma cases. The split between elective and traumatic orthopaedics became complete. The two units worked well together sharing junior staff rotas and postgraduate training. The Edinburgh Orthopaedic Trauma Unit moved to the New Royal Infirmary in May 2003. For further information see www.trauma.co.uk

Clinical work of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

In 2007, the team of 30 National Health Service and honorary Consultants provide a orthopaedic service throughout the 'Lothian Health' area. Lothian Health provides a full range of acute services. The A&E unit for the City of Edinburgh is located at the RIE, is also one of two major teaching hospitals for the University of Edinburgh and is a centre of postgraduate teaching and education. The adult elective and trauma orthopaedic services are based at the RIE site. Close collaboration exists between the Department of Medicine for the Elderly and the Trauma Orthopaedic Unit at the RIE with innovative Early Supported Discharge and Geriatric Orthopaedic Rehabilitation liaison. Paediatric orthopaedic services are provided at the RHSC.

Rehabilitation Studies Unit

Included in the University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is the Rehabilitation Studies Unit  The first school of Occupational Therapy in Scotland (and second in the UK) was established at Astley Ainslie   Hospital in 1937. This and the renowned Physiotherapy School of the Royal Infirmary are now located at Queen Margaret College, the largest college training professions allied to medicine in Europe. The clinical services of rehabilitation medicine are closely linked to a variety of services available in the Lothian area. These services are probably more comprehensive than anywhere else in the country. Major funding has been attracted from the Association of British Insurers, the Chief Scientist's Office, Cancer Relief and the British Heart Foundation.