If you experience a traumatic shoulder or other joint injury, medical intervention is vital to ensure effective healing after acute symptoms and pain. In Lancaster, Ephrata, and Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, board-certified shoulder surgeon Michael J. Bercik Jr., MD, provides comprehensive trauma and fracture care within orthopedics to restore joint structure and function, eliminating discomfort and ensuring effective healing of the highest level.
Schedule an evaluation with a Lancaster trauma and fracture care surgeon by calling the office or using the online booking feature today.
What is orthopedic trauma and fracture care?
Orthopedic trauma and fracture care with Doctor Bercik involves conservative and surgical treatment interventions that repair structures within the shoulder, or or other joints across the body following trauma fracture events, including complex injuries and severe fractures. His training, expertise, and experience in orthopaedic surgery allow him to address both simple and complex fractures and shoulder injuries, such as rotator cuff damage and upper-shoulder joint injuries resulting from acute trauma.
Joint trauma is common among athletes and people who experience car accidents, violence, or work-related injuries including low energy trauma. At the first sign of upper or lower extremity trauma involving an injured body part, consult Dr. Bercik. He’s a Lancaster trauma and fracture care specialist, skilled in various cutting-edge surgical techniques in Lancaster with an orthopaedic trauma team that aids in the healing process, follow-up care, and reduce the risk of further injuries nerves and mobility, helping most patients return to normal activities.
Acute Shoulder and Upper Extremity Trauma: What Dr. Michael J. Bercik, Jr. Treats
Shoulder and upper extremity injuries account for a significant share of orthopedic trauma presentations involving traumatic orthopedic injuries. The shoulder complex is particularly vulnerable because of its wide range of motion and the relatively limited bony constraints that keep it stable. High-energy events such as motor vehicle accidents, falls from height, and contact sports collisions can fracture or dislocate multiple structures simultaneously, resulting in bone fractures and requiring a surgeon with training across both fracture care and shoulder reconstruction to manage the full scope of the injury.
Dr. Bercik completed a Fellowship in reconstructive surgery and trauma at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, as well as two international fellowships focused on shoulder pathology. That combination of trauma fellowship training and shoulder subspecialty expertise is uncommon and positions him to manage complex upper extremity injuries that involve both fracture and soft tissue components in a single, coordinated care plan.
Shoulder trauma frequently involves concurrent injuries. A proximal humerus fracture may occur alongside a shoulder dislocation, requiring the surgeon to address both the bony and the soft tissue injury together. Identifying all components of the injury at the initial evaluation is essential to selecting the right treatment plan and avoiding staged procedures that could have been handled together.
Types of Shoulder and Upper Extremity Fractures
Shoulder fractures involve three primary bones: the proximal humerus, the clavicle, and the scapula. Each has a distinct injury pattern, set of treatment considerations, and surgical approach when operative management is indicated.
Proximal Humerus Fractures
Proximal humerus fractures involve the upper end of the arm bone where it meets the shoulder socket. They are among the most common fractures in adults over 60, typically resulting from low-energy falls onto an outstretched hand, and also occur in younger patients following high-energy trauma. The Neer classification system categorizes these fractures by the number of displaced parts, which helps guide treatment decisions. Two-part fractures with minimal displacement are often managed conservatively. Three and four-part fractures, particularly those with significant displacement or involving the humeral head blood supply, are more likely to require surgical fixation or, in older patients, shoulder replacement to restore function.
Dr. Bercik, a Lancaster trauma and fracture care doctor, evaluates proximal humerus fractures in the context of the patient’s overall shoulder health, bone density, and activity demands. Patients who present with both a proximal humerus fracture and concurrent shoulder dislocation require careful assessment of the soft tissue structures before a fixation strategy is selected.
Clavicle Fractures
Clavicle fractures are among the most common fractures in active adults and children, accounting for approximately 5% of all fractures. The vast majority occur at the middle third of the bone following a direct blow or fall onto the shoulder. Nondisplaced or minimally displaced clavicle fractures typically heal well with conservative management including sling immobilization and progressive physical therapy. Fractures with significant shortening, displacement, or comminution carry a higher risk of nonunion and symptomatic malunion, particularly in active patients, and are more likely to benefit from surgical fixation with plate and screw constructs.
Lateral third clavicle fractures, which occur near the acromioclavicular joint, are a separate consideration. These injuries can disrupt the coracoclavicular ligaments in a pattern similar to a shoulder separation, and the treatment decision is influenced by the degree of ligament involvement and displacement.
Scapula Fractures
Scapula fractures are less common and are usually associated with high-energy trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents or falls from significant height. Because the scapula is well protected by surrounding musculature, a fracture of the scapula body or neck often signals that significant force was involved, and evaluation for concurrent chest, vascular, and neurological injuries is a standard part of the initial workup. Most scapula body fractures are managed nonoperatively. Fractures involving the glenoid articular surface, the glenoid neck with significant angulation, or the acromion with impingement of the rotator cuff may require surgical intervention to restore shoulder mechanics.
Which conditions can trauma and complex fracture care address?
Dr. Bercik, a trauma and fracture care Lancaster surgeon, commonly treats broken bones of the arm, shoulder, wrist, hip and hip socket, hand, ankle, tibia, and femur through trauma care.
Nonunions
Nonunions are deformities that happen after fractures when the bones don’t heal properly. Malunions heal in the wrong position. Dr. Bercik has completed a Fellowship in orthopedic trauma. He has the education, expertise and experience needed to repair nonunions and promote optimal bone health.
Ankle fractures
Ankle fractures often involve multiple breaks in bones in and around your ankle, disrupting the ankle joint and causing deformity and discomfort. When not treated, this can lead to complications like ankle arthritis and amputation risk in severe cases. Dr. Bercik offers surgery and open reduction and internal fixation to treat ankle fractures and aid recovery with rehabilitation.
Broken wrists
Broken wrists, or distal radius fractures, are broken bones that occur in the wrist region after a direct injury or fall. Treatments include conservative methods such as immobilization and physical therapy and sometimes surgery to repair the broken bone, setting it back into its proper alignment. These injuries are often seen in the emergency department and require expert fracture care from trauma surgeons and providers who use advanced imaging and surgical techniques to ensure proper healing and restore function.
Knee fractures
Knee fractures occur at the top of the tibia, or shin bone, and often require surgery for repair and to reduce the risk of knee arthritis and other complications. Dr. Bercik has specialty training in repairing knee fractures and works closely with a dedicated team of physicians and physical therapists to ensure successful outcomes of the highest quality.
Shinbone fractures
The tibial shaft, or middle part of the shinbone, can also become fractured. This type of fracture may require minimally invasive surgery using full spectrum techniques. Dr. Bercik can insert metal into the middle of the bone to hold it in place, using advanced orthopedic techniques supported by research to restore bone integrity and function.
Tendon tears
Dr. Bercik treats quadriceps and patella tendon tears to repair damage to the knee joint and surrounding tissues, thereby restoring musculoskeletal function and mobility. These repairs often utilize tiny incisions and innovative surgical methods. These traumatic injuries require highly specialized care from experienced surgeons.
Hip fractures
Falls are common causes of hip fractures and pelvis injuries. While sometimes hip fractures can be repaired, other times, hip replacement is the most effective long-term solution for a fractured hip. These procedures are commonly handled in a trauma center setting, requiring collaboration among a specialized team of orthopaedic surgeons and other orthopedic professionals.
Surgical vs. Non-Surgical Fracture Management: How the Decision is Made
Not every fracture requires surgery, and the decision between operative and non-operative management is one of the most important decisions Dr. Bercik makes in the evaluation of any traumatic injury. The factors that drive that decision include the fracture pattern, the degree of displacement, the patient’s age and bone quality, the functional demands of their work and activity, and whether the fracture involves a joint surface.
Fractures that are non-displaced or minimally displaced, with bone ends that remain in acceptable alignment, often heal reliably with immobilization, activity modification, and a structured return to function, supported by a structured rehabilitation process. The goal of non-surgical management is to protect the fracture while maintaining as much function as possible in the surrounding joints, then guide progressive loading as healing advances.
Surgical intervention is considered when displacement is significant enough that conservative management would result in malunion, when the fracture involves an articular surface where step-off deformity would accelerate joint wear, when there is an open fracture requiring wound management and stabilization, or when a patient’s functional demands make early mobilization essential. In those cases, Dr. Bercik uses open reduction and internal fixation, percutaneous techniques, or joint replacement depending on what the fracture pattern and patient biology support.
For shoulder-specific fractures, the decision process accounts for the involvement of surrounding structures. A shoulder fracture that occurs alongside rotator cuff damage or significant bone loss from a concurrent dislocation requires a more comprehensive evaluation than an isolated fracture treated in isolation.
When to Go to the ER vs. When to Call Dr. Bercik, a Lancaster Trauma and Fracture Care Surgeon, Directly
One of the most common questions after a traumatic injury is where to seek initial care. The answer depends on the severity of the injury and the presence of features that require immediate emergency evaluation.
Go to the emergency room immediately if you have an open fracture where bone is visible through the skin, significant swelling with numbness or tingling suggesting nerve or vascular compromise, obvious gross deformity with inability to move the limb, chest pain or difficulty breathing following a shoulder or rib injury, or if the injury resulted from a high-energy mechanism such as a vehicle collision or fall from significant height. These presentations require emergency imaging, stabilization, and assessment for associated injuries that go beyond the scope of an outpatient orthopedic evaluation.
For injuries that are painful and limiting but do not involve the features above, calling Dr. Bercik’s office directly for a prompt evaluation is appropriate. Closed fractures with intact skin, injuries where the limb remains functional with moderate pain, and suspected fractures without deformity can often be assessed and managed in an outpatient setting with same-day or next-day imaging. Early evaluation by a specialist rather than an emergency department can reduce unnecessary delays in treatment planning, particularly for fractures where the surgical window matters.
What does trauma and fracture care Lancaster include?
Conservative treatment options, such as ice, rest, and physical therapy, are sometimes sufficient for orthopedic trauma and fracture care. However, surgery is often necessary to fully restore a joint or muscle that has been severely damaged under the care of a trauma and fracture care surgeon. Dr. Bercik, considered one of the best shoulder surgeons in Pennsylvania by many patients, uses the latest advances in technology and minimally invasive procedures to ensure exceptional musculoskeletal repair, healing, and restoration.
His team collaborates with other specialists and hospitals to deliver coordinated services focused on trauma and orthopedic recovery. Dr. Bercik is committed to providing patients with the most up-to-date treatment options. Doctor Bercik also offers shoulder care for damaged rotator cuff, joint degeneration, limited shoulder mobility, and instability of the shoulder joint.
Post-Trauma Rehabilitation and Returning to Function
Fracture healing and surgical repair are the first steps in recovery. Returning to full function requires a structured rehabilitation process that rebuilds strength, restores range of motion, and retrains the neuromuscular patterns that protect the injured area under load.
The rehabilitation timeline after orthopedic trauma varies considerably based on the injury type, the treatment approach, and the patient’s baseline health, with a structured rehabilitation process necessary for fracture healing. Soft tissue healing and bone consolidation proceed on different timelines and both must be respected in the rehabilitation plan. Pushing range of motion before soft tissue healing is adequate, or loading a fracture before adequate callus formation, can compromise the repair and extend the overall recovery.
In the early phase following either surgical or non-surgical management, the focus is on pain control, swelling reduction, and protecting the repair while maintaining mobility in the joints above and below the injury. For shoulder and upper extremity injuries, this typically means gentle pendulum exercises and distal joint motion at the elbow, wrist, and hand to prevent stiffness while the fracture is protected.
As healing progresses, active range of motion and progressive resistance are introduced under the supervision of a physical therapist. Dr. Bercik’s team coordinates directly with physical therapy providers to ensure the rehabilitation protocol reflects the specific fixation method used and the healing status of the bone, rather than following a generic timeline that does not account for individual factors.
Return to work and sport timelines are discussed with each patient based on their functional demands. Sedentary workers may return to light duty within weeks of a surgical repair. Manual laborers and overhead athletes typically require three to six months before full occupational demands are appropriate, with clearance based on both clinical assessment and imaging confirmation of adequate healing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma and Fracture Care Lancaster
What is the difference between a fracture and a break?
There is no clinical difference. Fracture and break refer to the same injury: a disruption in the continuity of bone. The term fracture is used in medical settings because it encompasses a broader range of injury patterns, from a hairline stress fracture to a complex, multi-fragment break, but both words describe the same type of injury.
How do I know if a bone is broken or just bruised?
Pain alone cannot reliably distinguish a fracture from a soft tissue contusion. Fractures typically cause point tenderness directly over the bone, swelling that develops within hours of the injury, and pain that worsens with any attempt to bear weight or use the limb. Bruising may appear within 24 to 48 hours. The only way to confirm a fracture is with imaging. If you have any doubt, an X-ray is the appropriate next step.
How long does a shoulder fracture take to heal?
Most shoulder fractures show radiographic evidence of healing within six to eight weeks, though full bone remodeling takes considerably longer. Return to light activity is typically possible by eight to twelve weeks. Return to full strength and overhead function can take four to six months depending on the severity of the fracture and whether surgery was required. More detail on healing timelines for specific fracture types is available on the shoulder fractures page.
Can fractures heal without surgery?
Many fractures heal without surgery when the bone ends are in acceptable alignment and the fracture is stable enough to maintain that alignment during the healing process. The decision depends on the fracture location, the degree of displacement, the patient’s age and bone quality, and their activity demands. Dr. Bercik reviews imaging with every patient to explain the fracture pattern and the reasoning behind the recommended approach.
What is a nonunion and how is it treated?
A nonunion occurs when a fracture fails to heal within the expected timeframe, leaving a persistent gap or fibrous tissue between bone ends instead of solid callus. Contributing factors include inadequate immobilization, poor blood supply to the fracture site, infection, and certain medical conditions that affect bone metabolism. Treatment depends on the cause and may involve surgical revision of the fixation, bone grafting to stimulate healing, or biologic adjuncts such as bone morphogenetic protein.
What should I bring to my first appointment after a traumatic injury?
Bring any imaging that was taken at the emergency department or urgent care, including the actual films or a disc if available, not just the written report. A written report without images limits what Dr. Bercik can assess at the initial visit. Also bring a list of current medications, any relevant medical history such as prior surgeries or bone density issues, and a clear account of how the injury occurred, since mechanism of injury directly influences the treatment plan.
Does Dr. Bercik treat shoulder dislocations that occur alongside fractures?
Yes. Injuries that combine a fracture with a shoulder dislocation are among the more complex presentations in orthopedic trauma. Dr. Bercik’s training in both fracture care and shoulder reconstruction allows him to address both components of the injury together, reducing the likelihood of staged procedures and streamlining recovery.
Schedule an evaluation with Michael J. Bercik Jr., MD, by phone or request an appointment online today to learn more about superior trauma and fracture care in Lancaster.
