Where in Dubai
Dr. Subhash Ushakoyala, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, sees patients with fractures at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai, to decide on surgery, to give a second opinion, and for follow-up after fixation. The clinic is not an emergency department. If an operation is advised, he tells you which hospital it will be in, and the clinic can tell you what your insurance plan needs before a date is set.
What is fracture surgery and fixation?
Many broken bones heal in a cast or splint. Some do not, because the pieces have moved apart, the break runs into a joint, or the bone is unstable. For these, an operation puts the pieces back in line, which is called reduction, and then holds them still while they heal, which is called fixation. When the surgeon opens the skin to do this, it is known as open reduction and internal fixation, or ORIF. The implants are usually stainless steel or titanium. Plates and screws act like an internal splint. A long rod, called a nail, can pass down the hollow centre of a thigh or shin bone. Thin wires or pins hold small pieces, especially in children, hands and feet. An external fixator is a frame outside the skin, joined to the bone by pins, often used first when the skin over a break is badly damaged.
Who it can help
- A broken bone whose pieces have shifted out of line.
- A break that runs into a joint, such as the wrist, ankle, knee or elbow.
- A break of the thigh bone or the middle of the shin bone, which is usually fixed with a nail.
- An open fracture, where the bone has broken through the skin.
- Several fractures at once after a road traffic accident.
- A fracture that has not healed, or has healed in a poor position.
How Dr. Subhash approaches it
Trauma is one of the main areas Dr. Subhash lists on his CV, covering road traffic injuries, fractures, dislocations and polytrauma, along with treatment of fractures that have not healed or have healed out of line. He has attended courses on open fractures, complex injuries around the knee and tibia fractures, and the International Trauma Course in 2025. He first decides whether your break can heal safely in a cast. When it cannot, he explains which implant suits the bone and why, and whether it is likely to stay in or come out later.
What to expect
Assessment
He examines the limb, checks the skin, blood supply and nerves, and reviews your X-rays. Sometimes a CT scan is needed, for example when the break runs into a joint.
Deciding together
He explains whether a cast or an operation suits the fracture, which implant he plans to use, the risks and the recovery. You decide.
Timing
Some fractures are fixed within hours or days. Others wait a few days for swelling to settle. Open fractures need urgent cleaning and antibiotics first.
The operation
Under anaesthetic, the bone is put back in line and held with plates, screws, a nail, wires or an external frame. X-rays during surgery check the position.
After surgery
You are told how much weight the limb can take. A splint, sling or crutches may be needed, and physiotherapy begins as soon as it is safe.
Follow-up X-rays
He checks the wound and takes X-rays over the following weeks to confirm that the bone is knitting in the right position.
Recovery, in general terms
Every patient is different. These are typical milestones, not a promise; your own plan comes from your consultation.
- A broken leg bone usually takes about six to twelve weeks to knit, and sometimes longer, for example in smokers, older adults and people with diabetes.
- Fixation often lets you move nearby joints sooner than a cast alone would.
- Physiotherapy brings back movement and strength once the bone is stable.
- Plates, screws and nails are often left in for life; wires and external frames are usually removed.
Risks to know about
- Infection, which is higher with open fractures and may need antibiotics or more surgery.
- The bone healing slowly, not healing, or healing in a poor position.
- A plate, screw or nail breaking or loosening before the bone has healed.
- Stiffness of nearby joints, and blood clots after leg fractures.
- Implants can rarely cause a reaction in people with a nickel allergy; tell your surgeon if you have one.
When to book a visit
For a serious injury, a limb that looks bent, or a bone through the skin, call 998 for an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency department first. Book a clinic visit for a fracture that needs a specialist decision on surgery, a second opinion, or a break that is not healing as expected.
Where to book
Dr. Subhash sees patients at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, in north-east Dubai. The clinic is at Shop No. 4, next to the Grand Excelsior Hotel.
Grand Infinity Medical Center
Shop No. 4, next to Grand Excelsior Hotel, Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
DirectionsCall +971 58 599 7460WhatsApp
Questions patients ask
I had my fracture fixed at another Dubai hospital. Can he take over the follow-up?
Yes. Book a consultation and bring the discharge letter, the operation note and your X-rays or CT discs, so he can see exactly what was done and plan the next checks.
Does every broken bone need surgery?
No. Many fractures heal well in a cast, splint or sling. Surgery is usually advised when the pieces have moved, the break enters a joint, the bone is unstable, or the skin is broken over it.
Will the plate or rod be taken out?
Often not. Plates, screws and nails are usually left in place unless they cause trouble. Wires, pins and external frames are usually removed once the bone has healed enough.
What is ORIF?
ORIF stands for open reduction and internal fixation. The surgeon opens the skin, puts the broken pieces back in line, and holds them with plates, screws or other implants while the bone heals.
How long does a bone take to heal after surgery?
A broken leg bone usually takes about six to twelve weeks to heal, and sometimes longer. Fixation holds the bone still while it knits; it does not make the bone itself heal faster. Exercises often continue for several months afterwards.
Book an appointment
His nurse answers the phone and WhatsApp.