Life with a Damaged Body: Experience of Anxiety, Insecurity, and Loss of Control After Orthopedic Trauma

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the lived experience of individuals with traumatic orthopedic injuries and to understand changes in bodily identity, sense of bodily security, and quality of life following injury. The present research employed a descriptive phenomenological approach. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with seven participants (three men and four women) aged 40–66 years who had sustained traumatic orthopedic injuries (pelvic fracture, hip fracture and hip joint fracture, wrist and forearm fractures, ankle fracture, and Achilles tendon rupture). Sampling was conducted using purposive sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data analysis was performed using Collaizi’s seven-stage method. Eight main themes were extracted from the data analysis: 1) Bodily alienation and betrayal, 2) Chronic bodily vulnerability and insecurity, 3) Loss of independence and control, 4) Identity crisis and gender/social role disruptions, 5) Shame, stigma, and others’ changing perceptions, 6) Chronic anxiety and anticipatory fear, 7) Feeling like a burden and guilt toward loved ones, 8) Intermittent hope and hopelessness regarding the future. The core phenomenon structure revealed that the injured body transforms from a reliable refuge into a source of continuous insecurity, anticipatory anxiety, identity crisis, and imposed dependency, simultaneously affecting the physical, psychological, and social dimensions of the individual’s life. The lived experience following orthopedic trauma extends beyond bone healing and return of physical function, encompassing a complex journey toward rebuilding existential security, personal identity, and a sense of control over life. A sole focus on biomechanical treatments is insufficient, highlighting the necessity for a holistic approach that includes regular mental health screening, fear-avoidance model-based psychological interventions, social and economic support, and long-term community-centered rehabilitation programs.