Knowledge about the impact of trauma on society is essential to adopting a multidisciplinary approach to orthopaedic trauma care. Nearly 16,000 people die from injuries each day and for each of these fatalities, several thousand individuals survive with permanently disabling injuries. Trauma affects the youngest and most productive members of society, resulting in a wide variety of behavioural, psychological and functional problems. Psychological problems, such as posttraumatic stress disorder and depression, pose an impact on functional outcomes as well as quality of life. Patients experiencing chronic pain even after their injuries have healed, face obstacles in returning to work and daily activities. Therefore, traumatic injuries, as well as subsequent rehabilitation, pose a significant social burden to victims as well as their families.