Bone fracture repair is surgery to fix a broken bone using plates, nails, screws, or pins. Bone grafts may be used to allow for proper healing or to speed the healing process.
DescriptionWhile the patient is pain-free, using general or local anesthesia, a surgical cut is made over the fractured bone. The bone is placed in proper position. Screws, pins, or plates are attached to or placed in the bone temporarily or permanently. Or, long bones may be fixed with nails placed in the bone cavity.
Any disrupted blood vessels are tied off or burned (cauterized). If a lot of bone has been lost due to the fracture (especially if there is a gap between the broken bone ends), the surgeon may decide to do a bone graft. Bone grafting may be performed using the patient's own bone, usually taken from the hip. Or, the bone may be taken from a donor.
If bone grafting is not necessary, the fracture can be repaired by the following methods:
In some cases, blood vessels and nerves are repaired with microsurgery. The opening in the skin is then closed. If the broken bone has pierced the skin, the bone ends need to be washed with sterile fluid in the operating room to prevent infection. The washing process may need to be repeated if the wound becomes infected.
Why the Procedure Is PerformedSurgical repair is recommended for complicated fractures that cannot be realigned (reduced) by nonsurgical methods. This is especially true of fractures that involve joints. Poorly aligned joint surfaces may contribute to the development of arthritis.
RisksRisks for any anesthesia include the following:
Risks for surgery include the following:
Surgery often allows patients to regain movement and heal faster than nonsurgical treatment. Your long-term outlook depends on the severity of the fracture.
It is usually not necessary to remove an internal fixation device unless it causes problems.
Outlook (Prognosis)The length of the hospital stay depends on the:
Most fractures heal in 6 - 12 weeks. Children's bones heal rapidly, usually in 6 weeks.
If a bone fracture is severe, a bone graft may be used to help speed the healing process. In this example, a metal plate is also used and secured with screws.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 10/06/2008
Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
Bone fracture repair is surgery to fix a broken bone using plates, nails, screws, or pins. Bone grafts may be used to allow for proper healing or to assist in the healing process.
DescriptionWhile you are pain-free under general or local anesthesia, a surgical cut is made over the fractured bone. The bone is placed in the proper position. Screws, pins, or plates are attached to or placed in the bone temporarily or permanently. Long bones may be fixed with nails placed in the bone cavity.
Any disrupted blood vessels are tied off or burned (cauterized). If a lot of bone has been lost due to the fracture (especially if there is a gap between the broken bone ends), the surgeon may decide to do a bone graft. Bone grafting may be performed using the patient's own bone, usually taken from the hip. Or, bone taken from a donor can be used.
If bone grafting is not necessary, the fracture can be repaired by the following methods:
In some cases, blood vessels and nerves are repaired with microsurgery. The opening in the skin is then closed. If the broken bone has pierced the skin, the bone ends need to be washed with sterile fluid in the operating room to prevent infection. The washing process may need to be repeated if the wound is dirty or becomes infected.
Why the Procedure Is PerformedSurgical repair is recommended for complicated fractures that cannot be realigned (reduced) by nonsurgical methods. This is especially true of fractures that involve joints. Poorly aligned joint surfaces may contribute to the development of arthritis.
RisksRisks for any anesthesia include the following:
Risks for surgery include the following:
Surgery often allows patients to regain movement and heal faster than nonsurgical treatment. Your long-term outlook depends on the severity of the fracture.
It is usually not necessary to remove an internal fixation device unless it causes problems.
Outlook (Prognosis)The length of the hospital stay depends on the:
Most fractures heal in 6 - 12 weeks. Children's bones heal rapidly, usually in 6 weeks.
ReferencesBrowner BD, DeAngelis JP. Emergency care of musculoskeletal injuries. In: Townsend CM Jr., Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 21.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 07/28/2010
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Upper and lower arms may be broken. Treatment is roughly similar. There are several degrees of broken arm ranging from greenstick fracture where the bone is only partly broken through compound fractures where several bones are broken o a bone is broken into several pieces, to a broken bone which pierces the skin. In all cases it is necessary to align the broken sections back to a close approximation of their original orientation. The doctor must also ensure that any cut or torn blood vessels are repaired. Sometimes muscles are severed and must be surgically repaired. The more serious fractures may require plates and screws to be inserted into the bone to hold it in position. The arm is immobilized with a sling, cast or by pins piercing the flesh into the bone and bolted into position. Healing takes place naturally with new bone growth between the broken sections. This takes several weeks
Most bunionectomies involve the removal of a section of bone and the insertion of pins to rejoin the bone.
You can get a cast by breaking a bone?
Demineralization of the bones is when the bones have a lowered amount of minerals in the bone. Phosphate and Calcium is lowered in the bone and causes the person to have reduced bone strength.
metal. bone. and wood
Infection can interfere with bone repair. This risk is greater in the case of a compound fracture (a bone fracture causing an open wound) where ideal conditions are present for severe streptococcal and staphylococcal infections
A commimuted fracture of a bone refers to a bone that has been broken into several pieces. This type of fracture will often require surgery to repair the damage.
Bone remodeling to convert woven bone to compact bone
Fracture repair is required when there is a need for restoration of the normal position and function of the broken bone. Throughout the stages of fracture healing, the bones must be held firmly in the correct position
The XRAY is the EMR used to detect a fracture in your bone and a fracture refers to a broken bone in your body.
A broken bone is often called a "fracture" or "bone fracture". Some examples from the Wikipedia entry on bone fracture. * Complete Fracture- A fracture in which bone fragments separate completely. * Incomplete Fracture- A fracture in which the bone fragments are still partially joined. * Linear Fracture- A fracture that is parallel to the bone's long axis. * Transverse Fracture- A fracture that is at a right angle to the bone's long axis. * Oblique Fracture- A fracture that is diagonal to a bone's long axis. * Compression Fracture-A fracture that usually occurs in the vertebrae. * Spiral Fracture- A fracture where at least one part of the bone has been twisted. * Comminuted Fracture- A fracture causing many fragments. * Compacted Fracture- A fracture caused when bone fragments are driven into each other * Open Fracture- A fracture when the bone reaches the skin * Bug fracture- A fracture when the bone is in place, but the fracture has the appearance of a crushed insect.
a type of bone fracture producing many bone fragments is?
connective tissue
A bone graft is a surgical procedure which is done to repair a bone fracture that is not healing properly or one that is detrimental to a person's life. It repairs the bone and makes it stronger.
a break in the bone is the same as a fracture.
A bone fracture where the bone fragments are driven into each other is called a "Compacted Fracture".
A fracture for a broken bone. If the bone is broken badly enough to stick out through the skin it is called a compound fracture.