Fracture Care

Fracture care can be divided into two major groups: operative and non-operative. Whether a fracture can be treated non-operatively or whether it requires operative intervention comes down to several factors which include fracture location, displacement of the fracture, angulation and stability of the fracture. Fracture location can be dependent on no only when bone in the body is broken, but also where the fracture is located within that particular bone. For example, a fracture that occurs in a joint like the knee or ankle is treated more aggressively that a fracture of the humerus because of the variations in how much weight is transferred through that bone as well as the joint involvement.

Whether the fracture is treated with surgery or a cast, the anatomic alignment of the bone is crucial for good outcomes. For this reason, a reduction or resetting of the bone can be necessary followed by a period of immobilization in a cast, splint or with internal hardware placed at the time of surgery.