It is a dictum in [tag-tec]orthopedics[/tag-tec] that no two fracture are alike. Every [tag-tec]fracture[/tag-tec] behaves differently from other. Therefore two kinds of treatment may be given to two different persons with same fracture anatomy.
[tag-tec]Treatment of fractures[/tag-tec] takes various things into consideration -age of patient, fracture pattern, type of bone fractured, part of the bone fractured, any other associated injury any chronic problem and sometimes your expectation the treatment. We discuss it one by one.
Age: Patient age is an important consideration in treatment of a fracture. Most of pediatric fractures can be treated by non operative methods. There are many few indications for use of surgical treatment for children as compared to adult.
Fracture Pattern: An undisplaced fracture at any age would require just a plaster application (there are exceptions to this statement through).
A displaced fracture would always require closed or open reduction (open reduction is term used to treat the fractures by surgically opening the fracture fragments.
Area of the bone fractured: [tag-tec]Metaphyseal fractures[/tag-tec] (Fractures near to bone ends) are more amenable to [tag-tec]closed reduction[/tag-tec] & [tag-tec]splintage[/tag-tec] than shaft fractures in case of long bones. [tag-tec]Intra-articular fractures[/tag-tec] (fractures in which break also occurs in the end of bone that takes part information of joint) require strict anatomical reduction when compared to non articular fractures.
Type of bone fractured: This is very important consideration, because biomechanics of each bone & joint are different, there tend to occur different kind forces on fractured fragments in different bones.
Accordingly the primary & surgical treatment varies
Associated Injuries: Pressure of large wound along with fracture is an indication for wound cleaning, debridement (removal of dead tissue) and fixation.
Associated multiple fractures in other bones is also an indication for surgery. The aim is to stabilize all the bones so that patient can be made mobile.
Chronic problems if any also make an important factor in kind of treatment that can be given to patient.
Choice of patient: This too has an important bearing on treatment. Some people would accept plaster application for long time but will not take risk to undergo surgery.
All said and done, basis of both non operative, operative treatment is same.
To align the fractured fragments into anatomically acceptable position and hold it there till union between fractured fragments occurs.
This simple principle is the guiding factor in all complex modes of treatment.
These are main factors which form basis of treatment in case of fractures. But still I must emphasize that no conclusion should be drawn from above writing. A physician would always choose from one of the available choices and thus there could be variations in treatment from one doctor to another.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Related posts:
About Dr Arun Pal Singh
