Treating a displaced fracture involves realigning the broken bone and then immobilizing it to allow for proper healing.
Initial Steps: Reduction
The primary goal in treating a displaced fracture is to set the broken bone back into its correct alignment. This process is called a reduction. The reduction can be either:
- Closed Reduction: This involves manually manipulating the bone back into place without surgery.
- Open Reduction: This requires surgery to realign the bone fragments.
Immobilization
After the bone is realigned, it needs to be kept still so it can heal correctly. This is achieved through immobilization using:
- Brace
- Splint
- Cast
The choice of immobilization method depends on the location and severity of the fracture. The reference text says that "after the reduction, the injured limb is immobilized with a brace, splint, or cast while the bone heals".
Further Treatment
If the initial reduction is unsuccessful, further treatment might be needed. This could include:
- Surgery: To properly align the bone fragments using plates, screws, or rods.
- External Fixation: A frame outside the body is attached to the bone with pins or wires to hold it in place.
