Surgery to set a broken bone

You may develop an infection.

Appointment
Even with surgery the bone position

may not be perfect.
You may lose some feeling in the
Procedure:
area of the break near the incisions.
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If the bone is soft or broken into
Date of Procedure:
many pieces, the plate or screws
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may not hold the bone together com-
pletely.
Arrival Time:
If pins, screws, plates, wire, or a rod
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Patient Procedure Guide
were used, they might cause prob-
Department:
lems some time after the surgery. In
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this case you may want or need an-
other operation to remove the hard-
Phone Number:
ware.
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Surgery To Set A
You should ask your Consultant how
these risks apply to you.
Nothing to eat or drink after:
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Broken Bone
When should I call my Consult-
ant?
Other Instructions:
1. The wound is bleeding or oozing
fluid.
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2. You develop a fever.
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3. You become short of breath.
4. You are in a lot of pain.
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5. You have a cast and you have
pain, numbness, or cooler skin
where the cast was applied. The
In Emergency
cast may be too tight and may
58, Canal Circular Road, Kolkata—700054
need to be released or replaced.
Tel : 91 33 2320 3040 / 2320 2122
Fax : 91 33 2320 5184 / 2358 5218
6. You have questions about the
Call 1066
procedure or its result.
Email : apollo_gleneagles@hotmail.com
7. You want to make another ap-
pointment.

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Surgery to set a broken bone is
condition, that is, your bone healing in a
You may need to wear a splint, dress-
called an open reduction of a frac-
poor position.
ing, or a cast to help keep the bone in
ture. The surgery involves cutting
place while it heals.
You should ask your Consultant about
open the skin and putting bone frag-
these choices.
If you stress the fracture site too much
ments back into place. The bone is
before it is healed you may damage
then held in place with special
How do I prepare for open reduction
the work that was done to realign the
screws or by attaching metal plates
of a fracture?
bone.
to the bone (internal fixation). Pins
Plan for your care and recovery after
This is unusual though and it takes
that go through the bone, or rods that
the operation. Allow time to rest. Try to
quite a lot of stress in most cases to
go inside the length of the bone, are
find other people to help you with your
cause a problem. Talk to your Con-
used to keep the bone in place.
day-to-day duties.
sultant to find out just how much you
When is it used?
Follow any other instructions provided
can stress the fracture.
The surgery may be done if the bro-
by your Consultant. Do not eat or drink
Exercises are usually necessary dur-
ken bone is deformed and needs a
anything after midnight and the morning
ing and after the healing process. Ex-
pin, screw, plate, or rod attached to it
before the procedure. Do not even drink
ercise helps to make the muscle
to hold it in a better position while it
coffee, tea, or water after midnight.
strong and flexible and helps your
heals.
What happens during the proce-
joints move normally.
If a fractured bone goes through the
dure?
Ask your Consultant what other steps
skin, it is important to clean the
You will be given a regional or general
you should take and when you should
wound very well to prevent infection
anesthetic.
come back for a checkup.
of the bone. Cleaning of the wound is
The surgeon will make one or more
What are the benefits of this proce-
done in the operating room, and in-
cuts (incisions) in the area of the frac-
dure?
ternal fixation is often done at the
same time if it is needed.
ture. The broken bone will be put it into
The bone may heal in a better, more
a position where it lines up properly.
normal position. In some cases, the
Alternatives to this procedure in-
The surgeon may secure your bone
surgery allows a quicker recovery from
clude:
with pins, screws, plates, wire, or a rod
the fracture than just putting the bone
1. Realigning the bones without sur-
to help it stay straight. Then he or she
in a cast without surgery.
gery, a procedure called closed
will close the cuts in your skin.

reduction, and using a cast,
What happens after the procedure?
splint, or external fixation to keep
What are the risks associated with
the bone or bones in a better po-
You may need to spend a couple of
this procedure?
sition.
days in the hospital, depending on how
bad the break was, how quickly you re-
There are some risks when you have
2. Trying traction and resting in bed
cover from the anesthetic, and how
general anesthesia. Discuss these
for a long time.
much pain you are in.
risks with your Consultant.
3. Choosing not to have treatment,
while recognizing the risk of your

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