SUSSEX LIMB RECONSTRUCTION
FRACTURES
WHAT IS A FRACTURE?
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A fracture is description for a broken bone
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF FRACTURE?
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Transverse - a straight horizontal break across a bone
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Spiral - a twisting type fracture
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Comminuted - a fracture with multiple bone fragments at the site of the break
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Segmental - a fracture where there is more than one fracture in the same bone
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Peri-articular - a fracture around or extending into a jointPeri-prosthetic - a fracture typically around an artificial joint replacement
WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF FRACTURE MANAGEMENT
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The aim of treating any fracture is to keep the bone stable so that the body's biology can heal the broken bone
HOW CAN FRACTURES BE STABILISED?
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Fractures can be stabilised with casts, splints, internal metalwork such as plates and screws or external metalwork such as an external fixator
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE HOW TO STABILISE A FRACTURE?
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All management decisions are made in a patient centred, shared manner. Some fractures are amenable to stabilisation with a cast or splint, whereas some are more amenable to surgical stabilisation