Immobilization by casting, bracing, or splinting a joint below and above the fracture was used for most long bone fractures – except femur fractures, for which traction was the main option for treatment. In the past, open fractures and airborne wounds with long bone fractures were not able to obtain standard fracture care because of the soft-tissue injury and the trouble of preventing infection; thus, they usually resulted in amputation. Along with just infection, surgical fixations were also complicated by poorly conceived implants, different techniques, metal allergy, and limited understanding of the biology and mechanics of fracture healing. Over the past 40 years, advancements in biologic and mechanical science have led to contemporary fixation theories and techniques. (General …show more content…
Bone fractures can be fixed by installing plates, screws, nails/rods, or wires/pins. Plates are like internal splints that hold the broken pieces of bone together. The plates are attached to the bone with screws. Plates may be left in place after healing is complete, or they may be removed (in select cases). Screws are the most common internal fixation than any other type of implant. Although the screw is a simple device, there are different designs based on the different types of fracture. Screws come in different sizes to accommodate the different sizes of bones. Screws can be used alone to hold a fracture, as well as with plates, rods, or nails. (Orthopedic Hardware) After the bone heals, screws may be either left in place or removed. In some fractures in the long bones, the best way to hold the bone pieces together is by inserting a nail or rod through the hollow center of the bone, that would normally contains some marrow. Screws at each end of the rod are used to keep the fracture from rotating or shortening, and also hold the rod in place until the fracture is healed. Rods and screws can be left in the bone after healing is complete. Another implant that is used is wires and pins. Wires are often used to pin the bones back together. They are used to hold pieces of bone that are too small to be fixed with screws together. In many cases, they are used in conjunction