Surgical Fracture Fixation

Surgical Fracture Fixation at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Malad

A child falls off a bicycle, a grandparent slips on a wet floor, a driver is hurt in a collision: fractures arrive without warning, in every age group. Some of them will not set properly, however carefully they are splinted or casted. Open Reduction Internal Fixation, or ORIF, is the surgical answer. In the "open reduction" step, the surgeon realigns the broken fragments by direct access to the fracture site, and in "internal fixation," plates, screws, rods, or wires hold the bone steady while it heals. CritiCare Asia Hospitals is an orthopaedic hospital in Mumbai where families are encouraged to stay with the patient and take part in each decision. Our surgeons explain open reduction internal fixation in Malad clearly to everyone involved, before any plan is made.

Signs That a Fracture May Need Surgery

A visible deformity or a limb that looks out of line
Not being able to bear weight or use the injured area at all
Swelling that worsens rather than settling in the first day or two
Pain that does not ease with rest or basic immobilisation

An X-ray usually shows the fracture pattern clearly, and a CT scan is used when the break is complex or close to a joint surface. Our orthopaedic surgeons in Mumbai go through the scans with you and your family.

Emergency Warning Signs

Some fractures cannot wait: bone breaking through the skin (an open fracture), visible deformity, loss of feeling or pulse below the injury, or inability to move the limb. These need emergency evaluation and urgent fixation, so do not delay a hospital visit.

What Leads to These Fractures

Falls are the most common trigger, particularly in older adults whose bones have thinned. Road traffic accidents account for a large share of high-energy fractures that shatter the bone. Sports injuries, especially in contact sports, add more. Osteoporosis raises the risk in all of these, since weakened bone breaks under forces that healthy bone would withstand.

Protecting Bones at Every Age

Surgery only becomes necessary after a break, so prevention means reducing fracture risk.

Calcium and vitamin D in the diet keep bones stronger
Weight-bearing exercise builds bone density and improves balance
Handrails, non-slip mats and good lighting protect older relatives at home
Bone density screening and medication for those at risk of osteoporosis
Helmets and padding for children and adults who cycle or play contact sports

None of this guarantees against fracture, but it makes a real difference to the odds.

Types of ORIF Procedures

Plate and screw fixation, where a plate is secured along the bone with screws, often used near joints
Intramedullary nailing, with a rod through the marrow canal of long bones like the femur or tibia, favoured for shaft fractures
Wire fixation, using thin wires for smaller or more delicate fractures, often in the hand or wrist
Bone grafting with fixation, used where bone loss accompanies the break

Which technique is used depends on where the break sits and how far the fragments have moved.

Treatment Options and the Procedure

Treatment follows three steps. First, bone realignment: the surgeon moves the fragments back into their correct anatomical position. Second, internal fixation, which holds that alignment steady through healing with plates, screws, rods, or wires. Third, where there is significant bone loss, grafting adds material to support healing, from the patient's own body or a donor.

Before surgery, X-rays and, if needed, CT scans guide the plan, followed by blood work, a general health review, and anaesthesia planning. ORIF is typically done under general or regional anaesthesia. The surgeon opens the fracture site, realigns the bone and secures it with the method that fits the break. Afterwards, pain relief and monitoring start immediately, with attention to swelling and circulation. Movement begins gradually, guided by the surgical team, and physiotherapy starts when early healing allows. Family members can usually help with walking aids and daily tasks during the first weeks.