Fracture
A fracture is when a bone is broken. It may simply be caused by physical impact, but may also be associated with a medical ailment such as osteoporosis in old people, which cause bones to become brittle and more liable to breaking. There are different types of fractures, depending on the cause of injury. Furthermore, there are clear symptoms such as pain,swelling, bruising, and visible bone deformity.
Treatment of Fractures
The body is able to repair fractures naturally by reconnecting broken bones,however this is not possible in all cases causing the individual to have difficulty moving or performing other functions. The treating doctor will discuss which treatment method is best for your specific situation taking into consideration aspects such as the patient’s physical condition, age, location and the nature of the fracture, mobility, and severity of damage done to surrounding tissue.
Two types of treatment
- Non-Surgical Treatment Non-surgical treatment will involve a cast and immobilizing the fracture. The advantages of this treatment are no incision wounds from surgery. However the patient will have their mobility restricted for a prolonged period of time whilst wearing a cast or recovering at the hospital. The risks of this treatment are minor muscle atrophy and pressure sores.
- Surgical Treatment The advantage of surgical treatment is the faster recovery period. Patients will be able to move around more quickly and thus return to normal activities in a shorter time-span. The disadvantage is the risks that accompany anesthesiology, possibility of infection at incision point, and the need for another surgery to remove metal plates. During surgical treatment, apart from ensuring that the bone is aligned properly, the orthopedic surgeon must also take into consideration the surrounding tissue. Treatment requires the use of a metal plate to hold the bone together, which makes the wearing of a post-surgery cast unnecessary.The fact that the patient will be able to move about freely sooner means that surrounding muscles remain strong and can retain their function without atrophying.
The selection of the type of equipment to be used in fracture treatment depends on the location of the fracture, the nature of the injury, and its possible impact on other organs. The patient’s safety is the number one priority for treatment choices that are safe, efficient, and adhere to international standards, ensuring positive results.
The advantages of traditional, or open surgery is visibility for the surgeon. However, this will leave a larger wound and may destroy more muscle and tissue in the surrounding area. This also increases the risk of further complications such as infection or, malfunction of implants. This area will also experience swelling, which can also contribute to a longer recovery period.
Furthermore, open surgery often requires bone to be removed from the patient’s hip to replace that at the fracture area, adding another incision wound at the hip. Considering these disadvantages, the Minimally Invasive plate Osteosyntehsis (MIPO) technique offers better results with far less complications.
Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis has been conducted in Thailand since 15 years. This technique involves a small incision above the fracture site, and utilizes specialized equipment to insert a metal plate to be held in place with screws above and below the area. The goal is to cause as little damage to surrounding tissues as possible. The size of the incision is far smaller which results in less bruising, allowing for a faster recovery period,and less chance of complications such as infection, or the need for repeat surgery.
For enhanced accuracy, the doctor will use a fluoroscope X-ray to ensure proper alignment. This is an imaging techqniue that uses X-rays to obtain a real-time moving image, which allows the physician to see the internal structure of the patient.
The medical equipment utilized in this minimally invasive technique are specifically designed to reduce pain and complications by avoiding damage to surrounding tissues and blood circulation around the fracture area. An appropriate amount of screws will be used to ensure that the fracture heals effectively whilst ensuring that there is little risk of complications such as infection from surgery and blood loss. The patient will have a faster recovery, the bone will mend faster, and the incision wound will hardly be noticeable once healed.
This procedure is only possible given the right medical equipment, together with experienced surgeons, trained in this specific technique (MIPO) to ensure successful surgical treatment and allow patients to return to a good quality of life.