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Bone fracture
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===Immobilization=== Since [[bone healing]] is a natural process that will occur most often, fracture treatment aims to ensure the best possible ''function'' of the injured part after healing. Bone fractures typically are treated by restoring the fractured pieces of bone to their natural positions (if necessary), and maintaining those positions while the bone heals. Often, aligning the bone, called [[Reduction (orthopedic surgery)|reduction]], in a good position and verifying the improved alignment with an X-ray is all that is needed. This process is extremely painful without [[anaesthesia]], about as painful as breaking the bone itself. To this end, a fractured limb usually is immobilized with a [[plaster]] or [[glass-reinforced plastic|fibreglass]] [[Orthopedic cast|cast]] or splint that holds the bones in position and immobilizes the joints above and below the fracture. When the initial post-fracture [[oedema]] or swelling goes down, the fracture may be placed in a removable brace or [[orthosis]]. If being treated with surgery, [[intramedullary rod|surgical nails]], screws, plates, and wires are used to hold the fractured bone together more directly. Alternatively, fractured bones may be treated by the [[Ilizarov apparatus|Ilizarov method]] which is a form of an external fixator. Occasionally smaller bones, such as phalanges of the [[toes]] and [[finger]]s, may be treated without the cast, by [[buddy wrapping]] them, which serves a similar function to making a cast. A device called a [[Suzuki frame]] may be used in cases of deep, complex intra-articular digit fractures.<ref name="pmid16217475">{{cite journal|vauthors=Keramidas EG, Miller G|date=October 2005|title=The Suzuki frame for complex intraarticular fractures of the thumb|journal=Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery|volume=116|issue=5|pages=1326β31|doi=10.1097/01.prs.0000181786.39062.0b|pmid=16217475|s2cid=31890854}}</ref> By allowing only limited movement, immobilization helps preserve anatomical alignment while enabling [[Fibrocartilage callus|callus]] formation, toward the target of achieving union. Splinting results in the same outcome as casting in children who have a distal radius fracture with little shifting.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1503/cmaj.100119 |pmid=20823169 |pmc=2950182 |title=Cast versus splint in children with minimally angulated fractures of the distal radius: A randomized controlled trial |journal=Canadian Medical Association Journal |volume=182 |issue=14 |pages=1507β12 |year=2010 |last1=Boutis |first1=K. |last2=Willan |first2=A. |last3=Babyn |first3=P. |last4=Goeree |first4=R. |last5=Howard |first5=A. }}</ref>
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