Repairing Major Bone Breaks with Open Reduction Internal Fixation Surgery

Orif Surgery

Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) surgery is one of the most common orthopedic surgeries performed today. ORIF surgery involves the removal of bone fragments from around a broken bone, then reattaching them to allow movement. There are two main types of ORIF surgery: open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) and closed reduction internal fixation (CRIFT).

The procedure itself consists of removing a piece of bone from the affected area, then placing it back into place over the original fracture site. Then, a metal rod is inserted through the hole created by this surgery and used to hold the pieces together. After these procedures, patients usually walk without any problems.

However, there are some risks associated with ORIF surgery including infection and bleeding which may cause pain or swelling in your foot or leg.

What Are The Benefits Of Orif Surgery?

In general, ORIF surgery is considered safe when done correctly. The procedure does not require anesthesia and patients do not need to stay overnight in the hospital. Patients often feel better immediately following the operation than they would if they had waited longer to see how their body responds to the surgery. Some studies have shown that patients who undergo ORIF surgery tend to experience less pain during recovery than those who don’t receive this type of treatment.

However, the specific benefits of this procedure can vary based on the location and nature of the broken bone. A person with a broken arm may experience more range of motion after an ORIF surgery than a person with a broken leg. In general, people who have undergone this process have reported feeling better quality of life in the long-term, especially when it comes to physical activity.

What Are The Risks And Side Effects Of Orif Surgery?

While ORIF surgery is generally considered safe when performed correctly by a skilled professional, there are some risks involved with this procedure. As with any surgery, there is always the risk of infection as well as excessive bleeding. There may also be damage to blood vessels or nerves which could lead to complications such as gangrene or loss of feeling in the affected area.

Discussing these risks with your surgeon before the procedure can help you understand what you can expect during your recovery. Some people experience mild aches and pains after their surgery, while others do not feel much pain at all. In some cases, patients have reported feeling normal again within a matter of days after the operation.

It is important to speak with your doctor about your specific concerns to determine if ORIF surgery is right for you.

Sources & references used in this article:

Open reduction and internal fixation of isolated PCL fossa avulsion fractures by K Bali, S Prabhakar, U Saini, MS Dhillon – Knee Surgery, Sports …, 2012 – Springer

Quantitative comparison of open reduction and internal fixation versus the Gillies method in the treatment of orbitozygomatic complex fractures by M Czerwinski, M Martin, C Lee – Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 2005 – journals.lww.com

Endoscopic repair of anterior table—frontal sinus fractures by EB Strong, RM Kellman – Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics, 2006 – facialplastic.theclinics.com

Orthopedic infections in equine long bone fractures and arthrodeses treated by internal fixation: 192 cases (1990–2006) by BJ Ahern, DW Richardson, RC Boston… – … Surgery, 2010 – Wiley Online Library

Survivorship of the native hip joint after percutaneous repair of acetabular fractures in the elderly by JL Gary, KA Lefaivre, F Gerold, MT Hay, CM Reinert… – Injury, 2011 – Elsevier

Open reduction and internal fixation of high-energy tibial plateau fractures by WJ Mills, SE Nork – Orthopedic Clinics, 2002 – orthopedic.theclinics.com

Treatment of diaphyseal fractures of the forearm using the Point Contact Fixator (PC-Fix): results of 387 fractures of a prospective multicentric study (PC-Fix II) by N Haas, C Hauke, M Schütz, M Kääb, SM Perren – Injury, 2001 – injuryjournal.com