Do fractures require surgery? Which fractures require surgery?

Fractures are a common type of trauma in daily life, especially for men who like to exercise and do sports. Surgery is required to restore the bone to its original position, but not all fractures require surgery. Some fractures can be restored with manual manipulation. Which fractures require surgery?

Manual reduction fracture

For most limb fractures, manual reduction (some fractures that are not displaced do not need reduction) plus external fixation or traction can achieve good results without surgery. If manual reduction cannot achieve functional reduction, or if the fracture is accompanied by damage to important nerves and blood vessels, or if soft tissues such as muscles are embedded between the fracture ends and it is estimated that the fracture will be difficult to heal, or if the fracture is caused by bone disease (i.e. pathological fracture), then surgery should be used.

Surgically treatable fractures

Multiple fractures, large displacement of free bone fragments, or fractures within (or near) the joints, such as severely separated patellar fractures, acetabular fractures, intercondylar femoral fractures, tibial platform fractures, lateral humeral condyle and medial epicondyle rotation fractures, etc., are difficult to reduce and fix by manipulation and require surgical treatment. For some fractures (such as femoral neck fractures or spinal fractures in the elderly), patients should be allowed to get out of bed and move around early to reduce complications, or surgery is also the first choice for the convenience of nursing.