Fracture Management

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Fracture Management

Fracture management is a critical aspect of orthopaedic care aimed at restoring mobility, function, and quality of life for patients with bone injuries. At Alps Orthopaedic Centre, our experienced orthopaedic team provides comprehensive and compassionate fracture management services tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

What Is a Fracture? How Do I Know If I Need to See An Orthopaedic Surgeon?

A fracture refers to a condition where a bone breaks, often resulting from traumatic incidents such as falls, accidents, sports injuries, or underlying bone conditions like osteoporosis.

This breakage can vary from minor cracks to severe breaks that may require surgical intervention. Fractures can affect many areas of the body, such as the hip, ankle, foot, wrist and shoulder.

It is recommended to consult an orthopaedic surgeon if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:

Severe pain: Persistent, intense, and sudden pain at the injury site may indicate a significant fracture that requires medical attention.
Swelling and bruising: Swelling and redness accompanied by bruising around the affected area can be indicative of a fracture and the need for specialist evaluation.
Deformity or misalignment: Visible deformity, such as a limb appearing crooked or misaligned, suggests a possible fracture and requires immediate medical assessment.
Dysfunction in the injured area: If you cannot put weight on the injured limb or experience difficulty using it, it may be due to a fracture that needs orthopaedic evaluation and management.

Immediate medical attention is essential in cases of bone protrusions or loss of sensation, as these may indicate severe fractures or other complications that require urgent treatment.

If you suspect severe fractures, it is crucial to swiftly seek help from an orthopaedic specialist clinic in Singapore or call 995 to contact a nearby hospital’s Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department.

Old people in Singapore are more likely to get osteoporosis, which significantly increases their risk of fractures. This is because of lower bone density, which causes bones to be more fragile and prone to fractures.

How Can Fractures be Diagnosed?

At Alps Orthopaedic Centre, fractures are typically diagnosed through a variety of physical examinations and imaging tests. Our experienced orthopaedic surgeon often starts with X-rays to visualise the fracture, but some fractures, especially hairline fractures or those involving small bones, may not be immediately visible on X-rays. In such cases, additional imaging techniques like CT scans or MRI scans are employed to get a clearer picture of the injury.

X-rays detect hip fractures by capturing images of the bones in the hip area.

What Are the Treatment Options for Fractures?

Fractures can vary in severity, and the treatment approach, including surgery, is determined by factors such as the type and location of the fracture, as well as the patient’s overall health and activity level.

For stable fractures where the bones remain aligned: mild injuries can be treated using immobilisation with a cast, splint, or brace, allowing the bones to heal properly. Immobilisation helps prevent further movement of the injured limb and promotes optimal alignment during the healing process.

For severe fractures or those that cannot be adequately stabilised with immobilisation alone: when noninvasive treatments fail, surgical intervention is usually the next line of treatment. Surgical fixation techniques include the use of screws, plates, wires, or rods to hold the bone fragments together and provide stability. This approach is often necessary for complex fractures or fractures involving joints.

What Happens Before and During Bone Fracture Surgery?

Preparation: When patients attend their appointment at Alps Orthopaedic Centre, they will undergo a detailed evaluation, such as a medical history review, physical examination, and imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans to help our orthopaedic surgeon assess the nature of the fracture.
Fracture Reduction: During the procedure, our surgeon will carefully realign the fractured bone fragments into their proper position. This may involve manipulating the bone fragments with specialised instruments.
Fixation: Once the bone is realigned, the surgeon may use various fixation techniques to hold the bone fragments together while they heal. Common fixation methods include:
- Internal Fixation: This involves the utilisation of screws, plates, rods, or wires to stabilise the fracture internally.
- External Fixation: In some cases, external devices such as pins, wires, or frames may be attached to the bone externally to stabilise the fracture.
- Intramedullary Nailing: In this procedure, a metal rod is inserted into the bone’s hollow centre to provide stability and support
Postoperative Care: Following surgery, the patient will be monitored closely in the recovery room and will receive pain medication, antibiotics, and instructions for postoperative care and rehabilitation.

What is the Post-surgery Recovery Process like?

Timeline: After surgical intervention, most fractures take weeks to heal, but this varies tremendously depending on the site of the fracture. Hand and wrist fractures may heal within weeks, whereas a leg fracture may take up to months before full recovery.
Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is frequently recommended to restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion. Exercises may focus on the injured area as well as surrounding muscles to prevent stiffness and weakness.
Lifestyle Modifications: Depending on the type of fracture and the extent of surgery, some individuals may need to make lifestyle modifications, like avoiding certain activities or wearing supportive devices, to prevent future injuries. Consuming a diet rich in protein, vitamins C, D, and K supports fracture healing.

From falling at home to getting injured during a game of sports, there are many ways that people can end up with a severe fracture. Thankfully, by receiving specialised orthopaedic treatment early on, regularly attending follow-up appointments, and following the advice of their orthopaedic surgeon, many of our patients recover well.

Visit Alps Orthopaedic Centre

To determine a suitable treatment option for your sports, schedule an appointment with our experienced Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Jerry Chen, for a thorough assessment and treatment plan. Dr Chen is a skilled surgeon with a proven track record in helping numerous athletes in Singapore return to their favourite sport.

References

Cleveland Clinic. Bone Fractures. Cleveland Clinic. Published 2017. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15241-bone-fractures
‌John Hopkins Medicine. Fractures. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Published 2020. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/fractures

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Dr Jerry Chen

MBBS (S’pore), MRCSEd, MMed (Ortho), FRCSEd (Ortho)

Fellowship-trained Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon & Medical Director

Before starting Alps Orthopaedic Centre, Dr Jerry Chen was a Consultant at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), where he accumulated over 13 years of experience in Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr Chen spearheaded the workgroup for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for hip and knee replacement surgeries at SGH, where he successfully employed ERAS, benefiting more than 2,000 patients thus far.
Having performed over 500 surgeries in a year, he has been instrumental in helping numerous patients recover from injuries and diseases and return to their active lifestyles.
His clinical interests include Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for Hip and Knee, Sports Injuries, Minimally Invasive Surgery and Robotic Surgery.

Why Alps Orthopaedic Centre?

At Alps Orthopaedic Centre, we specialise in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS). Performed as a Day Surgery, the ERAS Direct Anterior Approach in Total Hip Replacement (THR) technique as well as ERAS Total Knee Replacement (TKR), reduces the average hospitalisation stay, utilising techniques which enable the patient to suffer from less pain and recover faster. We are an Orthopaedic clinic in Singapore, which specialises in ERAS and do our utmost to enable patients to return to everyday activities as early as possible.

Our Orthopaedic clinic provides specialised diagnosis and effective treatment of musculoskeletal problems, especially Day Surgery / Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) For Hip and Knee Surgery, Sports Injuries and Trauma Fractures. If you are considering hip or knee surgery or minimally invasive treatments, book an appointment with our experienced Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Jerry Chen, for a thorough assessment and treatment plan.

Our aim is to boost patient well-being, optimising every aspect of the surgical journey. By minimising the recovery period, patients are able to go back to activities that they love. The Alps team offers comprehensive financial counselling sessions to ensure our patients understand their options and make informed decisions regarding their treatment plans.

Has this article been insightful? Share it!

Dr Jerry Chen

MBBS (S’pore), MRCSEd, MMed (Ortho), FRCSEd (Ortho)

Fellowship-trained Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon & Medical Director

Before starting Alps Orthopaedic Centre, Dr Jerry Chen was a Consultant at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), where he accumulated over 13 years of experience in Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr Chen spearheaded the workgroup for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for hip and knee replacement surgeries at SGH, where he successfully employed ERAS, benefiting more than 2,000 patients thus far.
Having performed over 500 surgeries in a year, he has been instrumental in helping numerous patients recover from injuries and diseases and return to their active lifestyles.
His clinical interests include Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for Hip and Knee, Sports Injuries, Minimally Invasive Surgery and Robotic Surgery.

Why Alps Orthopaedic Centre?

Has this article been insightful? Share it!

Dr Jerry Chen

MBBS (S’pore), MRCSEd, MMed (Ortho), FRCSEd (Ortho)

Fellowship-trained Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon & Medical Director

Before starting Alps Orthopaedic Centre, Dr Jerry Chen was a Consultant at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), where he accumulated over 13 years of experience in Orthopaedic Surgery.
Having performed over 500 surgeries in a year, he has been instrumental in helping numerous patients recover from injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
As a driven and valued member, Dr Chen spearheaded the workgroup for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for hip and knee replacement surgeries at SGH.
Over the course of his career at SGH, Dr Chen has successfully employed ERAS and reduced the average hospitalisation stay for hip and knee replacement surgeries.
Going through these ERAS day surgeries has benefited more than 2,000 patients thus far, enabling them to suffer from less pain and recover faster.
The Alps team is committed to providing specialised orthopaedic care tailored to your unique condition. We offer comprehensive financial counselling sessions to ensure our patients understand their options and make informed decisions regarding their treatment plans.