Fracture Surgery Specialist

What are the symptoms of a fracture? 

Fracture symptoms can depend on how serious the break is, but in general, the most common problems include:

• Pain
• Limited range of motion
• Stiffness
• Bruising
• Redness
• Warmth
• Appearance change (deformity)

With severe fractures, a surgical repair could be the best and most effective way to restore your health and stop your pain. 

How are fractures diagnosed?

The Valdosta Orthopedic Associates team performs a complete exam and takes a health history. They'll discuss how your fracture happened and then confirm your diagnosis with imaging tests. 

Valdosta Orthopedic Associates has all imaging equipment on-site, including X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 

When would I need fracture surgery?

Some fractures, particularly minor stress fractures or nondisplaced fractures, may heal with proper casting or another form of immobilization. 

There are, however, some cases where a bone can't heal with immobilization alone. In these situations, your Valdosta Orthopedic Associates surgeon may recommend fracture surgery. 

What does fracture surgery involve?

Fracture surgery varies because each fracture is unique. The most common types of fracture surgery include:

Internal fixation

In many fracture surgeries, your surgeon repairs and realigns your broken bone. Then, they install internal fixation, which means they place internal screws, rods, pins, or plates to set the broken bone into its proper position. The fixation devices prevent bone movement and allow it to heal over time.

Some internal fixation components stay inside your bone permanently, while your surgeon may remove others after you heal completely. 

External fixation 

Another option for fracture repair is external fixation, in which your surgeon repairs the fracture and realigns your bone before using an external metal framework to pin it into place. 

Because external fixation is a more complicated type of repair, it's usually used only with fractures that won't respond to internal fixation.

Joint replacement

Depending on the location of your fracture and your risk factors, joint replacement surgery might be another option. If you have a serious fracture in an area that's unlikely to heal effectively — for example, the femoral head (the ball part of your hip joint) — your surgeon might recommend anterior total hip replacement. 

Valdosta Orthopedic Associates performs all fracture surgery on-site in their VOA Ambulatory Surgery Center. This allows you to get the top-notch care you need without spending a single night in the hospital. 

Book your appointment at Valdosta Orthopedic Associates by calling the office or scheduling online today.