What is Trauma?
 Trauma is a serious injury or shock to the body. It is caused by a physical force such as violence or an accident. The injury may be complicated by psychiatric, behavioral, and social factors.
It is critical to have an entire team immediately available to provide care to an injured patient 24-hours a day. This teamwork starts at the scene of the injury where a coordinated, statewide pre-hospital medical system rapidly transports the injured patient from the scene to the hospital providing the appropriate level of care according to criteria established in the statewide trauma regulations. Once at the hospital, a complete team of surgeons, emergency physicians and nurses continue the life-saving treatment.
This team approach to care of the injured patient has had a dramatic impact on saving lives.
Minimally Invasive Procedures for Massive Bleeding
Injuries take many forms. The most advanced hospitals can treat injuries with a variety of approaches that involve well-known ones, like surgery, and newer ones where minimally invasive procedures can replace some surgeries.
As a Level 1 Trauma Center, Hartford Hospital has Interventional Radiologists as part of the Trauma Team. They perform procedures such as "embolization" which is a recognized interventional radiology technique that is used to treat trauma patients with massive bleeding.
Click here to see some of the advanced interventional techniques available at Hartford Hospital.
Learn more about trauma, or search below to learn about other health conditions. |
Definition | Reasons for Procedure | Possible Complications | What to Expect | Call Your Doctor
Definition
This procedure is done to return a
broken bone
to its proper alignment. An open fracture reduction involves cutting through the skin to realign the bones. It is used if the bone is in many pieces or is difficult to reduce. Screws and a plate may be needed to hold the fragments in place.
Reasons for Procedure
Fracture reduction is done for the following reasons:
- So that the bone can heal properly and more quickly
- To decrease pain and prevent later deformity
- To regain use of the bone and limb
Possible Complications
Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a fracture reduction, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:
- Nerve damage
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Fat particles from the bone marrow or blood clots from veins that may dislodge and travel to the lungs
- Need for additional surgery if the bone does not heal properly
- Reaction to anesthesia
Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:
- Advanced age
- Pre-existing medical condition
- An open fracture (broken bone is sticking out of skin)
- Diabetes
- Use of steroid medicine
- Smoking
Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor before the procedure. What to Expect
Your doctor will likely do the following:
- Physical exam
- X-ray
—a test that uses radiation to take a picture of structures inside the body, especially bones
- Provide a splint for the broken bone to decrease the risk of additional injury
Leading up to the procedure:
-
Talk to your doctor about your medicines. You may be asked to stop taking some medicines up to one week before the procedure, like:
-
Anti-inflammatory drugs (eg,
aspirin
)
-
Blood thinners, like
warfarin
(Coumadin)
- Clopidogrel
(Plavix)
- You may need to take antibiotics, if advised by your doctor.
- Arrange for a ride to and from the procedure. Also, arrange for help at home.
- Eat a light meal the night before. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
Your doctor may give you:
- General anesthesia
—blocks pain and keeps you asleep through the surgery
- Local anesthesia—numbs the area; given as an injection (You may also be given a sedative.)
The doctor will make a cut in the skin covering the break. This is to expose the bone fragments. The bone fragments will be moved into their normal position. Screws, a plate with screws, or a rod may be used to hold the bones in place. The doctor will close the incision with stitches. The area will be protected with a splint or cast and dressings. The doctor will order another x-ray to ensure the bone is in the correct position. This depends on the type and location of the fracture. You will have pain after the procedure. Ask your doctor about medicine to help with the pain. 0-3 days (depending on the severity of the injury and your recovery)
When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:
- Rest your injured arm or leg on pillows. Elevate it above the level of your heart.
- Gently move uninjured joints and toes.
- Keep the cast, splint, and dressing clean and dry.
- Wait until a "walking cast" is dry before walking on it.
- Do not pull out the cast's padding. Do not break off any part of the cast.
- Keep objects, dirt, and powder out of the cast.
- Do not try to scratch under the cast.
- Do not drive until told it is safe.
- Change the dressing as directed.
- Ask your doctor about when it is safe to shower, bathe, or soak in water.
- Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.
Small bones usually heal in 3-6 weeks. Long bones will take more time. Your doctor may have you work with a physical therapist. He can help you to regain normal function. In some cases, you may be able to return to daily activities within a few days while wearing the cast or splint. Call Your Doctor
After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:
- Severe or unusual pain that is not relieved by pain medicine
- Signs of infection, including fever and chills
- Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision site
- Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
- Numbness and/or tingling in the injured extremity
- Loss of movement in the fingers or toes of the injured arm or leg
- The cast feels too tight
- Burning or stinging sensations under the cast
- Redness of the skin around the cast
- Persistent itching under the cast
- Cracks or soft spots develop in the cast
- Chalky white, blue, or black discoloration of fingers, toes, arm, or leg
In case of an emergency, call for medical help right away.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at:
http://www.aaos.org/. Accessed September 2, 2009.
Setting a broken bone without surgery (closed reduction). University of Michigan Health System website. Available at:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/aha_clored_crs.htm. Updated January 2008. Accessed September 2, 2009.
10/30/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php: Gosselin RA, Roberts I, Gillespie WJ. Antibiotics for preventing infection in open limb fractures.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2009;(4):CD003764.
Last reviewed November 2012 by Igor Puzanov, MD Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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