Bone Fracture Surgeon in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Setting a Broken Bone
Bone fracture surgery realigns a broken bone and holds it in the correct position while it heals, using implants matched to the bone, the fracture pattern and the patient. Dr. Hiren Patel treats fractures of the arm, leg and the bones around joints in Ahmedabad - from the planned fixation of a closed fracture with plates, screws or a nail to the urgent, staged care an open (compound) fracture needs, at PMG Hospital.
- Plate, screw and intramedullary nail fixation
- External fixation for severe or open injuries
- Urgent care for open (compound) fractures
- Method matched to the bone and fracture pattern
What is bone fracture surgery?
Bone fracture surgery brings the broken ends of a bone back into their correct position and holds them there with implants until the bone unites. It is done in two broad ways: internal fixation, where plates, screws or a rod are placed inside the limb against or within the bone, and external fixation, where pins pass through the skin into the bone and connect to a frame outside the body. Fixing a displaced fracture with internal implants after exposing and repositioning the fragments is called open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Stable fixation is what lets a limb move early, which prevents the stiffness and muscle wasting that come with weeks in a plaster cast.
Types of fracture fixation
Each method suits a different bone and fracture pattern, and more than one may be used for a complex injury.
| Fixation method | What it is | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|
| Plates and screws | A metal plate fixed to the bone surface with screws | Fractures near a joint or with several fragments |
| Intramedullary nailing | A metal rod passed inside the bone's central canal | Long-bone fractures such as the femur or tibia |
| External fixation | Pins through the skin connected to an outside frame | Severe soft-tissue injury, or as a temporary first stage |
| Tension band wiring | Wires that turn a tendon's pulling force into compression | Fractures under tendon pull, such as the kneecap or elbow tip |
How the right fixation method is chosen
The choice depends on where the fracture is, how many fragments are involved, the condition of the surrounding skin and soft tissue, and the patient's bone quality and overall fitness for surgery. A clean break in a long bone may be best served by a nail, a fracture near a joint by a plate, and a limb with badly damaged skin by a temporary external frame until the tissues recover. The goal is always the fixation that restores alignment reliably and allows the earliest safe return to movement.
Open (compound) fractures
An open fracture - also called a compound fracture - is one in which the bone has broken through the skin, or a wound extends down to the fracture, leaving the broken bone exposed to the outside. This changes everything about how it is treated: with a closed fracture the skin stays intact, but once bone is exposed, the priority shifts to protecting it from infection before focusing on definitive bone repair.
Why open fractures are an emergency
Once bone is exposed, bacteria can contaminate the wound and the fracture, risking a deep bone infection (osteomyelitis) that is far harder to treat than the fracture itself. The time from injury to thorough wound cleaning is one of the strongest predictors of avoiding infection, which is why an open fracture is treated as a time-critical emergency rather than a fracture that can wait for a planned list.
Staged treatment approach
Open fractures are usually treated in two stages. The first operation focuses on debridement - removing contaminated and dead tissue - and thorough irrigation of the wound, with the fracture often stabilised temporarily using an external fixator. Once the soft tissue is judged clean and healthy, usually a few days later, definitive internal fixation with a plate or nail is carried out. Placing a permanent implant into a contaminated wound at the outset would risk sealing infection around it.
Infection prevention and monitoring
Intravenous antibiotics are started as early as possible - ideally within the first hour after injury - and continued through the initial treatment. The wound is monitored closely afterwards, with further debridement if any sign of infection or tissue death appears. Keeping the soft-tissue envelope healthy is central, because bone heals reliably only when the tissue around it is clean and well supplied with blood.
Recovery after bone fracture surgery
Most fixation implants are designed to allow early, protected movement rather than prolonged immobilisation, which helps prevent stiffness while the bone heals. The bone itself typically unites in about six to twelve weeks, though larger bones, fragmented fractures and open injuries take longer and are often staged, with physiotherapy continuing alongside to rebuild movement and strength. Follow-up X-rays confirm the bone is healing before loading is increased, and full return to activity continues for some months after the fracture has united.
- Experience
- 14+ years
- Surgeries
- 14,000+
Bone fracture surgery specialist in Ahmedabad
The right implant, placed well, is what allows a fracture to heal reliably and a limb to move early - and an open fracture additionally rewards prompt, thorough wound care. Dr. Hiren Patel is an orthopaedic surgeon in Ahmedabad with 14+ years of practice and 14,000+ surgeries at PMG Hospital, Gota, treating closed and open fractures with plate-and-screw fixation, intramedullary nailing and external fixation. When choosing a bone fracture surgeon or hospital in Ahmedabad, prompt assessment, the fixation matched to your specific fracture, and a clear rehabilitation plan matter most. Learn more about Dr. Hiren Patel or explore the wider trauma and fracture care.
Frequently asked questions
What is open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF)?
ORIF means the surgeon exposes the fracture, moves the broken fragments back into their correct position (reduction), and holds them there with internal implants such as plates and screws. It is the standard way to fix a displaced fracture, especially one near or involving a joint, where the alignment needs to be precise.
Is the metal implant removed after the fracture heals?
Usually not. Most plates, screws and nails are designed to stay in permanently and cause no trouble, so they are left in place. They are removed only if they cause irritation, pain or infection, or in certain sites — for example tension-band wires near the kneecap or elbow are more often taken out once the bone has healed.
How long until the bone is fully healed?
Most bones unite in about six to twelve weeks, though this varies with the bone, the fracture pattern, age and general health. Larger bones such as the femur and injuries with several fragments take longer, and full strength and return to activity continue for some months after the bone has united.
Why is an open fracture more serious than a closed one?
Because the bone has broken through the skin, bacteria from outside can contaminate the wound and the fracture, risking a deep bone infection (osteomyelitis) that is far harder to treat than the fracture itself. A closed fracture, with intact skin, does not carry that contamination risk, so an open fracture is treated as an emergency.
What is debridement in open fracture surgery?
Debridement is the surgical removal of contaminated, damaged and dead tissue from the wound, together with thorough irrigation - washing out - of the fracture site. It is the single most important step in preventing infection after an open fracture, and it may be repeated if any unhealthy or contaminated tissue remains.
Is fracture surgery done as an emergency?
It depends on the injury. Open (compound) fractures, fractures that cut off circulation, and certain hip fractures in older patients need urgent surgery, while many closed fractures are fixed on a planned list within a few days once swelling settles and the patient is prepared for anaesthesia.