Bone Treatments

It takes more than a cast to treat a broken bone — great orthopedics care involves a lot of personal attention as well. Henry Ford Health offers the right blend of technology and experience to precisely diagnose and treat orthopedic injuries.

Surgical treatments for broken bones

Once we diagnose your condition, your doctor can present you with a wide range of treatment choices. Complex fractures may require surgery, but we only operate if your doctor feels it’s the best option.

If surgery is needed, we use advanced surgical navigation technology to reduce procedure time and better pinpoint the area to treat. We use minimally invasive surgical techniques whenever possible to help you recover more quickly.

Our orthopedics team regularly performs bone surgeries including:

• Internal fixation: Pieces of broken bone are aligned and supported with a metal plate attached to the bone surface. The plate is held in place by pins or screws that go through the bone.
• Intramedullary nailing: Your surgeon aligns pieces of broken bone and supports them with a metal rod placed inside the bone. This surgery can usually be performed using minimally invasive techniques.
• External fixation: Used in complex breaks, this surgery stabilizes a broken bone with a metal bar outside the body. An orthopedic surgeon inserts pins or screws into the bone through the skin and connects them to the metal bar. The bar is removed after the bone heals. This can also be a temporary measure until it is safe to perform internal fixation or intramedullary nailing.

Nonsurgical bone trauma treatments

Not every fracture requires surgery for proper healing. Whenever possible, our orthopedic specialists use noninvasive treatments for bone trauma, including:

• Casts: A cast is a hard, temporary plaster or fiberglass brace that holds a broken bone in the correct place for healing.
• Slings: Removable soft arm slings minimize movement and keep pressure off an arm or shoulder bone injury to help control pain.
• Crutches: These walking aids transfer weight from your legs to your upper body to keep weight off a lower body injury.
• Walkers: A walker is tool that provides additional support for people who require help with balance or stability.
• Orthotics and prosthetics: Orthotics are external braces worn to support healing. Prosthetics are artificial limbs that enhance mobility and function.
• Orthopedic rehabilitation: You may be prescribed physical or occupational therapy to correct musculoskeletal limitations, help regain function, retrain your body to perform movements and relieve pain.

Better bone health begins at Henry Ford

Treating broken bones is important — so is preventing them. Our team can determine if you should visit our on-site Bone Health and Fracture Prevention Clinic, which assesses patients for osteoporosis and works to prevent future traumas.

Consider making an appointment if you are:

• Over the age of 50 and have fractured a bone
• A woman who is 65 or older who has never fractured a bone
• A man who is 70 or older who has never fractured a bone
• 50 years old or younger and have had multiple fractures
• 50 years old or younger and diagnosed with osteoporosis

Take the next step

Visit frequently asked questions  from patients at Henry Ford or learn how to care for broken bones after your treatment.

Ready to get started? Request an appointment with one of our top orthopedic doctors. Relief from bone injuries is closer than you think.