How Are Broken Bones (Fractures) Treated?

A fall, a twist, a bang on the playing field — and then the question everyone asks through the pain: is it broken, and what happens now? This guide walks through what to expect, from the first assessment to the weeks of healing that follow.

The short video above, "Fractures and Dislocations," runs just thirty-five seconds and gives an overview of how these injuries are dealt with. It is a quick orientation; the detail of your own care will depend on which bone is involved and how it has broken.

First, working out exactly what has happened

Expect the team to ask how the injury happened, examine the limb, and check the skin, the blood flow and the feeling beyond the break. An X-ray is the usual next step, because it shows where the bone has broken, whether the ends have moved out of place, and whether a nearby joint is involved. Sometimes a joint next to the break has also come out of place — a dislocation — and that changes the order of treatment, because a dislocated joint generally needs to be put back promptly.

Lining the bone up again

A bone heals best when its ends sit in a good position. If the break has barely moved, nothing may need to be done beyond holding it still. If the ends have shifted, the doctor may gently manoeuvre them back into line — called a reduction — usually with pain relief and sometimes sedation. Occasionally the alignment is held temporarily with traction, a gentle, steady pull on the limb, while the definitive plan is made.

Holding it still: splints and casts

Once the bone is lined up, it needs protection while it knits. A splint supports one side of the limb and is often used first, especially while swelling is still developing. A cast wraps all the way around and is the familiar hard shell many people picture. You can watch one common first step in this video of a volar slab splint being applied for forearm and wrist fractures and sprains — a good example of how a splint is moulded to the individual arm. Whichever is used, you will usually be told how to watch the fingers or toes beyond it and what changes should prompt you to come back sooner.

When an operation is part of the plan

Some fractures are treated with surgery: breaks that cannot be held in line from outside, breaks that enter a joint, open fractures where the skin is broken, and some breaks in particular bones. The surgeon may fix the bone from inside with plates, screws or a rod, or occasionally with a frame outside the limb while things settle. A broken hip in an older adult, for example, is sometimes treated with a joint replacement rather than fixation — our guide to hip replacement explains that operation. Whether surgery is suggested at all is a judgement your own team makes from your images and overall health, not something to decide from a video.

The part nobody can rush: healing

Bone heals by building new bone across the break, and it does so on its own timetable — weeks to months, varying with the bone, your age and your general health. Follow-up X-rays check that the position is holding while the cast or fixation does its job. Once the support comes off, the limb is usually stiff and weaker than before, and physiotherapy or guided exercises are commonly part of getting movement and strength back. The honest summary is that treatment has two halves: getting the bone lined up and held, which the hospital does, and the gradual reloading afterwards, which is mostly yours.

MedicalVideos.com has published trusted medical videos since 2007. The site was founded by Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, MD, PhD — physician and researcher.

Educational only — this article is general information about how fractures are treated, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. If you think you may have broken a bone, seek medical care promptly; treatment decisions should be discussed with your own medical team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a fracture the same thing as a break?
Yes. Fracture is the medical word for a broken bone — the two terms describe the same injury.

Does every broken bone need a cast?
No. Some breaks are held with a splint or a support boot, some need surgery, and a few need no rigid support at all. It depends on the bone and on whether the ends have moved.

What is a reduction?
Reduction means manoeuvring the broken ends back into a good position so the bone can heal in line. It is usually done with pain relief, and sometimes sedation.

How long does a broken bone take to heal?
It varies — typically weeks to months depending on which bone is broken, your age and your general health. Your team will judge healing from follow-up examinations and X-rays.

What is a dislocation, and is it treated differently?
A dislocation is a joint that has come out of place. It generally needs to be put back promptly, and it can occur alongside a fracture, as the anchor video's overview of fractures and dislocations suggests.