Some fractures of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand may heal without surgery. Treatment options include immobilization with a sling, splint or cast if the bone was not displaced or was set without surgical intervention. Other fractures may need surgery to help prevent arthritis or to set the bones in the correct position for proper healing.
Common surgical treatments for shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand fractures include repair and open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). During an ORIF procedure, bones are repositioned, called reduction, to the normal anatomy and held with screws and plates to facilitate healing.