General Considerations

Abstract

In every fracture there is a combination of damage to both the soft tissues and to bone. Immediately after the fracture and during the phase of repair, we see certain local circulatory disturbances, certain manifestations of local inflammation, as well as pain and reflex splinting. These three factors, that is, circulatory disturbances, inflammation and pain, when combined with the defunctioning of bone, joints and muscle, result in the so-called fracture disease. Fracture disease is a clinical state which is manifested by chronic oedema, soft-tissue atrophy, osteoporosis and joint stiffness. Every type of fracture treatment must therefore encompass the treatment not only of the fracture but also of all the associated local reactions.