Most orthopaedic problems can be managed by simple means. Improper execution of latest Hi-tech treatment is worse than simple treatment.

Fractures - Don't panic! Only a very few fractures are real emergency - eg. Displaced fractures around elbow in children, fracture neck of femur at hip, fractures with big wounds over it etc. All Fractures need immediate splinting - Fractures are like broken wood, the edges are sharp and damage the surrounding tissues on every movement.

Any amount of pain killers will not relieve fracture pain but splinting will do it. Some fractures heals even without rigid splinting like Clavicle (Collar bone), Ribs, fractures around shoulder etc. Functional recovery of nearby Joints and Muscles are equally important as fracture union. Splinting in improper position or duration leads to severe functional handicap. Hence native bone setters splinting has deleterious functional impairment.

Sprain means stretching or tearing (partial or complete) of Ligaments which connect and hold the bones around the Joints. Severe sprains also need splinting. Haemarthrosis is collection of blood within a Joints usually following injury. It also need splinting. Aspiration needed very rarely only in very severe cases to relieve severe pain.

Commonest splinting material Plaster of Paris has no medicinal value. It just molds and sets to the shape of the body part there by distributing the pressures evenly and avoid high pressure points over hard protruding bony points - which is not possible by the native bone setter's rigid splints.

Local application of medicines, ointments, sprays, household materials, egg, green-leaf paste etc. has absolutely no role in either relieving pain or healing of fracture.

Fractures which are high benefited by Surgical Fixations are:

  1. Displaced fractures around the elbow in Children.
  2. Fracture of Forearm bones (Radius & Ulna) and Thigh bone(Femur).
  3. Displaced fracture in and around Joints in Adults.  
  4. Fractures in the Upper end of Thigh bone at the Hip (Trochanteric or Neck of Femur fractures) in elderly people. However old they may be (even in 90s), the benefit of surgery with early mobilization from the Bed always out-weights the risks of anaesthesia and surgery because non-surgical management mostly end up with large bed sores, respiratory infection and renal failure with slow and suffering end (sometimes end up more expensive too).

  • Displaced fractures around the elbow in Children. 
  • Fracture of Forearm bones (Radius & Ulna) and Thigh bone(Femur).
  • Displaced fracture in and around Joints in Adults.  

Fractures in the Upper end of Thigh bone at the Hip (Trochanteric or Neck of Femur fractures) in elderly people. However old they may be (even in 90s), the benefit of surgery with early mobilization from the Bed always out-weights the risks of anaesthesia and surgery because non-surgical management mostly end up with large bed sores, respiratory infection and renal failure with slow and suffering end (sometimes end up more expensive too).

  • Don't get confused with Bone weakness (Osteoporosis) with Joint wear (De-generative arthritis) - Osteoporosis is like weakness of axle/wheel but Joint wear is like tyre wear - both are totally unrelated. Bone weakness (Osteoporosis) is related to Fractures in Elderly people due to decreased calcium level in the bone. Blood calcium level is not related to Bone calcium level or osteoporosis. But Degenerative Arthritis mainly involves knee joint in elderly causing crippling pain leading to severe restriction of activity. It is not at all related to bone calcium. It is a problem of Joint lining Cartilage.