Broken bones must be repaired and held in position until they are rejoined. One way is to install a pen. The procedure for inserting a pen to treat fractures is carried out by a surgeon.
The procedure for inserting a pen to treat fractures is done through surgery. The goal is to maintain the position of the bones (bone stabilization). This procedure can shorten the length of hospitalization during the recovery period, allow patients to return to activities more quickly, and reduce the risk of incomplete bone fusion.
The pen used is made of stainless steel and titanium which is strong and durable. If joint replacement is involved, joint implants may be used, which can also be made of cobalt and chrome. Both pens and implants are made of special materials that rarely trigger allergic reactions.
Preparation Before Pen Installation
In patients with fractures, the doctor will ask about the cause of the injury and the position at which the injury occurred. It aims to estimate whether there is a fracture in the injured part or not.
Doctors also need to know the age and medical history of the patient to consider the type of treatment to be given. After that, the doctor will perform a physical examination on the injured body part, through observation and palpation or emphasis.
Symptoms and signs that can be seen in fractures include:
- Painful
- Swollen
- Changes in bone shape
- Reduced range of motion of limbs
To confirm the patient's condition, the doctor can perform a supporting examination with X-rays. If necessary, the doctor can also perform a CT scan or bone scan.
If there is a fracture and the condition is severe enough, the doctor will recommend surgery to insert a pen. While waiting for surgery, the patient will be placed in a cast or temporary splint to keep the fractured bone in position.
How is the Pen Installation Procedure Done?
Fracture repair and pen insertion surgery is performed by an orthopedic surgeon (bone surgeon) and can take several hours.
The patient will be given a general anesthetic to fall asleep during the operation or a local anesthetic to numb the area of the body to be operated on. Anesthesia is performed by an anesthesiologist.
After the patient is sedated, the surgeon will perform the following steps in the pen insertion surgery:
Making an incision
If plates and screws are to be placed, the surgeon will make an incision over the fracture site. The doctor may make an incision only at the ends of the long bones if a metal rod will be placed on the inside of the bone to stabilize the bone.
Installing the pen
The position of the broken bone will be restored to its original position, then the surgeon will install plates, screws, or metal rods to maintain the position of the bone.
Your doctor may perform a bone graft if the bone breaks into several pieces. During surgery, blood vessels damaged by the injury will also be repaired.
Placing plaster
After all the procedures are done, the surgeon will close the incision with stitches or staples and cover it with clean gauze. In the final stage, the fractured area will be placed in a cast.
In certain conditions, the surgeon will need to attach a wire called a K-wires to stabilize fractures. K-wires will be drilled through the bone to hold the fracture in place. This wire can be attached from the outside by penetrating the skin or can be implanted under the skin.
K-wires It is generally used when traction or pulling is required for certain types of fractures. In traction action, K-wires drilled into the bone serves as a hook on which the traction device will hang with weights to pull the broken bone back into position.
Please note, now there is a modern plate installation technique, namely locked plating and dynamic plating. This modern plate placement technique uses the principle of minimal surgical incision, resulting in shorter recovery time after surgery.
The duration of bone healing will usually take 6–8 weeks. This healing time may vary from patient to patient, depending on the type and location of the fracture.
During the recovery process after the pen surgery, you may feel pain and swelling in the area of the surgical site. To fix this, you can compress and rest the fractured part, and lift the part so that it is higher than your heart when lying down.
Usually, the doctor will also prescribe pain relievers to treat these complaints. Take medication and take care as recommended by the surgeon after the pen surgery, so that the fracture healing process goes well.
Written by:
dr. Sonny Seputra, M.Ked.Klin, SpB, FINACS
(Surgeon Specialist)
