For example, a firm plastic brace may be affixed to a broken finger. A cast is a firm material, either plastic or plaster, wrapped around the area that surrounds the broken bone. A layer of softer material is placed against the skin to protect it from injury. Traction, which uses a pulley and weights, holds a limb in alignment. Not commonly used anymore, it was once the main treatment for broken hips.
Internal fixation requires surgery to attach a metal plate or rod to the pieces of broken bone.
Internal fixation is often the best treatment for hip fractures and complicated fractures. Immobilizing an arm or leg causes the muscles to become weak and tight. Therefore, most people who have broken a bone in an arm or leg need physical therapy. The therapy begins while the bone is immobilized and continues after the splint, cast, or traction has been removed. For certain types of fractures, especially hip fractures, full recovery may require 6 to 8 weeks of therapy or occasionally even longer.