More recent advances in fracture surgery have allowed open reduction and internal fixation of fractures with plates and screws, which are biologically inactive and stable, and allow immediate and active mobilization of the neighboring joints and muscles. Further understanding of fracture healing biology , soft tissue repair, and the biomechanics of fractures have led to further development such as intra-medullary rodding of long bone fractures. This concept uses a long metallic device that grips the inside of the bone. More recent developments have occurred with wire and ring, external fixation devices to correct deformed and shortened limbs. The technique is now used worldwide to correct deformities and leg length discrepancies through distraction osteogenesis, which involves growing new bone by gradual pulling on the bone via transport wires through a bone segment.
Most recent developments involve understanding of fracture healing .
There is tremendous effort to identify proteins and substances responsible for mineralization and healing of fractures. Through manipulation of these variables, fracture healing can be accelerated to days rather than weeks or months. Once these proteins or substances are identified, hopefully the genes regulating their production can also be isolated and regulated.