If the rehabilitation process of a fracture is slow or the affected bone does not show any improvement with non-surgical treatment, surgery is mandatory in order to stabilise the fracture. If the injury has not punctured the skin, the health professional can wait until the swelling in the area disappears before performing the operation.
Also, fixation devices (e.g. wires, screws, pins or plates) may be required to maintain the position of the bones during healing.