Procedure prep
Surgery for a Broken Bone (ORIF)
Many broken bones are repaired with an operation called ORIF — open reduction and internal fixation — using plates, screws or a rod to hold the bone in place. It's often semi-urgent, and sometimes the team waits a few days for swelling to settle before operating.
Fasting for this procedure
→ Get your exact fasting times with the calculator
Medicines to check
- Blood thinners (aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto) — tell the team what you take; they may need managing before surgery. See medications to stop.
- Avoid NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) unless approved — beyond bleeding, some surgeons limit them while bone heals.
- Diabetes medicines & insulin need a plan, often with a drip while you wait. See diabetes tablets.
- Blood pressure medicines — the team will say which to take with a sip of water.
When this surgery may be delayed
- A lot of swelling or skin blistering around the break (surgery often waits for this to settle)
- An open wound over the fracture that needs urgent, separate care
- Blood thinners that need managing first
- A chest infection or other medical problem to optimise
- A busier emergency list bumping the timing — common and not a cause for alarm
Reports & documents to carry
- Photo ID and your insurance or hospital paperwork
- A current list of all your medicines, doses, and allergies
- Details of how and when the injury happened
- Loose clothing that fits over a cast or splint
- A plan for help at home and a ride for discharge
What to ask your anesthesia team
- Will I have a nerve block as well as the general anesthetic?
- Are we waiting for swelling to go down, and roughly when will surgery be?
- Will I be in a cast or splint, and can I put weight on it?
- Will the metalwork stay in permanently or come out later?
- Which of my medicines do I take or hold while I wait?
Your prep checklist
Tick things off as you sort them — saved on this device only, nothing is sent anywhere.
A general guide — your hospital's own instructions always come first.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my fracture surgery being delayed a few days?
It's common to wait for swelling and skin blistering around a fresh break to settle before operating, because cutting through very swollen tissue heals poorly and risks problems. The wait is deliberate and makes surgery safer — the limb is usually supported in a splint or cast meanwhile.
Will the plates and screws stay in forever?
Usually yes — most metalwork is designed to stay in permanently and causes no problems. Occasionally it's removed later if it becomes irritating or once the bone has fully healed, particularly in younger people or near a joint. Your surgeon will tell you the plan for your fixation.
Can I put weight on the limb after ORIF?
It depends entirely on which bone and the type of fixation. Some repairs allow weight-bearing soon; others need you to keep weight off for weeks while the bone heals. Your surgeon and physiotherapist will give you clear, specific instructions — following them protects the repair.