Fracture Treatment in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is fracture management?
Fracture management is everything that happens after a broken bone has been diagnosed, until the bone has healed and the limb works well again. It has three parts: bringing the broken ends into a good position, holding them there while the bone heals, and restoring movement and strength afterwards.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, fractures are managed by the orthopedic team. Emergency first care for a new injury, including pain relief, the first X-ray and a temporary splint, is covered on the fracture and injury care page; this page covers the treatment that follows.
Who needs it
Fracture management is needed for any confirmed broken bone, from a small crack in a finger to a fracture of the wrist, ankle, collarbone, arm, leg or hip. It is also used for stress fractures from repeated loading in runners and military trainees, and for fractures in children, whose bones behave differently because they are still growing.
A fracture from a minor fall, such as a wrist or hip fracture after tripping at standing height, can be a sign of thinning bones. In that case the treatment plan also includes a check of bone health, because treating the underlying cause lowers the chance of the next fracture.
What happens
The orthopedic specialist reviews your X-rays, examines the limb, and checks the skin, circulation and nerves beyond the break. Treatment then depends on the fracture.
Many fractures heal well in a cast, a splint or a removable boot. If the broken ends have moved out of line, the specialist may first straighten them, usually under local, regional or general anaesthetic, before applying the cast.
Other fractures are more stable when fixed with surgery. Surgical fixation uses metal plates and screws, wires, or a rod inside the bone to hold the fragments in position while they heal. Some older adults with fractures near the hip are treated with a hip replacement instead of fixation. Your specialist explains why a particular option suits your fracture, including the choice between a cast and surgery where both are reasonable.
Follow-up takes place in fracture clinic. Repeat X-rays in the first weeks confirm that the bone has stayed in a good position inside the cast, since some fractures can shift during the early period. Later X-rays show the new bone forming as the fracture heals.
Preparing for it
Bring the X-rays or discs and reports from wherever you were first seen, a list of your medicines and details of how the injury happened. Wear loose clothing that fits over a cast or splint.
If surgery is planned, you will be told when to stop eating and drinking, and how to manage blood thinners or diabetes medicines. If you smoke, stopping now helps, because smoking slows bone healing. Arrange help at home, particularly if the fracture is in your leg or your dominant arm.
Afterwards
A cast or splint is kept clean and dry, and the limb is raised as much as possible in the first days to reduce swelling. Keep moving the joints that are free, such as your fingers or toes, and keep objects out of the cast even when the skin itches. Once the cast comes off, the limb usually feels stiff and weak, and a rehabilitation programme, with physiotherapy arranged as part of your care pathway, restores movement and strength. Your specialist gives you a timeline for your case, because healing depends on the bone, the fracture and your age.
Go to the emergency department straight away if pain becomes severe and keeps rising despite pain relief, if the fingers or toes become numb, pale, blue or cold, or if the cast feels much too tight. These can signal pressure building inside the limb, which needs urgent treatment. Contact the hospital if the cast cracks, becomes loose, gets wet, or rubs the skin, or if a wound from surgery becomes red or starts to leak.
Cost and insurance
Fracture treatment is covered by most UAE health insurance plans. Care that starts in the emergency department is usually covered under emergency benefits, while planned surgery and implants such as plates and screws generally need pre-approval. Removable boots and braces are sometimes assessed separately. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Do all fractures need a cast?
Not all fractures need a cast. Some small, stable fractures heal with a sling, a strapping or a removable boot, while fractures that have moved or are unstable may need surgery to fix them. The orthopedic specialist chooses the support based on the bone, the fracture pattern and your daily activities.
Why do I need repeat X-rays in fracture clinic?
Repeat X-rays in fracture clinic check that the bone has stayed in a good position inside the cast and that it is healing. Some fractures can shift in the first weeks, and finding that early allows the position to be corrected before the bone sets.
What are the risks of fracture surgery?
Fracture surgery carries risks including infection, bleeding, blood clots, nerve or blood vessel injury and a reaction to the anaesthetic. Occasionally a fracture heals slowly or in a poor position and needs further treatment, and metalwork sometimes needs removing later. Your surgeon explains how these risks apply to your fracture.
Will the metal plates and screws be removed?
Plates, screws and rods usually stay in place for life and cause no problems. They are removed only if they cause irritation, pain or another specific problem, and your surgeon discusses this with you.
Why is my limb stiff after the cast comes off?
Stiffness and weakness after a cast are normal, because the joints and muscles have been held still while the bone healed. Rehabilitation exercises restore movement and strength, and most of this improvement happens in the weeks after the cast is removed.
Can a broken bone be a sign of weak bones?
A fracture from a minor fall, such as tripping from standing height, can be a sign of osteoporosis, especially in people over fifty. Your specialist may recommend a bone health check so that treatment can lower the risk of another fracture.
Is fracture treatment covered by insurance?
Most UAE insurance plans cover fracture treatment, with emergency care usually covered directly and planned surgery and implants needing pre-approval. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
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