ORIF
Also written as: ORIF — Open Reduction and Internal Fixation
Open reduction and internal fixation - a surgical procedure involving open surgical exposure to reduce fractures and secure with hardware.
Full Definition
Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is a surgical procedure used to treat complex fractures that cannot be adequately reduced or maintained through closed methods. The procedure involves making an incision to directly visualize the fracture site (open reduction), manually repositioning the bone fragments into proper anatomical alignment, and then securing them with internal hardware such as plates, screws, rods, or pins (internal fixation). In sports medicine, ORIF is commonly performed for displaced intra-articular fractures, unstable fractures, or fractures with associated soft tissue injuries that require surgical repair.
Usage
Usage note: Always spell out on first use in formal documentation.
In Context
- "The displaced ankle fracture required ORIF with plate and screw fixation of the fibula." — Surgical plan
- "Following ORIF of the tibial plateau fracture, the patient was placed in a hinged knee brace." — Post-operative note