Provisional reduction
Temporary fracture alignment achieved before definitive fixation, often maintained with clamps or temporary pins.
Full Definition
Provisional reduction refers to the temporary restoration of anatomic alignment of fracture fragments as an intermediate step before applying definitive fixation. This technique allows the surgeon to assess reduction quality, verify fragment positions, and maintain alignment while preparing and applying definitive hardware. Provisional reduction is typically achieved using bone reduction clamps, Kirschner wires, or temporary fixation devices. The technique is particularly valuable in complex fractures where multiple fragments must be sequentially reduced and held in position during the fixation process.
Usage
Usage note: Describes intermediate surgical steps rather than final fixation methods.
In Context
- "Provisional reduction was achieved with bone clamps before applying the compression plate." — Operative technique description
- "K-wires provided provisional reduction while preparing the definitive fixation construct." — Surgical case report