Which term describes fixation using plates and screws or an intramedullary rod to stabilize a fracture?

• A. Open Reduction
• B. Fracture
• C. Fx
• D. Open Reduction Internal Fixation

Answer: (D)

Fixation using plates and screws or an intramedullary rod is internal fixation performed after surgical alignment of the bone, called Open Reduction Internal Fixation. The open reduction part means the fracture is surgically exposed to realign the bone, while the internal fixation part refers to stabilizing that realigned bone with hardware inside the body, such as plates and screws or an intramedullary rod. This combination differentiates it from open reduction alone, which describes alignment without specifying the hardware, and from terms that only denote the injury (fracture). ORIF is the standard term for this surgical approach.