If someone has a badly broken arm or elbow dislocation and the doctor says you need surgery – what if you don’t want surgery for whatever reason? Can your arm still be fixed?

Some arm fractures and elbow dislocations can be severe enough to need surgery. Sometimes the patient cannot or does not want to have surgery and when this happens, the doctor must find a way to manage the break without operating. Unfortunately, managing breaks and dislocations with just splinting and limiting activity is not ideal if surgery is the best approach. While the arm may heal, it may not heal properly and leave long-lasting effects.