Final answer:
The use of screw and plate geometry to apply forces at a fracture site is known as internal fixation. It is a surgical method where screws and plates are fixed directly onto the bone, unlike external fixation which positions the hardware outside the skin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of screw and plate geometry to apply forces at a fracture site is called internal fixation. This surgical procedure involves the implementation of implants to repair the bone, with screws and plates attached directly to the bone to stabilize and hold it together while it heals. Internal fixation is distinct from external fixation, where the hardware used to fix the bone is located outside the skin and attached through the skin to the bones.
Open reduction refers to the technique where the fracture site is surgically exposed and visualized so that the fragments can be realigned. Closed reduction is a non-surgical procedure where the bone fragments are manipulated back into place without surgical exposure of the fragments.