Internal fixation is a surgical procedure commonly used to treat a bone fracture. The procedure involves placing screws, rods or plates internally to hold the fractured bone in place while it heals. Synonyms for internal fixation include osteosynthesis, fracture fixation, and bone stabilization. These synonyms are commonly used interchangeably in medical terminology. Osteosynthesis is derived from the Greek words "osteon" (bone) and "synthesis" (joining) and refers to the surgical treatment of fractures and dislocations by securing the bone fragments together. Fracture fixation is a broader term which includes all methods used to hold bone fractures together. Finally, bone stabilization refers to all the methods used to stabilize a bone, including both internal and external fixation.