Non-Union
What is Non-Union ?
Every fracture carries the risk of failing to heal and resulting in a nonunion. While nonunions can occur in any bone, they are most common in the tibia, humerus, talus, and fifth metatarsal bone.
Several factors contribute to a nonunion. If the bone ends that are fractured have been stripped away from the blood vessels that provide them with nutrition, they will die.
As a result, the bone ends cannot contribute to new healing, and a nonunion is more likely.
Without a good blood supply and growth of new blood vessels, no new bone will form and the fracture cannot readily heal.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of nonunion fractures include:
- Swelling.
- Pain.
- Tenderness.
- Deformity.
- Difficulty bearing weight.
Diagnosis
Treatments
Treatment for nonunions is always customized to the patient. In general, your doctor will seek to determine why the fracture did not heal.
Medical
In some cases, union can be achieved without surgery. Several non-invasive methods are available, such as electrical stimulation or specialized braces.
Surgical
Most nonunions require surgery. Surgical treatment of nonunion is usually focused on three goals:
- Establishing a healthy vascular area of bone and soft tissue around the fracture site.
- Establishing stability at the fracture site.
Risks
Malunion and nonunion risk factors include:
- Tobacco use
- Obesity
- Diabetes or other medical issues