Nonunion

BACKGROUND: Understanding the causative factors of fracture nonunion leads to both prevention and improvements in treatment. The purpose of this study was to understand the clinical characteristics and causative factors of nonunion in a case series. METHODS: One hundred two consecutive patients with fracture nonunions of the extremities who were surgically treated in our hospital over the last decade were analyzed. Data were collected by reviewing medical charts...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A variety of risk factors have been hypothesized to contribute to the development of fracture-healing complications; however, population-based estimates of the strength of these risk factors are limited. In this case-control study, we evaluated patient-related risk factors for fracture-healing complications. METHODS: Using the United Kingdom General Practice Research Database, we identified patients with a fracture-healing complication (delayed union, nonunion, or malunion) between 1988 and 2008...

No standard criteria exist for diagnosing fracture nonunion, and studies suggest that assessment of fracture healing varies among orthopaedic surgeons. This variability can be problematic in both clinical and orthopaedic trauma research settings. An understanding of risk factors for nonunion and of diagnostic tests used to assess fracture healing can facilitate a systematic approach to evaluation and management. Risk factors for nonunion include medical comorbidities, age, and the characteristics of the injury...

Bone healing is an extremely complex process which depends on the coordinated action of several cell lineages on a cascade of biological events, and has always been a major medical concern. The use of several drugs such as corticosteroids, chemotherapeutic agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, anticoagulants and drugs which reduce osteoclastic activity have been shown to affect bone healing. This review article presents our current understanding on this topic, focusing on data illustrating the effect of these drugs on fracture healing and bone regeneration...

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between time to definitive surgical management and the rates of nonunion and infection in open fractures resulting from blunt trauma. To determine the association of other clinical determinants with these same adverse events. DESIGN: Retrospective review of a consecutive series of open long bone fractures. SETTING: Referral trauma center with transport times often extending beyond eight hours from the time of injury...