All the broken bones heal with time, but some need surgical treatment depending on the severity. When the bone is broken, new bone tissue starts to form and connects the broken pieces. But in rare cases, the bone fails to heal, even with surgery and treatment. Some of the problems and risk factors stop the healing process. So in case the broken bone fails to heal, this condition is known as a nonunion fracture.
For bone to heal, the three most important things play a vital role, they are
- Stability - For treating all the broken bones, it is important to put back the broken pieces in a position, and should prevent mobility as it cause disturbance and should give some time to heal. Some can be held with the help of the cast and some require surgical fixation with the help of frames, screws, plates, and rods.
- Blood supply - Plays a key role as it supplies the compounds required for healing of the bones. The compounds include oxygen, healing cells, and the body's chemicals.
- Nutrition - By maintaining a healthy diet and eating foods containing protein, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin C, which helps boost immunity as well as improves bone health by providing enough nutrients.
Nonunion fractures are classified into four categories they are;
- Hypertrophic nonunion is caused due to inadequate stability, but contains an adequate supply of blood and callus (lavish formation of callus) and when there is no connection between the ends of the broken bone. This requires improved mechanical stability with the internal fixation.
- Atrophic nonunion occurs when callus is absent, poor blood supply, and inadequate fixation of the broken bones. To improve the atrophic nonunion it requires an improvement in an internal fixation of the biology and mechanical stability.
- Oligotrophi nonunion happens when there is insufficient reduction with the fracture fragment displacement, and requires internal fixation for both stability and callus depending on the medical situation
- Septic Nonunion is caused due to the infection and reduced blood flow from the organism's consumption of enough nutrients for bone health. It requires a standard guide for antibiotic therapy.
Causes and Risk Factors
- Nonunions happen when the bone loses the proper stability and blood supply.
- Caused due to road accidents
- Emergency accidents can also cause nonunions as they impair the blood supply to the bones.
- High blood sugar
- Severe anemia
- Age factors
- Chain smoking
- Hypothyroidism
- Infections caused in the fractured area
- Obesity/over-weight
- Poor nutrition
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Usage of anti-inflammatory medications such as Asprin and Ibuprofen
- Medical Conditions like Osteoarthritis.
Symptoms
There are not many symptoms for non-union fractures, the symptoms include severe and chronic pain caused whenever you do any work or are at rest position. This pain lasts for weeks, months, and years, one might experience swelling and tenderness as well. Consult your orthopedic doctor for Non union fracture treatment in Vijayawada.
Diagnostic procedure
The diagnostic procedures include;
- X-ray will be prescribes by the doctor to diagnose the space between the bone fragments and to get a clear picture of the affected area. X-ray is the foremost test taken before diagnosing if a patient suffering from any bone-related problems.
- CT scan is taken with the help of the X-ray and computer to create detailed dimensional images of the internal body. The doctor specially asks for this report to diagnose the broken pieces, and also to check about the healing process.
- MRI scan provides detailed images of the soft tissues inside the body and also about bone healing with the help of magnetic field and radio waves. And also to identify if there are any infections.
- Blood tests are done to calculate the nutrition supply and to identify the infections in the blood that are causing the delay in bone healing.
It is important to consult Non Union Fracture Surgeon in Vijayawada for further guidance and treatment if you are suffering from any of the nonunion fractures.