problems with fracture union

Question 1

clinical signs of non-union

Answer 1

ongoing pain, oedema and movement at fracture site

Question 2

healing of tibial fractures

Answer 2

the tibia is one of the slowest healing bones in the body with fractures taking more than 4 months to heal, femoral shaft fractures also take long to heal

Question 3

which fractures heal more quickly than which

Answer 3

metaphysical fractures heal more quickly than cortical fractures

Question 4

delayed union

Answer 4

is a fracture that has not healed within expected timeframe, one reason for this could be infection

Question 5

2 types of non-union

Answer 5

hypertrophic and atrophic non-union

Question 6

hypertrophic non-union

Answer 6

occurs due to instability and excessive motion at fracture site

Question 7

atrophic non-union

Answer 7

occurs due to rigid fixation with no movement, lack of blood supply or soft tissue in fracture gap

Question 8

infection can cause

Answer 8

hypertrophic non-union or atrophic non-union

Question 9

fractures particularly prone to problems with healing due to poor blood supply

Answer 9

scaphoid wrist, subtrochanteric and jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone

Question 10

why might intra-articular fractures not allign

Answer 10

due to synovial fluid inhibiting healing in the fracture gap