Delayed union and nonunion of the tibia: experience in a community teaching hospital.
Delayed union and nonunion are frequent sequelae of high-energy tibial fractures, particularly compound ones. The authors studied 45 such cases; of these, 20 fractures were compound. The authors analysed the initial management but found no apparent correlation between the initial management of these fractures and subsequent delayed union or nonunion. The Phemister bone-grafting technique was used to achieve union and was considered a safe, efficacious method. Aggressive initial management of the soft-tissue component of tibial fractures is recommended to minimize the possible development of chronic osteomyelitis, a serious complication that occurred in eight patients and necessitated below-knee amputation in three.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing