title: Nonunion of the femoral diaphysis. The influence of reaming and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
abstract: We assessed factors which may affect union in 32 patients with nonunion of a fracture of the diaphysis of the femur and 67 comparable patients whose fracture had united. These included gender, age, smoking habit, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) the type of fracture (AO classification), soft-tissue injury (open or closed), the type of nail, the mode of locking, reaming nu non-reaming, infection, failure of the implant, distraction at the fracture site, and the time to full weight-bearing. Patients with severe head injuries were excluded. Both groups were comparable with regard to gender, Injury Severity Score and soft-tissue injury. There was no relationship between the rate of union and the type of implant, mode of locking, reaming, distraction or smoking. There were fewer cases of nonunion in more comminuted fractures (type C) and in patients who were able to bear weight early. There was a marked association between nonunion and the use of NSAIDs after injury (p = 0.000001) and delayed healing was noted in patients who took NSAIDs and whose fractures had united.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, England, UK.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Giannoudis
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Furlong
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Boer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal