Treatment of long-bone fractures, malunions, and nonunions: experience at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Long-bone fractures are common in the field of orthopedic trauma and require careful treatment to avoid refractory disabilities. Through advancements of modern medicine and technology, many excellent techniques and devices are continually being invented. Currently, the success rates of treatment have markedly increased while complication rates have been greatly lowered. Even so, complications of failed fracture treatment still occasionally occur. Among these complications, malunions and nonunions are relatively common and disturbing. However, both complications can be reduced if the principles of fracture treatment are strictly followed. All fractures may be treated with nonoperative or operative methods according to individual advantages and disadvantages. In principle, nonoperative methods should be given priority. In this article, principles of treatment of long-bone fractures, malunions, and nonunions are clarified. Current practices which have been published and which are representative of treatment of these issues at the author's institution are reported. Inconsistencies of important viewpoints concerning fracture-related treatment between the author's institution and published articles are discussed. The aims of this study were to assess the academic level of fracture treatment at the author's institution. Then, improved techniques for fracture treatment might be continually developed. Some studies at the author's institution have revealed that the success rates are comparable to those of articles with the highest success rates in the world.
Wu
Chi-Chuan
CC
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Gueishan Shiang, Taoyuan, Taiwan 333, ROC. ccwu@mail.cgu.edu.tw
D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*