What Is a Nonunion

A nonunion occurs when a fracture fails to heal within an expected time and shows no ongoing progress towards union often accompanied by persistent pain abnormal movement and difficulty bearing weight Causes include poor blood supply infection inadequate stabilisation large gaps smoking and systemic factors such as diabetes or malnutrition Nonunions can be hypertrophic with abundant but ineffective callus due to instability or atrophic with minimal callus due to biological deficiency

Principles of Treatment

Successful treatment of nonunion requires addressing both mechanical stability and biological stimulation Mechanically revision fixation with stronger or better positioned implants restores alignment and controls motion at the fracture site Biological measures include freshening bone ends adding bone graft and ensuring adequate soft tissue coverage and blood supply Infection must be ruled out or treated through debridement and culture guided antibiotics before or alongside reconstruction

Surgical Options

Depending on fracture location and prior surgery options include exchange nailing for long bones plate fixation with compression techniques external fixation or combined methods Autologous bone graft from the pelvis intramedullary canal or other sites provides living cells and growth factors to stimulate healing and is often considered the gold standard Bone transport and segmental reconstruction using Ilizarov techniques may be needed for large defects while bone substitutes and growth factor products can supplement autograft in selected cases

Adjunctive Bone Stimulation

In some nonunions especially when surgery is not feasible or as a supplement to fixation bone growth stimulation with low intensity ultrasound or pulsed electromagnetic fields may be used Evidence suggests these modalities can improve union rates in certain situations although careful selection and compliance are essential Optimising nutrition vitamin D status and avoiding smoking further supports bone healing

Why Choose Livasa Hospitals for Nonunion Care

Livasa Hospitals manage nonunions through orthopaedic teams experienced in complex trauma bone infection and limb reconstruction with access to advanced fixation systems Ilizarov frames bone grafting techniques and microbiology support Patients across Punjab benefit from individualised plans that tackle mechanical biological and infectious factors to convert a stubborn nonunion into a solid functional bone

Livasa Hospitals Punjab Network Contact

Livasa Healthcare Group Network of Multi speciality Hospitals in Punjab
Corporate Office Phase 8 Industrial Area Sector 73 Punjab 160071 India