Miller: You broke a bone and now it's painful? And maybe you're not walking on it correctly? We're going to talk about that next on Scope Radio. Announcer: Access to our experts with in-depth information about the biggest health issues facing you today.
The Specialists, with Dr. Tom Miller, is on The Scope. Miller: I'm here with Justin Haller. He's an orthopedic surgeon here at the University of Utah. Justin, tell me a little bit about what we call malunion or malalignment. And this occurs in patients who have had fractures and then subsequently develop pain or mechanical dysfunction because maybe the fracture just didn't heal right. Maybe they didn't have it set correctly, something like that. What does that mean? Haller: So a malunion by definition is a bone that breaks and then heals in either a malaligned position or it's malrotated, so the bone itself is twisted and heals in that position.
Miller: What's the most common cause of that? I mean, obviously it's a fracture, but then is it because it didn't receive the right treatment or maybe they didn't follow instructions after they were casted?
Haller: The most common cause tends to be when patients are treated non-operatively with cast or something like that, in the United States, in the past. Miller: So what do you do? How do you treat these? And then again, what are the most common fracture sites where malalignment occurs? Regardless of where the fracture took place in the body, the stress of a broken bone can be quite substantial, which means that you have to act sooner rather than later.
For the most part, bones are exceptionally good at healing. Unlike other parts of the body, when they are treated correctly, you can make a full recovery and have a bone that is as good as new. However, if left untreated, the problem can get worse and lead to complications and more pain and suffering.
When a bone fracture is untreated, it can result in either a nonunion or a delayed union. As a result, swelling, tenderness, and pain will continue to worsen over time.
Delayed unions are bone fractures that take longer to heal than usual. In most cases, though, patients can make a full recovery, although there can also be complications, depending on how well the bone was set. When there is a fracture, that means that the bones have separated. A partial fracture means that some of the bone is still connected, whereas a total fracture implies a complete split.
In most cases, the doctor will set the bone so that the two sides can connect and heal. Nonsurgical treatment might use a bone stimulator device that is used daily with ultrasonic or electromagnetic waves. The best thing a patient can do to prevent a nonunion is to avoid smoking. Other factors that will help prevent nonunions include eating well and adhering to your recommended treatment plan. Patients who are smokers, obese, have diabetes or have other medical conditions, may be at higher risk for developing a nonunion.
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Symptoms and Diagnosis. The problem broken bones for nonunion include: Scaphoid fractures Talus fractures Femoral neck fractures Fifth metatarsal "Jones" fractures. Electric Stimulation for Fracture Healing.
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