J Korean Fract Soc.  2006 Apr;19(2):157-162. 10.12671/jkfs.2006.19.2.157.

Delayed Operative Treatment of Long Bone Fractures in Patients with Brain Injury

• Sohn HM
• Ha SH
• Lee JY
• Lee YK

• KMID: 2063843
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2006.19.2.157

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the postoperative progress and outcomes of bone injured patients with long bone fracture showing callus formation and deformity due to delayed surgical treatment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
10 cases with more than 1 year follow up were chosen from 12 patients with long bone fracture whose surgical treatment was delayed due to brain injury. Exuberant callus formation and deformations were observed. Average delayed period was 6.7 weeks (4~10 weeks). Preoperative callus formation, shortening and angulation were evaluated using plain radiographs. Total operation time and transfusion amount were compared with that from operations done within 2 weeks following accident. Postoperative bone union was checked.
RESULTS
In all cases, preformed angulation and hypertrophic ossification made reduction difficult and this increased total operation time and transfusion amount but had no statistical importance. In patients with humerus and femur fractures accompanying brain injury, massive hypertrophic ossification was observed both in preoperative period and in postoperative period. Average bone union period was 13.5 weeks in humerus fractures, 17.9 weeks in femur fractures. The bone union period was shorter in subject group but had no statistical importance.
CONCLUSION
Early surgical treatment is essential to patients with long bone fracture accompanying brain injury but if early surgical treatment can not be done, proper immobilization to fracture site should be done.

Keyword

Long bone fractures; Brain injury

MeSH Terms

Bony Callus
Brain Injuries*
Brain*
Congenital Abnormalities
Femur
Follow-Up Studies
Fractures, Bone*
Humans
Humerus
Immobilization
Postoperative Period
Preoperative Period