J Korean Orthop Assoc.  1968 Dec;3(4):19-22. 10.4055/jkoa.1968.3.4.19.

Etiologic Analysis of Delayed Union and Nonunion of Fractures

Abstract

34 cases of delayed and nonunion examined at SNUH during the period of 1958 to 1967 were analysed as to their probable causes. 1. Of the 34 cases, there were 28 male and 5 female patients. This figure shows marked predominence of male over female. 2. The age group between 20 and 40 occupied 61.7%. 3. Of the bones involved, femur marked 11 cases, radius and ulna 7, and tibia 4 cases respectively. 4. As to the type of fractures, there were 24 cases of open and 10 cases of closed fractures. 5. At the time of initial treatment, 2 receivd no treatment at all, 14 were conservatively treated. and the remaining 18 cases were operated on in order to attain internal fixation. 6. Of the probable causes of delayed union and nonunion, 12 were caused by inadequate immobilization,10 by infection, and 5 by too much separation between fragments. 7. Infection played major role in 10 cases of which 3 were caused by infection primarily complicated on open fracture, and 7 by postsurgical infection. 4 out of 10 open fractures underwent surgical intervention and all of them turned out to be infected. 34 cases of delayed and nonunion were analysed and the author was quite surprised to find that most of the cases were caused by malpractice of physicians and were at the same time preventable.


MeSH Terms

Female
Femur
Fractures, Closed
Fractures, Open
Humans
Male
Malpractice
Radius
Tibia
Ulna
Full Text Links
  • JKOA
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr