nonunion (malunion) of fracture

Etiology

• occurs when fracture
  • moves too much
  • has a poor blood supply
  • gets infected
• smoking increases risk of malunion

Pathology

• scar tissue usually forms between the malunion bone fragments
• pseudoarthrosis can occur
  • cartilage formation & a joint cavity between 2 bone fragments

Management

• orthopedic surgery
  • if nonunion is still evident at 6 months post injury, it will remain so without orthopedic surgery

More general terms

• bone fracture