Common fracture problems Discussion

Common problems associated with fracture include but are not limited to stiffness, permanent loss of motion, presence of a palpable or visible bony prominence, deformity, numbness, risk of future arthritis, weakness, reflex sympathetic dystrophy and other possible problems. Less likely problems include re-fracture, compression neuropathy and tendon rupture. Surgical treatment of the fracture may be indicated when the potential risks of surgery are felt to be justified by the potential benefits of improving the alignment of the bones as they heal. Hardware may be required to hold the fracture fragments in position. Even with surgery, the fracture is still prone to the problems noted above in addition to risks of surgery, such as infection, hardware related problems, numbness, tender scars, residual deformity, as well as less common problems such as anesthetic or drug related reactions, among others. Fracture position may shift even after reduction, internal fixation and immobilization. Future removal of hardware may be required.

Discussion Home Page