The Contributing Factors of Nonunion Bone Fractures: A Brief Review

Hamidreza Zafari; Seyed Arman Moein; Mohammadreza Razzaghof; Seyed Mohammad Javad Mortazavi

doi:10.18502/jost.v8i2.9309

Hamidreza Zafari Resident, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Arman Moein Resident, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Bone and Joint Diseases Research Center, Chamran Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Mohammadreza Razzaghof Resident, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Mohammad Javad Mortazavi Professor, Department of Orthopedics, Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jost.v8i2.9309

Keywords: Fracture Healing; Bone; Risk Factors

Abstract

The skeletal system has a high healing capacity. A nonunion fracture occurs when the natural course of bone healing is impaired. Numerous local and systemic factors participate in the development of a nonunion fracture. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), smoking history, obesity, and malnutrition are at risk for nonunion. Moreover, the major local risk factors for impaired bone healing are malalignment, infection, mechanical stability, and tissue loss. In this brief review, we discuss the definition, epidemiology, and diagnosis of nonunion. We further explain the major contributing factors which must be considered in patient selection for nonunion revision surgeries.