Intra-articular fractures are particularly likely to lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Whenever a fracture line extends across the articular surface, the articular cartilage is permanently damaged. The amount of injury can…
Limb Shortening. Although limb shortening is a risk in virtually any growth plate fracture, it is particularly common in Salter-Harris type V injuries, in which the growth plate is crushed…
Angular Malunion. Supracondylar fractures of the humerus are quite unstable, and reduction is difficult to maintain. Even an acceptable reduction may be lost, and the bone typically heals with a…
Bone mass deficiency may also contribute to implant failure, because stabilization of a fracture with plates and screws depends on the secure fixation of screws in the bone fragments. In…
Gas gangrene may develop when a contaminated open fracture is inadequately debrided. The infection tends to involve the subcutaneous tissue and muscles, sometimes sparing blood vessels, nerves, and bone. Once…
If the fracture is accompanied by severe soft tissue injury, stabilization of the fracture with an external fixation device facilitates wound care. An external fixation device will many times need…
Radial Nerve Palsy. The radial nerve is the most commonly damaged nerve after fractures of the distal shaft of the humerus. Normally protected in the spiral groove of the humeral…
Marrow emboli have been identified in the lungs of patients, leading to the term fat embolism syndrome, but ARDS may also develop in the absence of fracture marrow emboli. Studies…
The goal of treatment is to eliminate the draining sinuses and produce a functional limb that is free from pain. The complicated process just described to eradicate a focus of…
