Can you walk on a non union fibula fracture?
Because the fibula is not a weight-bearing bone, your doctor might allow you walk as the injury recovers. You also might be advised to use crutches, avoiding weight on the leg, until the bone heals because of the fibula’s role in ankle stability.
Can a non union fracture heal?
The pain from a nonunion may last months or even years if treatment is not sought. For a fracture to heal, the bone needs to be stabilized, usually with a cast or, in some cases, surgery is required to use plates, screws or nails to stabilize the bone. The bone also needs a steady blood supply.
What happens if a non union fracture is left untreated?
Nonunions refer to when a fractured bone fails to heal. This can happen after surgery or if the fracture was treated without surgery (conservatively). If nonunions are left untreated, the patient will usually suffer pain, disability and inability to regain their previous level of function.
How common is non union fracture?
Despite the quality of care received at initial fracture treatment, as many as 20% of fractures may result in a malunion or nonunion.
Will a delayed union heal?
A delayed union means that the bone took or is taking longer to heal that expected, but it is expected to eventually heal without the need for additional surgery.
What does a non union fracture feel like?
Common symptoms of a nonunion fracture include pain, swelling, tenderness, deformity, and the inability to bear weight despite sufficient time since the break. There is a timeframe for fracture healing, and patients with a nonunion may continue to experience symptoms after several weeks.
Can you live with a non union fracture?
But for 5–10% of individuals with a broken bone, the fracture will fail to heal under the usual treatment. The prolonged pain and disability caused by these non-union bone fractures can have profoundly negative consequences in many areas of life.
What causes non union of a fracture?
Nonunions happen when the bone lacks adequate stability, blood flow, or both. They also are more likely if the bone breaks from a high-energy injury, such as from a car wreck, because severe injuries often impair blood supply to the broken bone.
How common is a non union fracture?
What is the incidence of nonunion of the fibula?
The true incidence of the nonunion of the fibula (lateral malleolar fracture in conjunction with ankle injury and fibula fracture in conjunction with a tibial shaft fracture) is difficult to determine because most remain asymptomatic and, therefore, unrecorded. The fibula is fractured in 75–85 % of cases with fractures of the tibia [1].
Is there a treatment algorithm for nonunion of the fibula?
In summary, nonunion of the fibula is becoming increasingly more common in association with intramedullary nailing of concomitant tibial shaft fractures. A treatment algorithm for nonunion of the fibula has been proposed. Conclusions
What is the prevalence of fibular nonunion in Weber Type B fractures?
Fibular nonunion in rotational ankle fracture was higher in Weber type B fractures. Although approximately 20 % of cases with fibular nonunion may be asymptomatic, persistent pain over the fracture site was the most common presentation (81.5 %).
What is a fibula bone fracture?
The fibula is a site of five muscles attachment. Fibula bone fracture is a common injury seen in the emergency room. The fracture occurs from a direct blow to the outside of the leg, from twisting the lower leg awkwardly and, most common, from a severe ankle sprain.