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Trauma
intermediate
X-Type

Malunion and Delayed Union

Fracture Healing Complications

A 40-year-old man presents 4 months after closed treatment of a tibial shaft fracture. Radiographs show abundant callus but persistent fracture lines. He has pain with weight-bearing but the fracture site is not tender. There is no evidence of infection. Regarding delayed union and its management:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

Delayed union is defined as a fracture that has not healed within the expected time frame for that p...

B

Risk factors for delayed union include patient factors (smoking, diabetes, malnutrition, NSAIDs, bis...

C

The definition of delayed union is fixed at 3 months for all bones regardless of location; callus fo...

D

Initial management of delayed union involves optimising modifiable risk factors: smoking cessation (...

E

Surgical intervention for delayed union is considered when conservative measures fail or when the fi...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option