Journal
INJURY-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE CARE OF THE INJURED
Volume 42, Issue 3, Pages 301-305Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2010.11.043
Keywords
Fracture union; Radiographic healing; Callus formation; Non-union; Cortical bridging; Three of four cortices; Ultrasound
Funding
- Smith and Nephew
- Anika
- Lilly
- Kuros
- National Institutes of Health
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Fracture healing is an optimized biological process yet the ability to determine when a fracture is healed, or to measure the healing response can present a clinical challenge. This review will focus on the evidence for the implementation of imaging modalities as tools to assist in evaluating fracture union. This is particularly important for common fractures that have a propensity to have delayed union or non-union, where a diagnosis of non-union would alter the treatment. We also present methods, such as biochemical markers and clinical scores that are in development or have the potential to aid in the diagnosis of nonunion. Ultimately, clinical exam combined with the available modalities can help the clinician judge the progression of healing with some confidence. There is still a need for continued development of new modalities and tests to improve accuracy of the diagnosis of non-union, as well as predict which fractures are at risk for non-union. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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