Treatment for fractures that fail to heal
A nonunion occurs when a fractured bone fails to heal within the expected timeframe. This can result from inadequate blood supply, infection, poor alignment, excessive motion at the fracture site, or other factors. Nonunions can cause ongoing pain, instability, and loss of function.
Successful nonunion treatment requires addressing the underlying cause. Options may include revision fixation for stability, bone grafting or biologic stimulation to encourage healing, and eradication of infection when present. In more complex cases with bone loss, techniques such as bone transport (distraction osteogenesis) can regenerate bone to fill defects.
Dr. Butler develops individualized plans based on the location, type of nonunion, patient factors, and previous treatments, with a focus on restoring stability, alignment, and function.