Common fracture problems Discussion
Common problems associated with fracture include but are not limited
to stiffness, permanent loss of motion, presence of a palpable or visible
bony prominence, deformity, numbness, risk of future arthritis, weakness,
reflex sympathetic dystrophy and other possible problems. Less likely
problems include re-fracture, compression neuropathy and tendon rupture.
Surgical treatment of the fracture may be indicated when the potential
risks of surgery are felt to be justified by the potential benefits of
improving the alignment of the bones as they heal. Hardware may be required
to hold the fracture fragments in position. Even with surgery, the fracture
is still prone to the problems noted above in addition to risks of surgery,
such as infection, hardware related problems, numbness, tender scars,
residual deformity, as well as less common problems such as anesthetic or
drug related reactions, among others. Fracture position may shift even
after reduction, internal fixation and immobilization. Future removal of
hardware may be required.
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