Epidemiology of Delayed Union of Long Bones

Aim: To study the epidemiology of delayed union of long bones. Introduction: In India, the availability of fracture healing therapies to the general public is limited. The infrastructure of the health system in India, involving both public and private sector does not provide adequate opportunity for rural and low-income inhabitants to access the needed care. Due to these reasons, majority of the global burden of injuries are borne by low and middle-income countries. Material and methods: Patients getting admitted in AVBRH hospital above the age of 18 years of either sex with radiological features of delayed union. Study was a prospective, case control observational type carried out in a rural health setup at AVBRH. It comprised of 153 patients out of which 43 patients had delayed union of a long bone, 53 patients had non-union. These patients were compared with 57 patients that had postoperative fracture union which were included as a control group who had the same risk factors for delayed union. Results: Aging, female gender, comminuted and segmental fractures, higher grades of soft tissue injury, smoking, and infection were found to be independent risk factors for delayed union in long bone fractures. Among the risk factors, smoking and infection can be controlled to decrease the prevalence of delayed union. Conclusion: It is necessary that we create awareness about the importance of primary treatment like immobilization and wound debridement, as patients should reach as early as possible. Patient’s relative’s moral support is necessary in order to get early hospitalization so as to reduce the risk of delayed union among patients and so that appropriate modality of treatment (surgical and conservative) with use of bone regeneration substitutes such as bone grafting and PRP can be done to promote faster healing keeping infection in control.