UNASSIGNED: Fractures with large bone defects and non-unions are a great challenge for veterinary orthopaedists. In small dog breeds, this complication is commonly encountered in fractures of the radius and ulna due to poorer vascularisation of the distal antebrachium region.
UNASSIGNED: A case of radius/ulnar non-union in a 1.5-year-old Pinscher occurring after trauma and two successive unsuccessful osteosyntheses is described. During the operative revision, after the removal of existing bone implants, the bone defect was filled with cortical autologous bone graft. Autocancellous bone mixed with erythropoietin was applied proximally and distally to the cortical autograft for stimulation of bone healing. The post-operative period was without complications. As early as the 9th post-operative week, the animal was able to bear weight on the limb, without signs of lameness, pain, and swelling. Radiologically, a very good bridging of the graft was observed. Fifteen weeks after the operative revision, the fracture was completely healed with excellent clinical outcome.
UNASSIGNED: The application of autogenous cortical bone graft and cancellous autograft mixed with erythropoietin demonstrated an excellent therapeutic effect and resulted in complete regeneration of the large bone defect over a 15-week period.

BACKGROUND Nonunion of a rib fracture can cause chronic pain, and pharmacological pain management may lead to medication dependence. This report describes a 54-year-old man with a chronic cough and painful nonunion fracture of the left posterior 8th rib, managed with minimally invasive surgery and a rib splint. CASE REPORT A 54-year-old man presented with chronic cough-induced left chest wall pain. Three-dimensional chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed a nonunion of a fracture of the left posterior 8th rib. After medical management failure, we proposed a surgical approach with the aim to remove the tissue comprising the nonunion, release the nerve, and stabilize the bone stumps. To avoid the adverse effects of a large incision, we designed a minimally invasive strategy based on ultrasound fracture localization and the use of an intramedullary splint. The pain disappeared immediately after surgery. The patient was discharged in 24 hours. At 6-week follow-up, he was still asymptomatic, and a new CT scan reconfirmed the correct splint position. From the immediate postoperative evaluation until the last follow-up visit, he consistently reported full satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS This report has highlighted the challenges of management of chronic pain in nonunion of a rib fracture, and has described the use of a minimally invasive surgical approach. In this single case, our tailored surgical strategy achieved definitive success in pain management, minimizing postoperative complications/adverse effects and avoiding the addition of pain medications despite a 24-hour hospital stay. Our goal is to share an alternative solution for colleagues facing similar cases.

The stability provided by load-sharing miniplate osteosynthesis (LSMO) in dentate mandibular fractures (DMF) is usually adequate for bony healing. Non-union following LSMO is an uncommon complication. We aimed to determine the incidence and identify contributing factors, if any, of non-union amongst DMFs that have undergone LSMO. This retrospective case-control study with an allocation ratio of 1:3 includes cases of non-union DMF following LSMO and controls with healed DMF following LSMO over a five-year period. Relevant sociodemographic data, mandibular fracture characteristics, and treatment variables were collected for both groups. Of the 381 patients who underwent LSMO for DMFs, 12 cases of non-union were identified. The control group included 36 patients with uncomplicated healing. A significant association was observed between non-union and teeth in the line of fracture, postoperative infections, and time from injury to LSMO. The odds ratio with chronic alcohol usage was 1.4. Vigilant follow up of patients with chronic alcohol use, those with teeth in the fracture line, and adherence to LSMO principles may help to minimise the non-union complication.

UNASSIGNED: Femoral and tibial fractures may result in delayed union and nonunion, posing significant challenges in orthopedic practice. The Ilizarov technique has emerged as a promising solution for managing these complex cases.
UNASSIGNED: Evaluate the radiographic and functional results of Ilizarov fixation in the treatment of nonunion of tibia and femur fractures.
UNASSIGNED: Retrospective.
UNASSIGNED: Hospitals affiliated with a university hospital.
UNASSIGNED: Patient demographics, fracture characteristics, and treatment details were analyzed for the period from October 2015 to September 2022 in patients who were treated for nonunion of the tibia and femur using the Ilizarov fixator. Clinical and radiological assessments were performed using the Association for the Study and Application of Methods of Ilizarov (ASAMI) criteria. The study focused on assessing the average duration for union and frame removal, bone results, successful union rates, and functional results using the ASAMI criteria, obtaining data from the existing medical records, spanning various medical facilities treating nonunion fractures.
UNASSIGNED: 126 patients.
UNASSIGNED: The average duration for union and frame removal was 8 months, with excellent bone results observed in 60.32% of cases. Out of 126 patients, 118 achieved successful union, while there were 2 failure cases necessitating amputation (1.52%). Functional results revealed excellent outcomes in 39.68% of cases. Complications included pin tract infections, ankle and knee stiffness, and limb shortening. External fixation duration and infection eradication were consistent with previous research, emphasizing the technique\'s effectiveness.
UNASSIGNED: The Ilizarov technique proved highly effective in managing nonunion tibia and femur fractures, offering favorable outcomes in terms of union, infection control, pain relief, and functional recovery. While excellent bone outcomes do not guarantee optimal function, this method remains a reliable approach for complex cases.
UNASSIGNED: Potential biases inherent in retrospective analyses and the need for further randomized controlled trials to comprehensively compare treatment modalities.

BACKGROUND Scaphoid nonunion (SN) is a challenging condition in wrist pathology, often resulting in severe consequences if left untreated. Surgical intervention, particularly using vascularized bone grafts (VBGs), is a promising but uncertain approach. The 4+5 extensor compartment artery (ECA) pedicled graft, less commonly used for SN, has potential benefits due to its vascular supply and accessibility to the scaphoid. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the 4+5 ECA pedicled graft combined with headless compression screw fixation in treating avascular necrosis (AVN)-induced proximal pole SN. Radiological results, functional outcomes, and complications related to this method were assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a retrospective analysis of 19 proximal pole SN cases with AVN treated using the 4+5 ECA-VBG technique from 2016 to 2022. Patients underwent preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow-up for at least 1 year. Data on surgery, demographics, radiological assessments, and functional outcomes were recorded and analyzed statistically. RESULTS All patients achieved radiographic union within 8.5 weeks postoperatively, with revascularization of proximal pole necrosis. Significant improvements in functional outcomes were observed, including pain reduction, increased wrist range of motion, improved grip and pinch strength, and enhanced wrist scores. No major complications were reported. CONCLUSIONS The 4+5 ECA-VBG technique, with headless compression screw fixation, showed high success rates in treating AVN-induced proximal pole SN. This method offers comprehensive restoration of wrist function and minimal complications, making it a viable option for SN management, especially in AVN cases. Further research is needed to confirm these results and establish standardized protocols for SN treatment.

Delayed union of fractures is one of the most frequent complications in orthopedic practice, especially in polytrauma patients. With the development of new methods of regenerative medicine, including the use of adipose derived stromal cells as a component of the stromal-vascular fraction (SVF), new possibilities for conservative treatment of this problem have emerged. This article presents a clinical case of conservative treatment of delayed union of a radial bone fracture using local SVF injections. In the fracture space, SVF with PRP creates a pool of cells that could differentiate towards surrounding tissue, releases various inducers of tissue growth and, via an indirect chemotactic effect on receptors, mobilizes the body\'s own resources and creates conditions for angiogenesis and trophism in the injured segment. In the patient with delayed consolidation after SFV-therapy, progress in clinical and radiological dynamics was noted with complete healing within 7 months. The positive clinical result provides a basis for further study and implementation in practice.

METHODS: A 15-year-old female rock climber presented with a traumatic coracoid process fracture of her dominant upper extremity that failed extensive nonoperative treatment. She was treated successfully by arthroscopic reduction and suture anchor fixation.
CONCLUSIONS: A novel surgical technique for coracoid fracture that combines arthroscopic reduction with suture anchor fixation can result in expeditious and durable clinical improvement in a young, high-demand athlete.

METHODS: An 18-year-old autistic boy with seizure disorder had a 4-month-old hip injury with a similar right hip injury 6 months earlier. X-rays revealed an ununited fracture neck femur on the left and a malunited fracture neck femur on the right hip. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated preserved head vascularity. Valgus osteotomy and double-angle plate fixation of both hips were performed at an interval of 2 months.
CONCLUSIONS: Delayed presentation bilateral neck fractures are rare. X-rays showed healed fractures with no avascular necrosis in both hips at 2-year 6-month follow-up. Valgus osteotomy is ideal and relevant for osteosynthesis in selected ununited femur neck fractures.

BACKGROUND: Non-union is a prevalent complication of scaphoid fractures. Late diagnosis is common and has a clinical impact due to functional limitations for the patient. Multiple treatments have been proposed to manage this complication, ranging from conservative (i.e., orthopedic) to surgical treatment. The vascularized medial femoral condyle technique has shown satisfactory clinical and paraclinical results, mainly in presence of avascular necrosis of the proximal pole but data regarding functional outcomes and patient satisfaction is scarce. This case series aims to describe the clinical and patient-reported outcomes in a consecutive series of patients with non-union of the proximal third of the scaphoid treated with vascularized medial femoral condyle technique.
METHODS: Case series reporting results for a consecutive - initial cohort of patients who presented with a non united fracture of the proximal pole of the scaphoid, avascular necrosis of the proximal pole was documented by CT od MRI imaging preoperatively in all patients. Measurement instruments include the q-DASH and PRWE questionnaires, radiographic images, goniometry, and assessment of grip strength.
RESULTS: Twelve consecutive patients are included and they represent the initial cases for all surgeons involved; bone union was obtained in 10 patients (83%) after a mean follow-up time of 31 months (6-72), successful improvement in the range of motion and grip strength was documented. A high rate of satisfaction expressed by the patient was obtained, with an average score in Q-DASH of 17.3 and 20.1 in PRWE.
CONCLUSIONS: The vascularized medial condyle technique in cases of nonunion of scaphoid fracture is a reproducible treatment in clinical terms, both in imaging and functional terms, and in patient satisfaction. The learning curve is flat for a dedicated multi surgeon team.

Compared to other long bones, forearm fractures are particularly challenging due to the high rate of complications. These include malunion, delayed/nonunion, wrist and elbow movement reduction, and pain. Surgical procedure is considered the gold standard for managing delayed union and nonunion of the long bones. However, in the last decades, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has emerged as an effective and less invasive approach to enhance bone regeneration and fracture healing, avoiding major complications of surgical procedures. In contrast to the broad literature reporting good clinical results of ESWT in the treatment of nonunions, there is currently limited evidence regarding the clinical application of shock waves on long bone delayed fractures, particularly those of the forearm. In the present paper, we report a case of delayed bone healing of the diaphyseal region of the ulna treated with focused ESWT. The successful case experienced bone healing at the fracture site in less than 3 months after initial ESWT treatment. Acknowledging the limitation of reporting a case report, however, the remarkable clinical results and the absence of side effects contribute valuable information in support of the use of ESWT as an effective alternative to standard surgery for forearm fractures.