Biomechanical Causes of Fracture Non-union after Diaphyseal Forearm Fracture Fixation: an in Silico Analysis. Case Study.

UNLABELLED: Non-union of forearm bone shaft fractures remains, in some cases, a major clinical problem. The aim of this study was to assess the biomechanical causes of non-union in a patient with diaphyseal forearm fractures fixated with LCP plates. The paper describes the case of a 35-year-old male who developed a non-union as a result of destabilisation of the fixation. The case was analysed with an in silico analysis of the removed fixation device.

CONCLUSION

To sum up, we believe that the case described in this paper confirms the limitations to the use of LCP reconstruction plates in patients with well-developed musculature, even in the case of repeat fixation, when good adjustment of the plate well to the axis of the bone appears necessary. It is possible to use an orthosis, first a locking one and then one that limits pronation during further treatment of a partially healed fracture, but, as this case shows, it is not a fully reliable method of preventing complications.