Nonunion Malunion Treatment

What Are Malunion and Nonunion?

Malunion and nonunion are both problems that occur when a broken bone doesn’t heal correctly.

What is a malunion?

In a malunion, a bone heals but not in the right position. You may have never had treatment for the broken bone. Or, if you did have treatment, the bone moved before it healed. Malunion symptoms include constant pain long after treatment. If severe enough, the condition can cause a deformity and may require surgery to repair or correct it.

What is nonunion?

A nonunion is the failure of a broken bone to heal.

Where do malunion and nonunion injuries occur?

Malunion or nonunion injuries are most common in the:

Bones between the hand and the arm

Femoral neck (in your hip joint)

Ankle

Bone in your foot

Nonunion can also occur in your:

Shoulder

Elbow

Forearm

Fingers

Knees

Malunion and nonunion can cause pain or even some loss of function.

If a malunion affects a nearby joint, it may lead to arthritis because of unusual wear on the joint.

Malunion and nonunion risk factors and causes

Some people have health problems or habits that cause their bones to fail to heal properly.

Malunion and nonunion risk factors include:

Tobacco use

Obesity

Diabetes or other medical issues

Many things can cause a nonunion, such as:

The broken bone does not have enough blood flow.

The ends of the bone were not touching when they were stabilized (put in a cast) or corrected by surgery.

The broken bone moved before it could heal due to improper stabilization.

Make an appointment for malunion and nonunion care