Dr. Brinker has performed more than 1,000 Ilizarov surgeries

Dr. Brinker has treated more than 1,200 fracture nonunions

Dr. Brinker has corrected more than 400 skeletal deformities

Dr. Brinker has treated more than 250 cases with bone infection

Fracture Nonunions

About Fracture Nonunions

Approximately 5% of all fractures have some difficulty healing. Those that fail to heal are known as a fracture nonunion. Because there is persistent motion at the site of injury, a nonunion is usually associated with severe and disabling pain which greatly diminishes the patient’s quality of life.
Certain fractures are particularly prone to poor healing/nonunion.

These include:
  • fractures associated with major soft tissue disruption (such as an open fracture where the bone is exposed to the outside environment)
  • fractures associated with a high energy mechanism of injury (such as a motorcycle or motor vehicle accident or a fall from a height)
  • fractures in the elderly or immunocompromised individuals
 

Fracture Nonunion Treatment Options

Many factors must be considered when designing a treatment plan for a fracture nonunion. Such factors include the location (specific bone and location within that bone), type of nonunion, prior failed treatments, X-ray appearance, and a host of other patient specific characteristics. In the broadest terms, the treatment plan should include a method of stimulating the local biology at the nonunion site or improving the mechanical stability or both. Some common treatment methods of stimulating the local biology include: bone grafting, marrow grafting and the Ilizarov method. Methods of improving mechanical stability include: plate and screw fixation, intramedullary rod fixation and external fixation.

With proper treatment, even the most longstanding and disabling fracture nonunions can be healed and the patient’s quality of life can be substantially improved or returned to normal. Because of the complex nature of this area of orthopedics, choosing a surgeon with vast experience is paramount.
 
Read more by Dr. Brinker:  "Nonunions: Evaluation and Treatment."
 
 

Fracture Non Unions Treated by Dr. Brinker*

Anatomic Location

Number of Surgical Cases

 

 Tibia/ Fibula

 563

View Case Studies

 Femur

 232

 Foot

 25

 Clavicle

 51

View Case Studies

 Humerus

147

View Case Studies

Forearm/Wrist

47

 

View Case Studies


*This chart does not represent all of Dr. Brinker's Cases.

Texas Orthopedic Hospital

7401 South Main Street
Houston, TX 77030
713-799-2300

Maps & Directions

Choose Your Affected Bone/Joint
1. Clavicle
2. Shoulder
3. Humerous
4. Elbow
5. Forearm
6. Wrist
7. Hip
8. Femur
9. Knee
10. Tibia
11. Ankle