Delayed Operative Treatment of Long Bone Fractures in Patients with Brain Injury

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the postoperative progress and outcomes of bone injured patients with long bone fracture showing callus formation and deformity due to delayed surgical treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 10 cases with more than 1 year follow up were chosen from 12 patients with long bone fracture whose surgical treatment was delayed due to brain injury. Exuberant callus formation and deformations were observed. Average delayed period was 6.7 weeks (4~10 weeks). Preoperative callus formation, shortening and angulation were evaluated using plain radiographs. Total operation time and transfusion amount were compared with that from operations done within 2 weeks following accident. Postoperative bone union was checked. RESULTS: In all cases, preformed angulation and hypertrophic ossification made reduction difficult and this increased total operation time and transfusion amount but had no statistical importance. In patients with humerus and femur fractures accompanying brain injury, massive hypertrophic ossification was observed both in preoperative period and in postoperative period. Average bone union period was 13.5 weeks in humerus fractures, 17.9 weeks in femur fractures. The bone union period was shorter in subject group but had no statistical importance. CONCLUSION: Early surgical treatment is essential to patients with long bone fracture accompanying brain injury but if early surgical treatment can not be done, proper immobilization to fracture site should be done.