Delayed Union of Tibial Plateau Frx - Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics

- Discussion:
- most tibial plateau frx exhibits bony healing withing 3 months of frx;
- any frx that fails to heal clinically & radiologically in 3 mo is considered to
have a delayed union;
- most common cause of delayed union is gradual loss of frx reduction over period of wks
because of inadequate treatment that allows frx movement or hold fragments apart;
- if delayed union occurs despite accurate bony approximation, cast immobilization for
a few weeks is used;
- if there is poor bony contact, ORIF is performed;