Complications Of Fracture - Early and Late Complications Of Fracture

Complications Of Fracture

Early Complications:

Early Local Complications:

• Vascular injury which cause internal or external haemorrhage
• Visceral injury :- Fracture of skull, ribs, or pubis may cause injury to brain, lungs or bladder respectively
• Damage to nerves
• Damage to surrounding tissue
• Haemarthrosis.
• Compartment symdrome or Volkmann's ischemia 
• Wound infection, more common in open fractures

Early Systemic Complications

• Fat embolism
• Shock
• Thromboembolism (pulmonary or venous) 
• Exacerbation of underlying diseases such as diabetes or coronary artery disease
• Pneumonia 

Late Complications:

Local late Complications

• Delayed Union 
• Non- Union
• Mal-Union
• Joint stiffness
• Contractures
• Myositis ossificans
• Avascular necrosis
• Algodystrophy
• Osteomyelitis
• Growth disturbance or deformity

Systemic Late Complications

• Gangrene
• Tetanus
• septicemia

Iatrogenic Complications

Iatrogenic complications result from therapeutic interventions

Complications due to Casts:

• Compartment syndrome
• Pressure ulcers
• Burns due to Plaster hardening 
• Thrombophlebitis

Traction Complications

       Traction prevents patient mobilizing causing additional muscle wasting and weakness

Other complications:

• Pressure ulcers
• Pneumonia/ UTIs
• Permanent foot drop contractures
• Peroneal nerve palsy
• Pin tract infection
• Thromboembolism