Treatment of femoral diaphyseal non-unions: our experience

Despite the continuous advances of surgical solutions, still 1-7% of fractures develop non-unions. The delays in fracture healing increase the period of incapacity of the patient with major consequences, on the psychological and functional recovery, but also on the direct and indirect health-related costs. In particular, femoral diaphyseal non-unions are often characterised by a challenging and long-lasting period of healing. The clinician treating these complex cases has to consider amongst other parameters, the condition of the soft tissue envelope, the adequacy of any pre-existing fixation, the alignment and length of the affected limb, the potential presence of an infection, as well as the general condition of the patient. Open reduction and plate fixation of femoral diaphyseal non-unions offers a valid alternative of stabilisation and if applied to carefully selected cases, can give optimal results.