Pseudarthrosis 1827666 196212335 2008-03-06T04:03:37Z 218.185.24.110 /* Treatment */ {{Infobox_Disease | Name = Pseudarthrosis | Image = | Caption = | DiseasesDB = | ICD10 = {{ICD10|M|84|1|m|80}}, {{ICD10|M|96|0|m|95}} | ICD9 = | ICDO = | OMIM = | MedlinePlus = | eMedicineSubj = | eMedicineTopic = | MeshName = Pseudarthrosis | MeshNumber = C21.866.404.468.627 | }} '''Pseudarthrosis''' (or "nonunions") is the movement of a [[bone]] at the location of a [[fracture]] resulting from inadequate healing of the fracture. Pseudarthrosis can also result from a developmental failure. ==Etymology== The Latin root "pseud" means false and "arthrosis" means joint. "Pseudarthrosis", then, is a false joint. In the case of a 'non-union' , a fracture that does not heal, this is often evidenced by the obliteration of the medullary cavity of a long bone at the site of the non union. This non union is not a true joint, and has no ligamentous support, but often has motion, and remodels into a rounded end that looks like a true joint. ==Treatment== The point of movement can be treated with electrical stimulations that hopefully will trigger the bone cells to form the [[hydroxyapatite]] structure that keeps bones from bending too much. More recently, non-unions are treated by bone grafting, internal fixation, and external fixation, including a technique pioneered by Ilizarov, used to compress the bones at the site of the fracture. More recently, non-unions are treated by bone grafting, internal fixation, and external fixation, including a technique pioneered by Ilizarov, used to compress the bones at the site of the fracture.<ref name="pmid18034140">{{cite journal |author=Niedzielski K, Synder M |title=The treatment of pseudarthrosis using the Ilizarov method |journal=Ortop Traumatol Rehabil |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=46–8 |year=2000 |pmid=18034140 |doi=}}</ref> Ilizarov originally used [[bicycle]] spokes. See [[Ilizarov_apparatus]] for a description of the modern apparatus. '''Grafting''' This is using donor bone or autologous bone (harvested from the same person undergoing the surgery) as a stimulus to bone healing. The presence of the bone is thought to cause stem cells in the circulation and marrow to form cartilage, which then turns to bone, instead of a fibrous scar that forms to heal all other tissues of the body. Bone is the only tissue that can heal without a fibrous scar. '''Fixation''' The use of metal plates, pins, screws, and rods, that are screw or driven into a bone, to stabilize the broken bone fragments. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.e-radiography.net/radpath/p/pseudoarthrosis.htm E-radiography] * [http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=478&topcategory=General%20Information AAOS] {{Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue}} [[de:Pseudarthrose]] [[fr:Pseudarthrose]] [[it:Pseudoartrosi]] [[nl:Pseudoartrose]] [[Category:Bone fractures]] [[Category:Musculoskeletal disorders]]