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Department of Orthopedics

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    Trauma and Fracture Service

    Dedicated specialists from infectious disease, trauma, acute care, and more. 

    We bring together specialists from infectious disease, trauma and acute care, plastic and reconstructive surgery, peripheral nerve injury, and rehabilitation and therapy; all dedicated to your recovery. We treat more complex cases than anywhere else.

    Patient G - NonunionA fracture nonunion is a bone that doesn't heal properly.

    While most bones do heal on their own, certain factors can put you at risk. Too much movement or too little blood flow can contribute to nonunions, as can smoking, diabetes, anemia, and general poor health. 

    A nonunion can occur anywhere, but common culprits are the femur, tibia, and humerus.

    There are a few treatment options—both surgical and non-surgical—that range from a bone stimulator device to bone grafting to revision surgery.

     


     

    Before treatment

    A 54-year-old man injured his leg in 2011. He was treated non-operatively, but two years later the pain had only grown worse. He also had a worsening deformity of his knee.

    By 2013, he'd had enough. He came to see Dr. Stoneback at University of Colorado Hospital, where the team took a comprehensive look at his health. Dr. Stoneback saw that the broken bone had affected the nearby joint, creating an angular deformity and making it particularly difficult to treat.

    After treatment

    Fortunately, Dr. Stoneback was able to fix the problem surgically without a complex knee replacement—allowing the relatively young patient to keep his own knee. Because of the multidisciplinary approach at the hospital, they were able to help him heal his intra-articular nonunion and regain functionality of his leg.

    Pelvic fracture 2A complex fracture is a particularly severe break and can mean damage to multiple bones, soft tissue, tendons, ligaments, or joints. This type of injury often requires emergency orthopedic care. A car crash, a bad fall on the ski slope, or some other accident are common causes of complex fractures.

    Treatment usually entails surgery, though each case and treatment plan is unique.

    Our team specializes in pelvis and acetabulum fractures in particular. These complex fractures are challenging to treat given the proximity to vital organs and blood vessels.

    A periprosthetic fracture or nonunion is a broken bone near a previous hip or knee implant. There may be limited bone stock, requiring special techniques to facilitate the healing of these complicated fractures. 

    Our trauma surgeons often work in tandem with our total hip and knee surgeons to make sure you return to your highest level of health. 

    Orthopedics (SOM)

    CU Anschutz

    Academic Office One

    12631 East 17th Avenue

    4602

    Aurora, CO 80045


    303-724-2955

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