Why does a fracture become a non-union?
Although the exact causes are unknown, several local and systemic factors contribute to the development of a non-union.
Systemic factors: age, metabolic conditions, nutritional conditions, general health condition, smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use, diabetes, genetics.
Local factors: exposed fracture, infected fracture, bone segment with poor vascularisation, unstable synthesis, immobilisation for an insufficient amount of time.